Spot News Photography
Third Place

T.J. Salsman
The State Journal Register, Springfield
Train Accident

Second Place

Joseph P. Meier
Daily Southtown, Tinley Park
Car Fire

First Place

Jon Giffin
The Rockfor Register Star
Crash Victim

COMMENTS:Accident scenes are never a comfortable setting to make pictures. Especially when raw human emotion is present. Giffin overcame all the obstacles, including his own emotions, and captured the urgency of this crash.

Spot News Photography
Honorable Mention

Heather Eidson
The Aurora Beacon News
Building gets toasted

Third Place

Justin Runquist
The Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Metra fatality

Second Place

John Badman
The Telegraph, Alton
Murder suspect arrested

First Place

John Badman
The Telegraph, Alton
Summer storms fury

COMMENTS:First place was a quick read, we didn't even need to read the cutline. Image tells it all. Second place photo is very intense. Great job getting to the scene fast and bringing the reader right up to the action. Third place photo had strong composition and color, yet informative. We had to give an honorable mention to the "toasted" photo. We just couldn't throw it out, we liked the humor and thought it deserved an HM.

Spot News Photography
Third Place

Adam Nekola
Morris Daily Herald
Ignored Warning

Second Place

Ken Exum
The Register-Mail,Galesburg
Its all Gone

First Place

Steve Warmowski
Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Stormy bicycle crash

COMMENTS:First Place not only is this photo well shot but it is very dramatic. The driving rain, the sneakers and the fireman in the background make this an instant read

General News Photography
Third Place

Fred Zwicky
Peoria Journal Star
Mother's Ultimate Sacrifice

Second Place

Gary Krambeck
The Rock Island Argus
Steeple Crumbles

First Place

Fred Zwicky
Peoria Journal Star
Tragedy Aftermath

COMMENTS:Acute, intense, painful - this photo an accident victim trapped in a coma reminds us how arbitrary tragedy is.  Although none of us (the judges) knows what this family is really going through, this moment evokes sadness and compels us to celebrate the ones we love.

General News Photography
Third Place

Justin Runquist,
The Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Good Friday

Second Place

Craig Watson
The Aurora Beacon News
Proud marcher

First Place

Margie M. Barnes
The Telegraph, Alton
Family grief

COMMENTS:First place photo is powerful - grieving family photographed through the curtains of the hearse helps isolate the subject for the reader. Add the tender kiss on the forehead and it is clearly a winner. Second place is a different look at the typical protest. Anticipation and quick thinking paid off. Third place photo illustrates a good story idea. Picture perfect composition. Nice light and quiet moment.

General News Photography
Third Place

Steve Warmowski
Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Stoking fires

Second Place

Ken Exum
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
The Patriot

First Place

Clayton Stalter
The Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Moving Memories

COMMENTS: First Place is one of those rare photos that tells the story so well it doesn't need a cutline. The combination of the expression of the woman reflected in the mirror and the house being moved in the background makes this a clear winner:

Features Photography
Third Place

Joseph P. Meier
Daily Southtown, Tinley Park
Wingman

Second Place

Fred Zwicky
Peoria Journal Star
Vertical Mowing

First Place

Mark Black
Daily Herald, Arlington Heights
Little dog big tractor

COMMENTS:Tractor tires, an umbrella and a little dog...the photographer who finds the perfect blend of these elements and captures a timeless moment wins first prize.

Features Photography
Third Place

Tom Sistak
The Times, Ottawa
Salsa's siesta

Second Place

Marina Samovsky
The News-Sun Waukegan
Cinco dance

First Place

Dan Hollander
The Daily Illini, Champaign
Strength through silence

COMMENTS:First place had a good moment found within an event. The kiss was cute, but we liked all the other expressions too. Second place is a fun picture. Third, good feature, but composition is a little weak.

