A message from contest gurus Bob and Kevin:
Dear VNPA Members:
The entries for this year’s contest are in and plans for the judging/convention are coming along nicely. The judging and judges’ talks will take place on the same day this year, on March 20th starting at 9a.m. The event will take place at the University of Richmond, in Weinstein Hall, in the Brown-Alley Room.
(http://www.richmond.edu/visit/maps/index.html & http://www.richmond.edu/visit/maps/index.html). Since UR is a little confusing to navigate, we plan to put up signs which will lead the way. If you know where UR’s Boatwright Library is, Weinstein is directly behind the library. Parking should not be a problem and is free, since it’s a weekend. VNPA hopes that the central location in Richmond will draw more participation.
Judges:
Pat Davidson, associate professor of Journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill, formerly with the Rocky Mountain News and the Dallas Morning News and part of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize team that covered the Columbine massacre. Read more about him at this UNC link.
Lynda Richardson, photojournalist from Richmond, Va. Specializing in wildlife. Lynda (who was a VNPA judge a few years ago) is one of the world’s top wildlife photojournalists with a wide range of experience. She has shot for Smithsonian, International Wildlife, US News, Washington Post, AP…the list is just too long. She teaches workshops all over the globe. Check her website:
Mike Stewart, Associated Press, Interim Regional Photo Editor-South. Mike has been on the faculty of the Eddie Adams Workshop and has worked as a photo supervisor for AP in New York.
The judges will be selecting finalists in each category BEFORE coming to Richmond. Once here, they will select winners from those finalist entries in each category. This process will be open for viewing, of course.
After the judging, judge’s presentations will be made, hopefully before 3pm. Since we’ve not tried this one-day approach before, we’ll play it by ear. A schedule of the talks will be available asap.
There will be NO convention fee! The VNPA Council knows that it’s been a tough year financially for many of us. With that in mind, no $35 convention fee. The VNPA will accept donations, however, to help pay for the judges’ expenses (lodging, meals, mileage, and gift baskets).
The University of Richmond is letting use the room (which is VERY nice) at no charge.
UR is also springing for a coffee station and the judges’ lunches. This is a huge help to the VNPA in terms of cost.
After dinner on the 20th, and after the business of the day has concluded, members can take a short walk to The Cellar, an on-campus bar, where the band Van Driver will play—for no cover charge. We all have to thank band member Mark Gormus of the TD Photo staff for offering his band’s talent. It’ll be a good way to end the day. (It’s a nice bar, too….good selection of beers and food).
Scott Brown has helped the VNPA with the ftp upload site, and will post the contest entries on a site once Bob and I organize the entries. Big thank-you to Scott.
If any of you can get door prizes for the 20th or contributions from your publication, please let Mike Morones know asap. Mike is also coordinating the print auction which will take place in Roanoke during the VPA convention.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mike, Bob or me.
We hope you can make it to Richmond on the 20th!
Kevin and Bob
Contest Junkies