2026 Q3 Photo Essay

Points for Q3 PPAGLA Quarterly Contest 2026

Thomas Cordova 560 Points

Keith Birmingham 500 Points

Ted Soqui 500 Points

Ringo Chiu 420 Points

Cristina Salvador Klenz 420 Points

Mindy Schauer 330 Points

Gina Ferazzi 280 Points

Michael Goulding 260 Points

Jill Connelly 250 Points

Terry Pierson 250 Points

Ghawam Kouchaki 240 Points

Patrick T. Fallon 200 Points

Robert Hanashiro 150 Points

Nancy Newman 140 Points

Jennifer Cappuccio Maher 130 Points

Jeff Gritchen 100 Points

Genaro Molina 90 Points

Sarah Reingewirtz 90 Points

Chris Torres 90 Points

Paul Rodriguez 80 Points

Scott Mitchell 60 Points

J.W. Hendricks 50 Points

Libby Cline Birmingham 40 Points

Kirby Lee 40 Points

Brandon Richardson 40 Points

Cayo Seals 40 Points

Don Bartletti 30 Points

Scott Harrison 20 Points

Karen Loberg 20 Points

Birgit Wennekamp 20 Points

Dana Rene White 20 Points

Quarter 3 judges: MOnica Almeida, Shae Hammond, Nhat V. Meyer

First Place: This photo essay about the Orange County Fair is very cohesive, with a series of equally strong images that capture unexpected moments of daily “fair life.” This is fun and effortless to click through. Each photo is unique, and the sequencing flows smoothly as the images both contrast and complement each other to reflect the spirit , mood and energy of people enjoying their time at the fair.
Second Place: This entry about the life of an unhoused Romani couple has potential to be a first-place winner for the category. The photographer obviously spent a lot of time with them and produced some very strong images that capture intimate moments, nice portraits and emotion. However, the edit and sequencing of the photos require improvement for the images to hold together for a strong, cohesive photo essay. It is also very important to choose one consistent format: choose either all black-and-white conversions or all color instead of combining the two, which is very distracting to the overall strength of the images. It feels as if you're looking at two different stories.
Third Place: Another nice collection of images
HM: This is a great start for a strong photo essay about the Boyle Heights residents impacted by the Lineage warehouse fire. There is a great lede drone photo of the burned-out warehouse and strong protest photos of residents demanding action from the company and local government to clean up the mess and compensate them for the damage to their quality of life. But why stop there? Following two or more families home and photographing them behind the scenes as they try to cope with the horrible smell, rats and insects in their neighborhood would add depth and help complete the photo essay.
HM:

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first Place

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_01.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Two young children, followed by their shadows and parents walk into the Orange County Fair on August 8, 2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_02.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Acrobats, jugglers and stilt walker entertain the crowds at the Orange County Fair on August 16, 2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_03.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.The start of the Orange County Fair’s, Fun Run drew a good crowd on August 9, 2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_04.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.This Future Farmer of America some final moments with goat be for the Junior Livestock Auction on July 25, 2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_05.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Some visitors enjoy the rides along the midway of the Orange County Fair.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_06.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.One Zoot Suit collector readies himself before heading out to the fashion runway on August 9, 2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_07.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Monster truck fans start to fill the seats at the Orange County Fair on July 29, 2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_08.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Motorcycle stunt riders give the crowd a show near the fair’s giant ferris wheel.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_09.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Photo bombing in the Photo Booth at the Orange County Fair.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_10.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.A pie eating contestant breaks out in laughter during a pie eating contest.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_11.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, and eating contests.Exhibitors take a break from showing their pygmy horses at Orange County Fair on August 2.2026.

1st_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_12.jpg

The Orange County Fair, which takes place every July/August in Costa Mesa CA, is a throwback to Southern California’s small-town history - livestock competitions, carnival rides, fashion and eating contests.Stunt bicycle performers the give the crowd a show at the Orange County Fair on July 22, 2026.

second Place

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_01.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 26, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda and Angelo are pictured with their puppy Toby where they are living under a tarp in an alley in Pomona.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_02.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. On a hot summer day, Angelo closes the windows on the tent to keep the sunlight away from Esmeralda.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_03.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 26, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Angelo empties the tent of its contents so that he can sweep it out.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_04.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 26, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda and Angelo from water retrieved from a fire hydrant.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_05.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda helps dry puppy Sebastian and after Angelo bathes him and their other puppy, Toby. Angelo says, “I grew up with dogs all my life. A clean, shady spot with a bowl of water and dog food; that’s all they ask for. It’s simple. I get dog food for free and I have a wrench for the fire hydrant.”

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_06.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda cools down with water from a bucket during a hot September day outside the tent and in front of an air-conditioned building.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_07.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda and Angelo lost their large tent in a city sweep and are now living in a smaller tent. Esmeralda talks with a friend who is passing by.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_08.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 26, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda has been sick for several days with fever after being bitten by a spider on the inside of her arm.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_09.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. During the first week of August, Angelo and Esmeralda’s belongings were discarded during a city sweep and they moved around the block where they acquired a smaller tent and set up in front of a manufacturing business.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_10.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. During the first week of August, Angelo and Esmeralda’s belongings were discarded during a city sweep and they moved around the block where they acquired a smaller tent and set up in front of a manufacturing business.In the heat of the afternoon, Angelo leans against a wall and covers his face. His 27-year-old hands are weathered from years of manual labor including working on cars.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_11.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. Esmeralda pulls a machete from under the mattress that she has been keeping for a friend.

