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Chicago Tribune
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Perseverance pays off for Prairie State College photography students
Two young photographers from vastly different backgrounds had a chance to share the spotlight at Prairie State College as the spring semester wrapped up. Jamel Conner, of Chicago Heights, who won the school's Photographer of the Year award for his commercial art, and Huynh Vinh Duc Le, who has won various awards and scholarships for his serene portraits and other images, both share a love of the camera and what it can portray. Neither could afford a good camera when they came to the community college in Chicago Heights, but their work was featured in the school's Christopher Gallery in April and May. Both students are working on associates degrees in photography. Conner's featured photos were of a wedding dress, pages from magazines, glassware, jewelry and a percolator, all in calm, artsy settings. The images, he said, were the results of his efforts to bring objects to life. 'The idea of it being almost like a painting but it's real life,' he said. 'The ability to capture a moment to stop in time is something I wanted to be able to do myself.' He started toying with the idea of assembling a still life photo, but it morphed into something more commercial. 'It's almost editorial in a way,' he said. Conner's teacher, Rebecca Slagle, a professor of visual communications and multimedia arts, said there was much to like about Conner's work. 'It's very clean, he put a lot of thought into it,' she said. 'I like that it's quirky and fun and not boring still-life.' Duc, whose photos also were on display, said he'd loved taking pictures of landscapes and people ever since he was a middle schooler in Hue, the city where he grew up in Vietnam. Photography, drawing and journalism were required courses. But cameras were pricey, so he had to borrow one from a friend at school. 'I loved it and decided to get into it,' said Duc, who continued photography at the University of Education in Vietnam. He immigrated here with his mother in 2022, both sponsored by his grandmother, who has lived in Oak Lawn for 15 years. He's working toward his work visa. 'My mother wanted a new life,' he said. 'She's helped me a lot. She pays the rent and everything so I can focus on my studies.' He started helping out at a nail salon where his mom worked to help pay bills. 'When I came to the United States, I felt like I didn't belong here,' said Duc. But he persevered and made a home for himself at the college and started doing wedding photo gigs with another photographer. These days, one of his favorite subjects for pictures is his friend Ngoc, who he met at Tinley Park Community Church. 'She really liked the way I took her picture,' he said. Many other people have shared her enthusiasm for his work and he has received a number of scholarships and awards, including the Arts Unleashed Scholarships from the Prairie State College Foundation's Nicholas & Jacqueline Rinaldi and John B. Abate' Prize in the Arts recently. He has a full ride scholarship to Columbia College, which he'll attend in the fall. For Duc, the beauty of an image is in the details. 'I want to express my personality through the color grading,' said Duc. 'You can see my color is not that bright,' he said, pointing to his portrait shots displayed in Prairie State's gallery. Slagle, his photography professor, is one of his biggest supporters. 'Duc is an amazing photographer,' she said. 'Just the artistry and the connection I see with him and all the people he photographs. He has a way of making people comfortable.' Photography is making Duc more comfortable, too. 'When I take a photo, it makes my life happier — better. I'm improving myself,' he said. 'I want to tell people a boy from Vietnam came here to improve himself and to do things to gain experience and achieve a better life,' he explained. That sentiment isn't lost on fellow photographer Connor. Though always a hard worker, Conner said he was taken aback when he discovered he'd won the Photographer of the Year award, which includes a $1,500 scholarship to PSC. 'I felt like the other competitors were more talented than me, me being my own worst critic,' he said. But then he just felt grateful, not only for the award but for his own perseverance. 'Never assume you're not good at anything,' Conner said. 'After taking photos more and more, I gained more confidence and skill. It was that willingness to experiment and take risks.' He aims to use that confidence, skill and perseverance to do more commercial work, perhaps within a company's marketing department. Slagle, who also is coordinator of photography and graphic communications at Prairie State, said she was proud of the students' accomplishments as she 'watched them grow and the confidence they gain through the two-year program.' 'They're like your kids,' she said.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This award-winning photo was taken with a 9-year-old camera
