2021 Qtr. 1 Photo Essay

Curt Chandler, Quarter 1 Judge

Judges Notes on winners – There’s clearly a huge amount of confusion between what constitutes a photo essay and what makes a picture story. A photo essay is impressionistic. It is designed to link different elements together to show a larger whole. This requires a strong edit and clear vision, since the photographer doesn’t have the advantage of the narrative backbone that defines a picture story. An essay should not be a jumble of pictures made at an event or place.

The first-place story on security precautions at the California State Capitol encounters the question of how do you show something that didn’t happen? The photographer does a masterful job of using good lighting, sound composition and individual human stories to recreate the vibe that day. The essay incorporates a solid edit, good scene setters, pictures from inside and outside the capitol building, and shows how regular people were affected. The second-place wine country essay also takes advantage of good lighting, strong composition and an excellent variety of pictures that provide both a sense of place and show the impact of pandemic rules. Good edit, every picture adds to the package. The third-place essay on the COVID-19 Grammys has a good opener and a plethora of strong runway moments. It has the key image that shows a COVID-19 dresser. I wish it had a scene setter that shows there’s no live audience other than the media. An honorable mention to the Trump Rose Parade essay that had several strong images and did a good job of showing action and reaction. It would have benefited from a stronger opening image and a tighter edit. 

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First Place: Gina Ferazzi, LA Times

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 15, 2021: The California State Capitol dome is lit as night falls and the 6-foot high surrounding the grounds are highlighted by bright spotlights in anticipation of possible civil unrest by Trump supporters on January 15, 2021 in Sacramento, California. National Guard troops were stationed along the perimeter with the California Highway Patrol as the presidential inauguration drew closer.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 15, 2021: CHP officers patrol the state Capitol grounds in anticipation of possible civil unrest this weekend by Trump supporters on January 15, 2021 in Sacramento, California.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 20, 2021: An ANTIFA protester sprays pink smoke during a demonstration near the California State Capitol on what was otherwise a quiet Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021 in Sacramento, California. The group is anti-cops, anti-right-wing and anti-presidents.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 17, 2021: The National Guard patrols California Sate Capitol Park next to the Capitol in anticipation of civil unrest leading up to the Inauguration on January 17, 2021 in Sacramento, California.

SACRAMENTO, CA -JANUARY 19, 2021: As the State Capitol is guarded by the National Guard, police and a perimeter fence in anticipation of civil unrest, Assemblywoman Autumn Burke of District 62, representing Inglewood, lets her daughter Isabella, 6, sit on her lap during a session in the state Assembly in the Capitol on January 19, 2021 in Sacramento, California.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 16, 2021: France Driscoll holding an American flag and rosary prays for the Constitution and U.S. citizens in front of state Capitol on January 16, 2021 in Sacramento, California.CHP officers and the National Guard are on the property to protect the Capitol and surrounding historical buildings.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 17, 2021: A woman walks her dog across the street from the State Capitol as National Guard troops patrol the area in anticipation of civil unrest leading up to the presidential inauguration on January 17, 2021 in Sacramento, California.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 16, 2021: UCR masters student Christian Alvarado, 25, of Sacramento stands with an American flag in solidarity with police and legislators in front of the state Capitol on January 16, 2021 in Sacramento, CA. CHP officers guard the perimeter of the Capitol grounds in anticipation of civil unrest this weekend. on January 16, 2021 in Sacramento, California.

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Second Place: Jay L. Clendenin, LA Times

ST. HELENA, CA - FEBRUARY 06: California tourism is having a slow return to normalcy, as visitors begin to visit northern California’s Wine Country. The sunrise is seen over vineyards of cabernet sauvignon, from Campbell Vineyards, in the Rutherford Bench, outside of St. Helena, CA, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.

ST. HELENA, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Estate host Troy Jolliffe talks about the wine selection of The Pact, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Faust, with with Vickie Chang, left and Susie Hui, visiting from the San Francisco Bay Area, during their wine tasting at Faust, in Coombsville, outside St. Helena, CA, in Napa Valley, photographed Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.

