2023 Q3 Picture Story

RoSS FRANKLIN, Quarter 3 Judge

First Place: Nice collection of images, some from during the storm and not just the aftermath shows photog in the thick of the storm.

Second Place: Nice collection of images, including drone images.  Press conference image, warning siren image kept this out of the top 

Third Place: Really like images 01, 03 and 05.  Was looking for a stronger ending image to tie it all together.

HM: A nice attempt at something different here, especially with a global soccer (football) star coming to town.  

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First Place: GINA FERAZZI, LOS ANGELES TIMES

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 21, 2023: Nick Rodriguez, left, hands his brother Rick Figueroa a cooler of water after walking though waist deep mud to reach an outside refrigerator in Figueroa’s flooded backyard from the remnants of tropical storm Hilary on August 21, 2023 in Cathedral City, California. The inside of the house has 18 inches of flood water. “The water came into the house about midnight full throttle, Figueroa said. He and his family hunkered down in one room until sunrise. Unable to escape out their front door Figueroa’s wife Dawn and daughter Ella escaped over a neighbor’s back wall Monday morning.

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THERMAL, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: Maria Elena Zaragoza of Thermal watches as heavy rains push flood waters into her driveway as tropical storm Hilary dumps torrential rain on the area on August 20, 2023 in Thermal, California.

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THERMAL, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: Sergio Lopez of Thermal, middle, steers a large wooden plank through flood waters to help Carlos Gutierrez, right, divert the flood water running on Avenue 70 during tropical storm Hilary on August 20, 2023 in Thermal, California.

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THERMAL, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: Rafael Nunez, 29, right, with Isabel Ramirez, 23, carries bags of fertilizer to prop up a piece of roofing to try and divert flood waters on 70th Avenue from coming into his mobile home as tropical storm Hilary dumps torrential rain on the area on August 20, 2023 in Thermal, California.

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THERMAL, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: Maria Elena Zaragoza, left, and Cassandra Gutierrez, 18, of Thermal watch as heavy rains push flood waters towards their driveway as tropical storm Hilary dumps torrential rain on the area on August 20, 2023 in Thermal, California.

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THERMAL, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: Nannie Auclair wears plastic bags on her feet as she traverses through flood waters carrying a case of Budweiser she just bought at a neighborhood market as tropical storm Hilary dumps torrential rain on the area on August 20, 2023 in Thermal, California.

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 21, 2023: A man lays in the back of his stuck car near many other stuck vehicles on the flooded Avenida La Vista on August 21, 2023 in Cathedral City, California.

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 22, 2023: Resident Silvia Garnica shovels thick mud out of her covered driveway to try and free two stuck vehicles after tropical storm Hilary sent damaging flood water to Horizon Road on August 22, 2023 in Cathedral City, California.

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 22, 2023: Muddy shoes are left behind on the hood of one of many stuck vehicles in the mud and flood waters after tropical storm Hilary sent damaging flood water to Horizon Road on August 22, 2023 in Cathedral City, California.

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 22, 2023: Ronald Mendiola walks barefoot through the mud after checking on his house on Horizon Road on August 22, 2023 in Cathedral City, California. He and his family had to climb onto their roof to escape the flood waters from tropical storm Hilary Sunday night. Jimmy Laker, a local resident rescued the Mendiola family from the rooftop with his four wheel drive truck.

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 21, 2023: Residents from a senior living facility are held by firefighters in a front loader while being brought to safety after the Affinity Senior Living was inundated with flood waters from tropical storm Hilary on August 21, 2023 in Cathedral City, California.

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CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 21, 2023: An elderly woman keeps her arms crossed while rescuers carry her to a gurney after she and other residents from a senior living facility were loaded into a front loader with firefighters while being brought to safety after the Affinity Senior Living was inundated with flood waters from tropical storm Hilary on August 21, 2023 in Cathedral City, California.

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Second Place: PATRICK FALLON, AFP

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Hano Ganer looks with family members for belongings in the ashes of their family’s burned home after wildfires destroyed homes and businesses in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. As the island recovers from the fire the people of Lahaina face a difficult future not only to bury their dead and grieve the at least 97 people killed, but also a difficult history and an uncertain future for families and locals. Concerns of stolen land, predatory property developers and reexamining how sustainable an economy previously centered on tourism will be in the future impacted by inequality and climate change. At least 97 people died when the inferno leveled Lahaina on the island of Maui, with some residents not aware their town was at risk until they saw flames for themselves. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.