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. All About Photo has announced the winners of the 2025 All About Photo Awards – The Mind's Eye. And two winning shots were captured with a near decade-old DSLR, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. This event stands as a global celebration of impactful visual storytelling, emphasizing photography's essential role in documenting and understanding the human experience. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the awards, for the second time the title of Photographer of the Year has been awarded to a woman: Marijn Fidder. She triumphed over thousands of entries from more than 40 countries with her image, Husnah, part of the series Inclusive Nation. This photograph sheds light on a broader issue of disability rights, self-acceptance, and social progress in Uganda. Both the Photographer of the Year and the second-place winner used Canon's beloved 5D Mark IV, a true workhorse camera that was launched back in August 2016. Once again, these competition winners prove that you don't need the most up-to-date and expensive gear to create powerful imagery with a strong narrative. This edition highlights 50 images. To explore the Merit Award Gallery, visit All About Photo's website for Parts I and II. Marijn Fidder (The Netherlands)Series: Inclusive NationCamera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IVLens: Canon EF 24-70 mm f2.8L II USM Husnah is a Ugandan swimmer who is currently the country's only classified Paralympic swimmer. Her first appearance at the World Championships in London was mentioned among the International Paralympic Committee's Top 10 Moments of 2019. Life can present many obstacles for people with disabilities. These challenges lead to social isolation, poverty and reduced quality of life. However, amid these obstacles, Uganda is gradually transforming to become more inclusive. As of 2020, Uganda has one of the most progressive laws for people with disabilities in the world. This states, among other things, that discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited. Children with disabilities have the right to education and adults have the right to a job. This is very important because 80% of all people with disabilities in the world live in developing countries, such as Uganda. While there is still much work to be done, the progress made thus far is a glimmer of hope for people with disabilities. Abdelrahman Alkahlout (Palestine)Title: Stolen InnocenceCamera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IVLens: Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III Inside the morgue of Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, a Palestinian medic tenderly prepares the body of a young child for burial. The child lost his life during an airstrike that struck his family home amid the ongoing war that has gripped the region since 2023. Wrapped in a white shroud, his silent face bears witness to a fragile life cut short. This heartbreaking scene captures the profound grief and enduring resilience of families living through unimaginable suffering. Erhan Coral (Turkey)Title: Hot Springs of BudaklıCamera: Leica Q (Type 116) with fixed 28mm f1.7 Summilux lens In the heart of Eastern Turkey's winter landscape, men and water buffaloes share the warmth of the Budaklı hot springs in Bitlis. Rising mist veils the frozen surroundings, blending human and animal silhouettes in a primal ritual of survival and coexistence. While the snow-covered plains and distant mountains whisper solitude, the steamy embrace of the thermal waters becomes a sanctuary – where tradition, resilience, and nature converge in harmony. João Coelho (Portugal / Angola)Title: ExhaustionSeries: The Iron QuestCamera: Canon EOS R5Lenses: Canon RF-14-35mm f/4 L IS USM This image is part of a project documenting a group of young people working at a ship graveyard in Angola. Every day, the Titanic gang, as they call themselves, risk their lives on this beach. After overcoming strong currents and waves to reach the half-buried wrecks, they have to dive again and again into the murky, dark waters to pull heavy pieces of iron from the bottom using only the strength of their arms. After several hours of struggle they still have to drag the heavy pieces along the bottom to the beach, to put them on fragile motorcycles that take them to the place where they are weighed and sold. It's a titanic effort that earns them only $150 / £110 / AU$230 per ton, a meager reward for surviving the risks they face every day. The enormous courage, determination and resilience this gang shows every day on this beach was the real source of inspiration that led me to do this work. Francesco Gioia (Italy)Title: Hand and CigaretteCamera: Fujifilm X-Pro3Lens: Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f4-5.6 R LM OIS WRA close-up portrait capturing the elegance and rawness of age, with vivid red nails delicately holding a lit cigarette against a bold colored background. The textured skin and swirling smoke evoke a sense of character, resilience, and timeless allure. This contest proves that the best DSLRs can still hold their own against the best mirrorless cameras. To stay inspired, browse the best photography awards and contests for more inspiration.