ST. HELENA, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Peter Mondavi, Jr, Co-Proprietor, C. Mondavi & Family, is photographed in the barrel room of the Charles Krug Winery, in St. Helena, CA, in the storied Napa Valley wine country, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.

ST. HELENA, CA - FEBRUARY 05: On a “girl’s weekend” of wine tasting, Caitlin Farrell, from Chicago leaves her face mask hanging on her ear, while tasting in the Redwood Cellar Picnic Grounds of the Charles Krug Winery, in St. Helena, CA, in the storied Napa Valley wine country, photographed Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.

YOUNTVILLE, CA - FEBRUARY 04: The sculpture “Sidewalk Judge,” by artist Seward Johnson, wears a facemask, in downtown Yountville, CA, as part of they town’s Art Walk, as tourists begin to visit California’s Wine Country, photographed Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021.

ST. HELENA, CA - FEBRUARY 05: A flag is backlit, above The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, along St. Helena Highway in St. Helena, CA, photographed Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.

ST. HELENA, CA - FEBRUARY 06: A pair of coyotes is seen in a vineyard of cabernet cauvignon, in Rutherford Bench, outside, St. Helena, CA, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.

SONOMA, CA - FEBRUARY 06: Paul Rice paints along Nathanson Creek on a sunny afternoon in Sonoma, CA, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.

SONOMA, CA - FEBRUARY 06: Jessica Seitz, a San Francisco transplant since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, prepares for a horseback ride with boyfriend André Keiser, at the Bartholomew Estate Winery in Sonoma, CA, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Current package is a 45-minute trail ride through the Bartholomew Estate vineyards with a bottle of estate wine to take home (choice of Sauvignon Blanc or Zinfandel) for $140 per person. Guests can opt to add-on a tasting flight ($25 per person for flight of four wines from Barthlomew’s organic vineyards).

NAPA, CA - FEBRUARY 06: The skies above Napa, CA, were filled with hot air balloons on a brisk morning, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.

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Third place: Jay L. Clendenin, LA Times

Richard Celis, with Joe Lewis Company, vacuums the red carpet to be used for the 63rd Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Friday, March 5, 2021. The music entertainment show was one of the first to return to in-person contact, with many nominees and presenters on-hand. Testing and safety measures were enforced, as workers maintained face coverings and testing regimes.

Host Trevor Noah on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Noah Cyrus is prepped by a COVID-19-safe stylist for her moment on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Grammy winner Dua Lipa, on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Dual-Grammy winner Kaytranada, on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Taylor Swift, still celebrating with another win, on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Megan Thee Stalion with her collection of three grammys, on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Billie Eilish taking two more Grammys in stride, while brother FINNEAS soaks it in, on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.

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Tiara Thomas, on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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HONORABLE MENTION: Keith Birmingham, PASADENA STAR-NEWS

As another year goes by without a Rose Parade due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and the election has changed toe political landscape former President Trump supporters decided to come out to Pasadena and hold their own “Rose Parade” along Colorado Blvd. Trump supporters gathered and held the Patriots Parade in place of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

Trump supporters gathered and held the Patriots Parade in place of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A man mocks Trump supporters as he gives the Nazi salute during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A trump supporter yells toward people along Colorado Blvd. to take off their masks during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A car has Rose taped on the side of their car during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A Trump supporter hold up four fingers for four more years behind a picture of trump during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A man taunts Trump supporters during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

The Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

The Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A young girl wears a giant Make America Great Again hat during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

A woman holds up a Trump sign saying he will remain President during the Patriots Parade that took place instead of the Rose Parade that was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena on Friday, January 1, 2021.

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Meet Our Judge, Curt Chandler

Curt Chandler teaches multimedia reporting and entrepreneurial journalism at Penn State University. Before jumping to academia he was the director of photography and editor for online innovation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He taught picture editing and design at the Northern Short Course in Photojournalism for more than a decade and has been a long-time video trainer at NPPA's Multimedia Immersion workshop. He has edited two books on photojournalism and visual management, The Great Picture Hunt II by David LaBelle and Vision, Courage and Heart by Bob Lynn.