Features Photography
Third Place

Steve Warmowski
Jacksonville Journal- Courier
Best seat in the house

Second Place

H. Rick Bamman
Kane County Chronicle,

First Place

Holly Lundh
Daily Chronicle, Dekalb
Cowch Time

COMMENTS:First Place had a really nice moment from a fair. The affection of the sisters make the photo

Pictorial Photograph
Third Place

Heather Coit
The News-Gazette, Champaign
New Illinois Crop

Second Place

Paul Valade
Daily Herald, Arlington Heights
Flash across the sky

First Place

Joseph P. Meier
Daily Southtown, Tinley Park,
The Leaning Tree

COMMENTS:Simple and odd...a tree growing at a 45-degree angle is a rare sight even though frequent passers-by can see it every day. The "human touch" makes the photo much more curious.

Pictorial Photograph
Third Place

Marina Samovsky
The News-Sun Waukegan
Old Timer

Second Place

Tom Sistak
The Times, Ottawa
Cloud Formation

First Place

John Badman
The Telegraph, Alton
Striking weather

COMMENTS:First place photo uses great balance ... like a painting - big sky, small house and lightning bolt. Second Place is similar to the first place picture. What an amazing cloud. Looks out of this world. Third place emphasizes texture. Old tree looks like and old man's face. We like that is was submitted in black and white

Pictorial Photograph
Third Place

Curtis Clegg
Daily Chronicle, Dekalb
Carnival Rainbow

Second Place

Curtis Clegg
Daily Chronicle, Dekalb
Lightening Near Northern Illinois University

First Place

Holly Lundh
Daily Chronicle, Dekalb
Cloud Pond

COMMENTS: First Place is a beautifully shot photo. The lilly pads look as though they are floating in clouds.

Portrait
Third Place

David Proeber
The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Still doing pushups

Second Place

Rich Hein
Chicago Sun-Times
Revisiting the Scene

First Place

T.J. Salsman
The State Journal-Register, Springfield
P.O.W.

COMMENTS:Uncomplicated, austere and dignified are words that come to mind when looking at this compelling portrait of a concentration camp survivor. Lighting is everything and T.J. Salsman did it right.

Portrait
Third Place

Craig Watson
The Aurora Beacon News
Homeless Poet

Second Place

Jim Bowling
The Telegraph, Alton
Facing the numbers

First Place

Jim Bowling
The Telegraph, Alton
Tennis Player

COMMENTS:First place is the standout winner - well executed idea. Second place is very graphic. Good job of capturing the crazy things sports fans will do. Third place has a nice, subtle moment. Intimate access. The mirror makes you ask questions about this subject, but the caption didn't provide answers. We wanted to know more about this person. There was an internal debate between us over the cord hanging in the mirror. Some thought it was distracting, while others felt it was symbolic. A better caption could have moved this picture up. It looks like this is a 'select' from a larger photo story and that would explain the lack of detail in the caption.

Portrait
Third Place

Bill Gaither
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Poverty

Second Place

Clayton Stalter
Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Citizen Artist

First Place

Rebekah Raleigh
Kane County Chronicle, Geneva
Chris Peterson

COMMENTS: First Place shows beautiful light and the obvious connection between the subject and the horses makes this a winner.

Sports Action Photography
Third Place

Jon Giffin
The Rockford Register Star
Superman

Second Place
John Dixon
The News-Gazette, Champaign
Down and Out

First Place

David Zalaznik
Peoria Journal Star
Tree Swing

COMMENTS:Who can believe that photo of a man fighting a tree with a golf club is chosen over flying, kicking and colliding players competing in many sports. Even our sports editor chose this photo as the best. Anticipation and good positioning always pays off.

Sports Action Photography
Third Place

Josh Birnbaum
The Daily Illini, Champaign
In the face

Second Place

Jim Bowling
The Telegraph, Alton
Second base collision

First Place

Craig Watson
The Aurora Beacon News
Not our turf

COMMENTS: First place - what great timing! Ouch. great moment. nice expressions on their faces - ditto for two and three.

