2022 Qtr. 1 Picture Story

Lynne Sladky, Quarter 1 Judge

First place

Such a complete story, great variety.

Second place

Excellent work to gain the trust of the homeless people living in this building.

Third place

Nice moments between the pastor and her daughter, although maybe a couple too many that are very similar.

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First Place: Mindy Schauer/Orange County Register

Lauren Genger, a licensed veterinary technician, and Veterinarian Scott Weldy, work on an anesthetized mountain lion cub last year after he was struck by a car on the 241 toll road. The animal was injured too badly to be released back into the wild. He has since been placed at the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound’s Feline Conservation Center in Rosamond, Ca.

Vet Tech Lauren Genger readies a pallas’s cat for surgery pre-COVID-19. “As the pandemic has continued, we've learned that COVID-19 can infect and cause illness in exotic cats so we've updated our standards,” she says on Monday, March 1, 2021. Staff at Lake Forest's Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital now use rubber gloves when handling cats.

A pet rat is anesthetized by vet tech Lauren Genger before surgery to remove a non-cancerous abscess at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest on Wednesday, December 29, 2021.

Vet tech Lauren Genger wears her philosophy on her wrist as she works on an animal at Serrano Animal Hospital in Lake Forest on Monday, March 1, 2021.

Lauren Genger, a licensed veterinary technician, carries an anesthetized mountain lion cub to the operating room for a procedure last year. The cub, struck by a car on the 241 toll road, was injured too badly to be released back into the wild. He has since been placed at the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound’s Feline Conservation Center in Rosamond, Ca.

A baby cougar lets out a hiss while recuperating at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. The cub was only 12 weeks when he was hit by car in Monterey. Because he will never learn to hunt, he will live in a zoo after he heals.

A duck and a dog are kennel mates at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, where they are both receiving treatment.

Vet tech Lauren Genger holds Butters, her sweet-tempered cat on Monday, March 1, 2021 at Serrano Animal Hospital. Butters served as a therapy pet, giving “hugs” to staff members in need. He died a few weeks after this photo was taken, sending Genger into a difficult period of grief. She had four tattoos made of butter’s paw prints in the exact spots they appear in this photo.

The sun reflects off a “You’re so Rad” pin Vet Tech Lauren Genger wears during work at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest on Wednesday, December 29, 2021.

After surgery on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, Vet Tech Lauren Genger puts her trademark “Teddy Bear Toes,” a smiling face drawn in sharpie, on the mountain lion’s paw.

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Second Place: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times

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With over 60,000 homeless living in Los Angeles County, many homeless have found housing in alternative places. Alex Seijas Torres, 24, and his dog Wolf have been living in an abandoned dental office in Los Angeles that has been sitting empty for 3 to 4 years. He has made a home of the building that has been red tagged by the city. He pirates electricity to fuel a small heater, a mini refrigerator and a few lights. He gathers water from the fire sprinkler system and uses a recycle container to store it. Another homeless resident Felipe “Cuba” Diaz, 50, lives in another room nearby. He makes ends meet selling recyclables that he gathers daily. Many homeless advocates have complained that there are many structures that can be refurbished and used to house the homeless. Rather than wait for a solution, Seijas and Diaz have made the most of living in this abandoned structure. Alex Seijas Torres, 24, cooks a meal on top of a dish rack from his room inside an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Koreatown on December 1, 2021. Torres, has been living at the site with his dog Wolf for the past two months. Torres wired electricity into the building from an outside pole so he can power a small refrigerator, microwave, stereo and a few lights. He gets water from the fire sprinklers.

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Alex Seijas Torres, 24, connects wires to pirate electricity into the unit where he resides in an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Koreatown on December 1, 2021.