CairoScene
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Second Edition of the Saudi Fashion Awards Set for May 22
The Saudi Fashion Commission will honour the creatives contributing to Saudi Arabia's emerging presence on the global fashion stage. May 20, 2025 The Saudi Fashion Awards return to Riyadh on May 22nd for their second edition, hosted by the Saudi Fashion Commission. The event celebrates the growing influence of Saudi creatives across fashion and beauty - industries in which the Kingdom is steadily carving out global space. This year's categories range from Fashion Stylist and Photographer of the Year to accolades for menswear, womenswear, jewellery, and the Elite Model Honorary Award. On the judging panel: Law Roach, the Hollywood stylist known for red carpet reinventions; Amanda Smith, CEO of Fairchild Media Group; Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission; Xavier Romatet of Institut Français de la Mode; Chalhoub Group's Mohammed Aldabbagh; and Mai Badr, Editor-in-Chief of Hia Magazine. With each edition, the awards sharpen Riyadh's profile as more than just a host city - it's a staging ground for a wider regional creative economy with its sights set firmly on the international stage.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Free Press reporter named Journalist of the Year; newspaper nabs dozens of honors
The Detroit Free Press won dozens of honors this award season — including recognition twice-over for one reporter as Journalist of the Year and recognition yet again for a photojournalist as Photographer of the Year. The work honored was deemed by judges as 'top-notch' journalism that 'sears into the reader's mind,' showed 'immense dedication and doggedness,' and was done with 'nuance and care.' Most recently, the Free Press nabbed 16 first-place awards in categories including education, environment, health and government reporting on May 14 through the Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The newspaper also earned eight first-place awards, including for sports writing, columns, podcasts and photojournalism on May 8 through the Michigan Press Association. Additionally, this year, the newspaper's journalists were honored with the National Headliner Awards for their reporting on disabilities, the advancement of justice, and opinion writing. "I continue to be exceedingly proud of the journalism produced by the Free Press newsroom," said Nicole Avery Nichols, editor and vice president of the Free Press. "Our work continues to be relevant and impactful — prompting action and inspiring hard conversations. "It feels good to see so many hardworking journalists be celebrated for operating in service of our communities." Criminal justice reporter Andrea Sahouri was named the Richard Milliman Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association Foundation. She also was named Young Journalist of the Year by the Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Bridge Michigan reporters Ron French and Robin Erb were named Journalists of the Year in that latter contest, with Free Press health reporter Kristen Jordan Shamus as a finalist in that category. Among Sahouri's notable works to secure her wins was coverage of accusations of racism by the private security police force at Detroit's iconic Renaissance Center. The day after her initial reporting, General Motors ordered those accused off their properties and later suspended the force's arrest powers. Lawsuits: White officers at RenCen have harassed, assaulted Black visitors for years More: Mother of 7-year-old girl attacked with knife in Detroit: 'Why did he aim for her?' One of the judges for the Milliman award, Magnus Wilson, called Sahouri's work 'highly incisive' in a news release. 'Ms. Sahouri cuts to the heart of some topics that we would rather not hear about but need to,' Wilson said. As previously reported, photojournalist Ryan Garza was named Photographer of the Year for the third consecutive year by the Michigan Press Photographers Association. Photojournalist Kimberly P. Mitchell placed second in the category. The National Center on Disability and Journalism awarded education equity reporter Lily Altavena a first-place Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for exposing how law enforcement is more frequently called to specialized schools with emotional impairment programs than nearby traditional schools. She also won first place for her education reporting through the Society of Professional Journalist's Detroit chapter, or SPJ Detroit. Reporter Keith Matheny and photojournalist Eric Seals