Sports Action Photography
Third Place

Ken Exum
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Safe

Second Place

Bob Gerrard
Kane County Chronicle, Geneva

First Place

Bill Gaither
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Soccer Header

COMMENTS:First Place is an example of capturing peak action. The ball impacting the forehead is captured well enough to give readers a headache

Sports Feature Photography
Third Place

Rick West
Herald, Arlington Heights
Hard Loss

Second Place

Lori Ann Cook
The Pantagraph, Bloomington
Mind Control

First Place

Dan White
Daily Herald, Arlington Heights
Inbounds Pressure

COMMENTS:Dan White gets our nod because he looks for more than the obvious photo of players running, jumping and shooting. The high school sports story can't be completely told without showing fan interaction.

Sports Feature Photography
Third Place

Michael R. Schmidt
The Herald News, Joliet
Time keeper

Second Place

Kristy Ann Mann
The Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Little league warriors

First Place

Heather Eidson
The Aurora Beacon News
Girl out

COMMENTS:First place shows what's happening off the field. Great job of looking away from the action and finding the picture that tells the story. Second place is hilarious. What a great expression. Nice, close and right in there. Third is nice idea, just a little shy of being perfect - could have been first. Needs a little more definition.

Sports Feature Photography
Third Place

Ken Exum
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Pileup Near the Mound

Second Place

Ken Exum
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
I'm not going to cry

First Place

Bill Gaither
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Season Ending

COMMENTS:First Place is another great sports moment. The three girls with different reactions really show the playoff tension.

Photo Illustration
Third Place

David Proeber
The Pantagraph, Bloomington
Who can you trust?

Second Place

Jon Giffin
The Rockford Register Star
Richardson

First Place

Bill Zars
Daily Herald, Arlington Heights
Bird Flu Scare

COMMENTS:The bird flu illustration captures a painting like quality that makes us want to look at it for a long time.

Photo Illustration
Third Place

Thomas Delany Jr.,
The News Sun, Waukegan
Would you eat here?

Second Place

Danielle Gardner
The Naperville Sun
Fall's harvest

First Place

Justin Runquist
The Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Anatomy of a jumpshot

COMMENTS:First place photo represents creative thinking and great execution. Easy pick for first place. Second place demonstrates great control of light. Good use of texture and color. The compositions of the four pictures compliment each other very well. Third place photo is simple and clean. Easy to read and communicates quickly.

Photo Illustration
Third Place

Adam Nekola
Morris Daily Herald
Santa Secret Service

Second Place

Rebakah Raleigh
Kane County Chronicle, Geneva

First Place

Bill Gaither
The Register-Mail, Galesburg

COMMENTS:First Plce is a simple idea with a clear execution. The flames and the thermostat perfectly illustrate a story on rising utility costs.

Picture Story
Third Place

John Dixon
The News-Gazette, Champaign
Meningitis Victim

Second Place

Steve Lundy
Daily Herald
Arlington Heights
Extreme Fighter

First Place

Bev Horne
Daily Herald, Arlington Heights
Finding Family

COMMENTS:Bev Horne has captured the joy of building a family and the worriment of not knowing how their adventure will end. She, the photographer, shares many storytelling moments and never becomes part of the story.

Picture Story
Third Place

Josh Birnbaum
The Daily Illini, Champaign
Up Hill Battle

Second Place

Heather Eidson
The Aurora Beacon News
Sylvia's Forgotten Home

First Place

Craig Watson
The Aurora Beacon News
undying faith

COMMENTS:First place was the most complete story in the category. Great access. We felt the photographer's intimate and emotional connection to the subjects. Very nice, but must have been hard to shoot.  Second place needed better focus on Sylvia which made it hard to follow, but still a good story. Good effort ... we all liked the opening portrait. Third place had some good moments, but needed atighter edit and more depth  - either focusing on a person within this group or some kind of perspective. Overall it was a nice package and we all like the closing ramp picture very much, good job.

Picture Story
Third Place

Bill Gaither,
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Landon Goats

Second Place

Bill Gaither
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
He Gave All

First Place

Bill Gaither
The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Poverty

COMMENTS:First Places a wonderful example of documentary storytelling. The images are exquisitely shot with great light and composition. There are also some poignant moments that put the reader in these people's lives