The State’s Dominick, Melendez win SC photojournalism honors
The State’s Tim Dominick took Best in Show and Gerry Melendez was named Photographer of the Year at the South Carolina News Photographers Association’s annual pictures of the year event in Columbia on Sunday. Paul Zoeller of the Charleston Post & Courier was named runner-up for Photographer of the Year.
The association is one of the oldest state newspaper photography organizations. The State staff won multiple awards in the 2015 competition. Dominick’s Best in Show image showed the Rev. Jessie Jackson watching the South Carolina Senate debating a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.
“That’s a moment you will never find again,” said judge Woody Marshall, director of photography at The Macon Telegraph in Georgia. Tracy Glantz took first place in spot news with her image of Gov. Nikki Haley assessing flood damage in Horry County from a military helicopter.
Melendez won first place in the feature category with his image of bluebirds in a backyard. He also placed first in sports picture story with his essay highlighting a black baseball league in South Carolina. First place in news and features multimedia also went to Melendez.
“This photographer took some chances, and it paid off,” said Marshall of Melendez’s work.
South Carolina News Photographers Association winners
Spot News
1. “Haley Flood” Tracy Glantz, The State
2. “Home Invasion” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
3. “Flooded interior” Matt Walsh, The State
Honorable mention. “Flood rescue” Tim Dominick, The State
General News
1. “Jesse Jackson Reflection” Tim Dominick, The State
2. “Leona” Sefton Ipock, Anderson Independent Mail
3. “Shooting Victim Memorial” Lauren Petracca, Greenville News
HM “Goodbye Mother” Grace Beahm, Charleston Post & Courier
Feature
1. “Bluebirds” Gerry Melendez, The State
2. “Cellphone Lights” Nathan Gray, Anderson Independent Mail
3. “Spaceship” Matt Walsh, The State
HM “Mother and daughter” Lauren Petracca, Greenville News
Sports Action
1. “Air” Sefton Ipock, Anderson Independent Mail
2. “Collision” Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
3. “Watson Diving TD” Gerry Melendez, The State
HM “Ball Face” Leroy Burnell, Charleston Post & Courier
HM “Court Shadows” Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
Sports Feature
1. “Cold Celebration” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
2. “Spieth Jump” Tim Dominick, The State
3. “Breather” Gerry Melendez, The State
HM “Ball Heads” Gerry Melendez, The State
HM “Game Winner” Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
Portrait/Personality
1. “Veteran” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
2. “Sex Slave" Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
3. “Squirmy prize” Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent Mail
HM “Guitar Player” Matt Walsh, The State
Pictorial
1. “Paddling Out” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
2. “Kick Flip” Mykal McEldowney, Greenville News
3. “Fishing on Dock” Lauren Petracca, Greenville News
*One picture that would have placed was disqualified due to no caption.
Picture Package
1. “Mud Run” Gerry Melendez, The State
2. “Klan Rally” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
3. “Hillbilly Festival” Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent Mail
News Picture Story
1. “Emmanuel AME Shooting” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
2. “Confederate Flag” Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
3. “Emmanuel Shooting” Grace Beahm, Charleston Post & Courier
HM “Boys and Girls Club Shooting” Lauren Petracca, Greenville News
HM “The Removal of the Confederate Flag” Mykal McEldowney, Greenville News
Feature Picture Story
1.”The Hunt for Wild Hog” Mykal McEldowney, Greenville News
2. “Left Behind” Grace Beahm, Charleston Post & Courier
3. “American Flag” Heidi Heilbrunn, Greenville News
Sports Picture Story
1. “Diamonds in the Dust” Gerry Melendez, The State
2. “The Speedway Life” Mykal McEldowney, Greenville News
3. “Southern Savior” Gerry Melendez, The State
Multimedia-feature
1. Wrestling a Dream - Gerry Melendez, The State
2. Southern Savior - Gerry Melendez, The State
3. Fort Jackson Boxing Club - Gerry Melendez, The State
HM. Speedway Life - Mykal McEldowney, Greenville News/Indianapolis Star
Multimedia-news
1. Louthians - A Flood Story - Gerry Melendez, The State
2. South Carolina town supports lesbian police chief - Matt Walsh, The State
3. Hogs hunted for killing sea turtles - Matt Walsh, The State
HM. Flood victims recalls memories - Matt Walsh, The State
Portfolio
Photographer of the Year: Gerry Melendez, The State
Runner-up: Paul Zoeller, Charleston Post & Courier
Best in Show: “Jesse Jackson Reflection” Tim Dominick, The State
This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 7:11 PM with the headline "The State’s Dominick, Melendez win SC photojournalism honors."