Clip Standings

Mark Lipczynski 10pts

Stephanie J. Smith 9pts

Luis Sánchez 9pts

David Foster 8pts

Greg Ruffing 5pts

Stephanie Weiss 3pts

Tim Bgansky 3pts

4 points for first
3 points for second
2 points for third
1 point for HM

I'm a staff photographer at a mid-sized daily, The Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, Georgia. I've been working here for almost a year. I graduated from University of Georgia in 2005 and interned at The Morning Call in Allentown, PA and then for the Patuxent Publishing Company in Baltimore, MD. I'm still trying to figure out my own vision and am thrilled to look at everyone's photos--I was impressed with all of them.

http://www.kendrickbrinson.com/

First Place: Professional Models by Lindsay Semple. I chose this as first because it's a smart photo, which is especially impressive because I imagine it must have been a chaotic, cluttered scene. The layers and reflection really add a depth to the photo that captures the various stages of preparation and keeps my eye bouncing around for a bit longer then I'd look at most photos.

Second Place: Bears by Mark Lipczynski. IThis made me laugh right away. It's a creative, eye-catching and surprising image for what could have been a run-of-the-mill illustration. I'm sure it would make readers look twice.

Third Place: Kristen by Sam Twarek. The posture, hair, framing makes me want to know more about this girl. It draws the reader in and would make them want to read the article/see more photos and find out more about Hattie. This photo feels both intimate, in terms of the photography, and distanced, in terms of the subject seemingly being in another world.