2nd_PHOTOESSAY_Cristina Salvador Klenz - Freelance_12.jpg

No Where To Go - Esmeralda, 28, and Angelo, 27, are a young couple of Romani descent. They have been together for about five years and are from different Romani visti (tribes). Esmeralda is fluent in three languages including Romani, Spanish and English.The Roma, are an ethnic group who left India more than 1000 years ago, were enslaved in Romania for more than 500 years and have migrated throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many Americans, the couple is facing temporary economic hardships and temporarily unhoused living in Pomona, California, where city sweeps force them to move frequently. In the second week of August, Angelo and Esmeralda’s belongings were discarded during a city sweep and they moved around the block where they acquired a smaller tent and set up in front of a manufacturing business.

Third Place

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_01.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day3_07192026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_02.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day5_07232026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_03.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day20_08132026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_04.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day20_08132026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_05.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day1_07172026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_06.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day3_07192026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_07.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day5_07232026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_08.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day12_08022026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_09.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day7_07252026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_10.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day12_08022026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_11.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day12_08022026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

3rd_PHOTOESSAY_Michael Goulding - Freelance_12.jpg

Orange County Fair_Day12_08012026(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

Honorable Mention

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_01.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.Aerial view of the clean up effort at the Lineage site.7/31/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_02.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.A young girl wearing a mask due to the putrid smells generated by 80 million tons of rotting food at the Lineage site.7/2/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_03.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.A young resident from the neighborhood speaks at a press conference about the effects of the Lineage fire.7/2/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_04.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.7/2/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_05.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.Community member protest inside a town hall meeting held by LA City officials.7/9/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_06.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.Community member protest inside a town hall meeting held by LA City officials.7/9/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_07.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.7/2/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_08.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.7/31/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_09.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.A resident of the area wearing a mask due to the putrid smells coming from 80 million tons of rotting food at the Lineage site.7/31/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

HM1_PHOTOESSAY_Ted Soqui - Freelance_10.jpg

Boyle Heights residents protest in response to the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, saying their concerns have been dismissed and their voices excluded from decisions affecting their neighborhood.At demonstrations organized by local groups, residents challenged assurances they say they received that the fire and smoke would have little impact on their lives. They are calling for accountability and a greater role in the recovery process.Local residents hold a protest near a business that is affected by the Lineage fire. Restaurants and local businesses have seen a drop in customers due to putrid smells coming from the Lineage site.7/31/2026 Boyle Heights, CA.

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Meet your judgeS

Monica Almeida has built a career on quiet observation, focusing a trained eye to capture subtle cues of expression, shifting mood, light and pattern. She developed her skills as a photojournalist for major metropolitan newspapers, able to move quickly and shoot decisively, whether covering breaking news or creating a formal portrait. She is currently an independent photographer based in Los Angeles, her hometown. As a staff photographer for The New York Times for 24 years she travelled thousands of miles photographing assignments nationwide. As the sole Los Angeles bureau photographer, she covered major news events, politics, features and entertainment throughout the western U.S., always with a national point of view. She has photographed 20 Academy Awards ceremonies and has covered every presidential campaign since 1992. Monica’s images give a strong sense of place. They humanize issues often debated in dry and abstract terms, described in soundbites and policy plans - from poverty and the economy, immigration or the environment. Her images transform data-driven news reports into compelling narratives --- literally putting a face to them. Her experience encompasses a full spectrum of subjects and situations and she is comfortable hunting for photos at crowded media events or in remote landscapes, the only photographer for miles around. And she is equally adept working independently or in close collaboration with writers, photo editors and art directors; working on long term projects or shooting, editing and filing remotely on tight deadlines. Born in East Los Angeles, Monica began her career as a photo intern and freelance photographer at the Los Angeles Times, where she was on a team of journalists that produced a Pulitzer Prize winning series on Southern California's Latino community. She moved to New York City in 1986 to work as a staff photographer at the New York Daily News and travelled to Southeast Asia to document the lives of Amerasian teenagers. She joined the staff of The New York Times in 1992 and was promoted to National Photographer based in Los Angeles in 1997. She majored in photojournalism at California State University Long Beach and studied fine art and documentary photography at the Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles. Her photographs have been published in "Campaigns, A Century of Presidential Races", "Requiem for the Heartland, the Oklahoma City Bombing", "A Passage to Vietnam", "A Day in the Life of Ireland", "A Day in the Life of Italy", "One Earth", "The Power to Heal" and "A Day in the Life of California".

Shae Hammond is a Bay Area News Group photojournalist for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. A native of the San Fernando Valley, she graduated from California State University, Northridge, where she received a BA degree in media and journalism. As a freelance photographer, her work was featured in several publications before she joined the Bay Area News Group.

Nhat V. Meyer has been a staff photographer for the Bay Area News Group since 2000. He previously worked at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. for three years. He graduated with a degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri. He covers all types of assignments, including news, features, and business, with an emphasis on sports. He has photographed five Olympics, four World Series, three Super Bowls, NBA playoffs, and many other professional sports as well as college and high school sports.