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Davilynn Severson (L) holds a page of a yearbook as she looks for belongings through the ashes of their family’s home after wildfires destroyed their neighborhood in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. At least 97 people died when the inferno leveled Lahaina on the island of Maui, with some residents not aware their town was at risk until they saw flames for themselves.

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An aerial image shows a red roofed house that survived the fires surrounded by destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in the historic Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 10, 2023. At least 97 people died when the inferno leveled Lahaina on the island of Maui, with some residents not aware their town was at risk until they saw flames for themselves.

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An aerial image shows destroyed homes, buildings, and the harbor area burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui over Lahaina, Hawaii on August 10, 2023. At least 97 people died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes and visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.

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An aerial image shows a person walking down Front Street past destroyed buildings burned to the ground in the historic Lahaina Town in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 10, 2023. At least 97 people died when the inferno leveled Lahaina on the island of Maui, with some residents not aware their town was at risk until they saw flames for themselves.

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A person walks beneath burned palm trees past destroyed homes near Front Street after wildfires destroyed homes and businesses in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. At least 97 people died when the inferno leveled Lahaina on the island of Maui, with some residents not aware their town was at risk until they saw flames for themselves.

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An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings on the waterfront burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.

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Volunteers with the Pacific Whale Foundation load boats with supplies including food, water, and diapers to deliver to western Maui families impacted by wildfires that destroyed homes and businesses before sailing from Maalaea Harbor in Maalaea, Hawaii on August 12, 2023. After the fires community organizations and individuals rose to fill a void of local, state, and federal government response in order to provide community aid and support.

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Workers move body bags into refrigerated storage containers adjacent to the Maui Police Forensic Facility where human remains are stored in the aftermath Maui wildfires in Wailuku, Hawaii on August 14, 2023. On the afternoon of August 14, two additional refrigerated containers arrived for a total of five containers as local authorities and FBI Evidence Response Team (ERT) agents were on site. Emergency personnel painstakingly scoured the incinerated landscape for more human remains. At least 97 people died when the inferno leveled Lahaina on the island of Maui, with some residents not aware their town was at risk until they saw flames for themselves.

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Governor of Hawaii Josh Green speaks about government accountability alongside Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier, and Maui County Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. during a press conference about the destruction of historic Lahaina and the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Wailuku, Hawaii on August 12, 2023. Officials faced tough questions and anger after none of the emergency alert alarms were triggered before a wildfire burned the historic town of Lahaina completely to the ground killing at least 97 people.

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One of the sirens that is part of the state wide emergency alert system is seen in Kihei, Hawaii, on August 13, 2023. Officials are facing tough questions and anger after none of the emergency alert alarms were triggered before a wildfire burned the historic town of Lahaina completely to the ground killing at least 97 people.

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An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina along the Pacific Ocean in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. As the island recovers from the fire the people of Lahaina face a difficult future not only to bury their dead and grieve the at least 97 people killed, but also a difficult history and an uncertain future for families and locals. Concerns of stolen land, predatory property developers and reexamining how sustainable an economy previously centered on tourism will be in the future impacted by inequality and climate change.

Third Place: Ringo chiu, FREELANCE

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Soccer fans wearing Messi hats are seen during an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Soccer fans wearing Lionel Messi’s jerseys are seen prior to an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Soccer fans of Inter Miami's Lionel Messi holding an Argentinian flag are seen prior to an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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A young soccer fan of Inter Miami's Lionel Messi holding sign is seen prior to an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Soccer fans react as Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up prior to an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (10) waves during an MLS soccer match against the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (L) in actions against Los Angeles FC's Kellyn Acosta (C) and Mateusz Bogusz (R) during an MLS soccer match Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Soccer fans react as Inter Miami's Lionel Messi walks to the corner for a corner kick during an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Inter Miami's Facundo Farías, bottom, celebrates his goal with Lionel Messi during an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, center, and teammates after celebrate their goal during an MLS soccer match between the Inter Miami CF and the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (10) shakes hands with Los Angeles FC's Mateusz Bogusz (19) after an MLS soccer match Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (10) is interviewing after an MLS soccer match against the Los Angeles FC Sunday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Meet Our Judge, RoSS FRANKLIN

PPAGLA Contest Winners, judged by Ronald W. Erdrich, photojournalist for the Abilene Reporter-News/USA Today Network, twice-voted Star Photojournalist of the Year in the statewide Texas Managing Editors Association awards, and a judge in the 2022 Pictures of the Year, International Contest.