were honored by SPJ Detroit with first place for environmental journalism that was described by judges as 'important and sobering.' Among their top works in 2024 was coverage of Canadian wildfires and how the smoke impacted the U.S. Investigative reporter Violet Ikonomova won first place for open government reporting through SPJ Detroit for her work covering nonfatal shootings by Detroit police. In a first-of-its-kind probe, she found more than a third of people shot nonfatally by police in a recent seven-year period either were not charged with a crime or not convicted of the conduct officers said prompted them to open fire. More: Nonfatal police shootings in Detroit: First-of-its-kind investigation raises questions More: Read all of the Free Press' recall investigation stories here Matthew Dolan, who has since departed the paper, also won first place for consumer/ watchdog reporting from SPJ Detroit for exposing how rarely dangerous defects on cars with recalls — particularly used cars — are being fixed. The work was described in the judge's comments as 'a useful public service announcement for consumers.' Health reporter Kristen Jordan Shamus won first place for health reporting through SPJ Detroit for an array of pieces, including stories on a young man's face transplant after a suicide attempt, the impact of avian flu, and how a mass shooting in the state impacted the ER doctors who treated the victims. Free Press staff won first place in community/ local news reporting from SPJ Detroit for its coverage of the war in Gaza through the eyes of the large Arab American and Jewish communities in metro Detroit. The newspaper also won first place through the Michigan Press Association, or MPA, for its special section on the reopening of Michigan Central Station in Detroit's Corktown. Investigative reporter Dave Boucher and reporter Darcie Moran were among the winners of the Wade H. McCree Award for the Advancement of Justice sponsored by the Michigan Press Association. The pair were honored for a series of stories on judicial accountability that showed Michigan judges are rarely held publicly accountable for misconduct, are more likely to receive private scoldings, and are impacted by the live streaming of court hearings. More: Visitors from Norway, fan pages, gifts: How judges' online fame affects Michigan courts Reporter Tresa Baldas won first place in news enterprise reporting from MPA for her coverage of the court cases of the gunman in the Oxford High School shooting and his parents. Columnist John Carlisle added to his slew of National Headliner Awards, winning first place for feature writing. Judges' comments in particular noted his pieces on a dying teen, a hidden library in the woods of the Upper Peninsula, and a mysterious hose in a 'ghost town.' They described his stories as 'beautifully written' work that 'transports his readers.' He also took home both first and second place for feature stories through MPA. More: Hidden library in U.P. woods reveals innermost thoughts of visitors More: Michigan woman shot in face as teen recounts chilling details of stepdad's murderous rage Columnist Jeff Seidel won first place in feature writing through SPJ Detroit for his series on a gun violence survivor's journey. The Free Press won first place in editorial writing through SPJ Detroit for the work of editorial page editor Nancy Kaffer and deputy editorial page editor Khalil AlHajal. AlHajal was also honored in the same contest with first place for general column writing, with the judge's comments noting that he brought 'insider insights and passion to the Gaza War, which was hugely important to Michigan and the 2024 presidential choice.' More: Opinion: At my Arab American parents' dinner table, debating the Trump-Harris ballot Investigative columnist M.L. Elrick, who previously won the Pulitzer Prize, has been named a finalist for excellence in opinion writing nationally through the Scripps Howard Journalism Awards. He also won best columnist through MPA. Dining and restaurant critic Lyndsay C. Green, a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist and current nominee for a James Beard Media Award, was awarded first place for criticism through SPJ Detroit for her food and cultural criticism. The Free Press had already won a slew of sports reporting honors this year, with photojournalist Junfu Han, columnist Seidel and the whole team being recognized as Top 10 in multiple categories of the Associated Press Sports Editors awards. On top of that, Lions beat reporter Dave Birkett recently won first place in sports reporting through