Best of Photojournalism 2008: Video News Editing: Winners
Clips from the Video News Photography and Editing winners in the Best of Photojournalism 2008 are viewable at Poynter Online.
View the daily webinar — live each day at 12:00 EST, and archived thereafter:
Join Al Tompkins to learn what impressed the judges, what ethical issues arose in this year’s entries, and how the backpack journalist trend is affecting photojournalism.
News Feature Finalists (Photographers)
(In Alphabetical Order)
- “Courage Under Fire”
- Matt Knisely/KMSP Minneapolis, MN
- “A Day at Livingston”
- Ron Kabele/Texas Parks & Wildlife
- “Distant Memories”
- Steve Rhodes/WHTR Indianapolis, IN
- “Drive Inn”
- Brad Ingram/WGHP High Point, NC
- “Fit For a King”
- Steve Rhodes/WTHR Indianapolis, IN
- “The Heart of the Barth Hotel”
- Corky Scholl/KUSA Denver, CO
- “The Holy Herd”
- Corky Scholl/KUSA Denver, CO
- “How Brown is that Gravy?”
- Darren Durlach/WBFF Baltimore, MD
- “Hunting for Hunters”
- Anne Herbst/KUSA Denver, CO
- “Seaholm’s Swan Song”
- Todd Rogenthien/KVUE Austin, TX
- “A Sentimental Journey”
- Andy Shilts/KMSP Minneapolis, MN
- “TPIR”
- Dan Bolsem/KCCI Des Moines, IA
- “Wabi Sabi”
- Dan Sheffer/Tucson 12 Tucson, AZ
Winners
- 1st
- "Distant Memories"
- Steve Rhodes, WTHR/Indianapolis, IN
- 2nd
- "The Heart of the Barth Hotel"
- Corky Scholl, KUSA/Denver, CO
- 3rd
- "Wabi Sabi"
- Dan Sheffer, Tucson 12/Tucson, AZ
- HM
- "Fit For a King"
- Steve Rhodes, WTHR/Indianpolis, IN
Judges’ comments
- Lori Allred
This one was tough. We ended up watching the finalists pieces three times to be sure we had made the right decision. There were lots of great pieces, and great for different reasons.
“Distant Memories” was as close to a perfect piece as we have seen in this competition. Beautiful pacing. The editor let the piece breath. The choice of music added, but didn’t get in the way of it. It touched the heart the third time as much as it did the first time. Very creative-absolutely loved it!
“The Heart of Barth Hotel” was so close. Just a wonderful, well-paced piece. Nice audio mix. The original music by the subject was well done, in that the lyrics and score added to the story. We found a couple of things that kept it out of first place, but we had to really look for them. Well done piece.
“Wabi Sabi” was clean and beautifully paced. I think many editors would have been tempted to hurry this piece, which would have ruined it. Really enjoyed it-all three times!
Many of the other pieces were really good. The best examples of editing we have seen so far. When you play back your own piece-try to watch it on a large monitor, and notice how the eye flows across the screen. Is it a natural movement, or are you asking the viewer to bounce their focus all over the place? That lack of flow kept many entries out of the finals.
- John Hyjek
The competition in this category was fierce. Nearly twenty five percent of the entries were outstanding examples of editing excellence. All who made the final cut list should be proud. So close were some decisions that we had to watch most finalists 3 or 4 times.
“DISTANT MEMORIES” (a nearly perfect piece) nosed past ‘HEART OF THE BARTH HOTEL” (perfect but for an audio edit or two) to take first. “DISTANT MEMORIES” incorporated some period appropriate effects along with beautifully shot studio work to tell a tale of a far away past. “HEART OF THE BARTH HOTEL”, shot over the course of a year, documents the recovery of one on the fringes of life. The planned effected seasonal changes and the musicality of the editing helped support the piece to offer a message of hope.
“WABI SABI” is a prime example of the ‘KISS’ rule (keep it simple sweetie). The pacing and restraint (letting the spot breath) exercised by the editor, were near perfect. And “FIT FOR A KING” wove a tale with great edit skills that led the viewer down three paths before revealing the surprising connection the story had to the home town viewing audience.
NPPA Marketplace:
- $10,000 PRIZE
- Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award for work in 2006 by newspaper and wire service photographers. Deadline Jan. 31, 2007. Entry form online.
- BGAN
- The new mobile satellite service with simultaneous high-speed data (up to 492kbps) and voice connectivity that goes wherever you go, throughout the world.
- NPPA Photo Club
- Your digital workflow demands the best gear. And your NPPA membership entitles you to the best prices on all the great stuff in our web store.
- Join the NPPA
- NPPA members receive a wide range of benefits, from educational opportunities to mentoring, discounts on equipment, insurance, business tips, and much more.
Copyright 2002-2008 NPPA.org
For more information, email the Contest Coordinator.