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With over 60,000 homeless living in Los Angeles County, many homeless have found housing in alternative places. Alex Seijas Torres, 24, and his dog Wolf have been living in an abandoned dental office in Los Angeles that has been sitting empty for 3 to 4 years. He has made a home of the building that has been red tagged by the city. He pirates electricity to fuel a small heater, a mini refrigerator and a few lights. He gathers water from the fire sprinkler system and uses a recycle container to store it. Another homeless resident Felipe “Cuba” Diaz, 50, lives in another room nearby. He makes ends meet selling recyclables that he gathers daily. Many homeless advocates have complained that there are many structures that can be refurbished and used to house the homeless. Rather than wait for a solution, Seijas and Diaz have made the most of living in this abandoned structure. Alex Seijas Torres, 24, spends time with his dog Wolf in his room inside an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Koreatown in Los Angeles. Torres, has been living at the site with his dog Wolf for the past two months. Torres wired electricity into the building from an outside pole so he can power a small refrigerator, microwave, stereo and a few lights. His sister, who lives in an apartment in the neighborhood, is trying to find him permanent housing.

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Alex Seijas Torres, 24, calls his dog Wolf who runs in front of an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Koreatown in Los Angeles. The pile of garbage, right, is where homeless residents of the abandoned building leave their garbage. Torres has been living at the site, with his dog Wolf, for the past two months.

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Alex Seijas Torres, 24, enters through a hole in the wall of an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Los Angeles.

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Alex Seijas Torres, 24, sweeps up while collecting water in a recycle bin from a fire sprinkler inside an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Koreatown on December 1, 2021. Torres uses the fresh water for bathing himself and his dog.

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Felipe “Cuba” Diaz, 50, left, and his friend Sergio, spend time in Diaz’ room inside an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Los Angeles. Diaz spends his days collecting recyclables for money. He has lived in the abandoned structure for several months.

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Felipe “Cuba” Diaz, 50, left, leaves his home in an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Los Angeles. Diaz was off to collect recyclables for money. He has lived in the abandoned structure for several months.

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Felipe “Cuba” Diaz, 50, deposits garbage on a trash heap in front of an abandoned building where he lives in Los Angeles. Diaz was heading out for a day of collecting recyclables. A community of homeless people are living in the building that has been abandoned for 3 to 4 years, locals said. They all have their own rooms.

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Felipe “Cuba” Diaz, 50, walks through the darkened hallways of an abandoned building that once housed the Vermont Dental Implant Center in Los Angeles. Diaz has converted an office space in the building to his living quarters. The building has been retagged and the days are numbered for Diaz who has been living here for several months.

Third Place: Ringo Chiu, Freelance

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea comforts her 3-year-old daughter Fai’ana Su’esolo ‘I Hevani Lolohea before her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea takes care her 3-year-old daughter Fai’ana Su’esolo ‘I Hevani Lolohea before her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea gets ready for her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif. (

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea fixes her hair before her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea takes care her 3-year-old daughter Fai’ana Su’esolo ‘I Hevani Lolohea before her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea conducts her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea conducts her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea conducts her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea conducts her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

Women Clergy Barriers-Pacific Islanders

HOLD FOR FOR REPORTER DEEPA BHARAT’S STORY “WOMEN CLERGY BARRIER-PACIFIC ISLANDERS”: Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea conducts her Sunday church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif., Sunday, March 6, 2022. Pacific Islander women who wish to serve as pastors face significant challenges because in their male-centered culture, women are viewed as supporters rather than leaders. Pastor Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea says she would love to serve her Samoan community. But because it is still difficult for congregants to accept a female pastor, Siofele-Lolohea serves a multi-ethnic pastor in Pomona, Calif.

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Meet Our Judge, Lynne Sladky

After graduating from Kent State University in Ohio where I studied photography, I started my career as a photographer at a weekly newspaper in Cleveland, the Sun Newspapers. I later freelanced for numerous publications in Cleveland, including United Press International. I became a staff photographer with UPI in Miami in 1985. I then worked at the Palm Beach Post for two years before joining the AP photo staff in Miami in 1990, where I’ve been for 32 years and counting. I’ve been in Miami for most of my AP career, but I also worked in London for three years, and in San Juan, Puerto Rico for five years covering the Caribbean.