SPJ Detroit for his 'punchy writing with strong images and no wasted words,' judges said. He also won first place in sports writing through MPA. Seidel won first place for sports column writing through SPJ Detroit, and sports columnist Shawn Windsor won second place in the category through MPA. As previously reported, Free Press photojournalists won 20 awards through the Michigan Press Photographers Association and photojournalist David Rodriguez Muñoz won first place in the general news story category for the National Press Photographers Association. More recently, photojournalist Kimberly Mitchell won first place in feature photography through SPJ Detroit, with the judge's comment highlighting her ability to capture a fleeting moment of schoolchildren catching snowflakes on their tongues. She also won first place for her news photo of flooding on Interstate 275 through MPA. Photojournalist Ryan Garza won first place in news photography through SPJ Detroit for his work capturing images of arrests during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Michigan. More: See Free Press photographers' winning photos from MPPA conference The Free Press won best podcast through MPA for its series 'Where Secrets Go To Die: The Disappearance of Derrick Henagan,' which explores an Upper Peninsula missing person case and questions around Michigan State Police. More: Where Secrets Go To Die: The Disappearance of Derrick Henagan The podcast also earned national recognition, nabbing third place in the National Headliner Awards for a digital criminal justice and/or crime podcast. The Free Press won first place for digital presentation through MPA and swept SPJ Detroit's headline writing category, with web editor Tanya Wildt nabbing first. Deputy sports editor Ryan Ford won first place for sports page design and third place for page one design through SPJ Detroit. He also won second place for best page design through MPA for the October 2023 farewell to Detroit Tigers' great Miguel Cabrera and third place for special section design for the Free Press' preview of the Lions' 2023 season. Former Free Press journalists Alex Cruden, Kirthmon F. Dozier, Daymon J. Hartley, Dorothy Jurney, Keith Owens and David Zeman were among those inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Additionally, Free Press team members won numerous other second-, third- and fourth-place awards in the contests for work on topics, including EVs, eviction, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy embezzlement scandal and personal finance. Among these wins were two runners-up for the Sojourner Truth Award — reporter Niraj Warikoo and contributing columnist Darren Nichols — for work exposing bias and addressing racial justice. Lansing bureau chief Paul Egan also was a runner-up for an MPA public service award for his coverage of the Flint water crisis 10 years later. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Free Press honored for watchdog, education, sports reporting and more
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Motherwell Photographic Society members hold annual awards evening
The certificates and trophies were presented by club Competition Secretary Wilson Murray. Motherwell Photographic Society members recently held its annual awards evening. The certificates and trophies were presented by club Competition Secretary Wilson Murray. The winners were: The Invercauld Trophy for Photographer of the Year winner – Linda Greenhill; 2nd – Rodger Shearer; 3rd – Dominic Smith The Tom Dixon Quaich for Projected Digital Images winner – Rodger Shearer; 2nd – Linda Greenhill; 3rd – Margaret Dewar Download the Lanarkshire Live app today The Adams Butchers Trophy for Advanced Landscape and General winner – Linda Greenhill; 2nd – Rodger Shearer; 3rd – Douglas McEwen Holytown Community Centre Trophy for Advanced Portraits winner – Linda Greenhill; 2nd – Dominic Smith; 3rd – Douglas McEwen The Bill McKelvie Memorial Trophy for Most 1st Places in all Main Competitions winner – Linda Greenhill The Molly Shearer Trophy for the Highest Scoring Print winner – Linda Greenhill The Hugh Shaw Memorial Trophy winner – Linda Greenhill The Fergus Smith Memorial Trophy for the Theme Competitions winner – Prints and Trophy Winner – Rodger Shearer; Images – Dominic Smith The presentations were followed by a light buffet. The club will now meet informally from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday evenings in Holytown Community Centre until the new season commences in September. Anyone who has interest in photography is welcome to attend.
