KENT, Ohio — Chris Russell from The Columbus Dispatch has been chosen Ohio Photographer of the Year for 2007 by the Ohio News Photographers Association.

Finishing second was Lisa DeJong from The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer and third was Gus Chan from The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. Ken Love and Phil Masturzo both from the Akron Beacon Journal received an Award of Excellence for his work over the past year.

Ninety-eight photographers from across the state submitted 1404 entries in the 57th annual news photography contest judged Friday and Saturday at Kent State University.

Judging the competition were: Jim Gehrz from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Karen Pulfer Focht from The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal and Jack Ziblukis, associate professor of journalism at Arkansas State University.

Ken Love from the Akron Beacon Journal was named Clip Photographer of the Year from points accumulated in the Association’s Monthly Clip Contest. Neal C. Lauron from The Columbus Dispatch placed second and Gus Chan from The Plain Dealer won third place.

The winners were:  

News Photographer of Year      
1st, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch      
2nd, Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer      
3rd, Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer      
Award of Excellence, Ken Love, Akron Beacon Journal
Award of Excellence, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal

Clip Contest Photographer of Year      
1st, Ken Love, Akron Beacon Journal      
2nd, Neal C. Lauron, The Columbus Dispatch      
3rd, Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer

Student Photographer of the Year      
1st, David Foster, Kent State University

James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award      
1st, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Johanna: Facing Forward"      
2nd, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch, "Born Too Soon"

Best of Show      
Ron Alvey, Dayton Daily News, "Shattered Dreams"

Picture Usage (Under 100,000 circulation)       
1st, The (Willoughby) News Herald      
2nd, The (Medina) Gazette      
3rd, ThisWeek Newspapers (Columbus)

Picture Usage (Over 100,000 circulation)      
1st, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer      
2nd, The Columbus Dispatch      
3rd, Akron Beacon Journal

Photography Staff of Year (Under 100,000 circulation)      
1st tie, Suburban News Publications (Columbus),
1st tie, ThisWeek Newspapers (Columbus)      
2nd, Springfield News-Sun            
3rd, Sandusky Register

Photography Staff of Year (Over 100,000 circulation)       
1st, The Plain Dealer      
2nd, The Columbus Dispatch      
3rd, Akron Beacon Journal

Assigned Feature Picture      
1st, Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade, "Infant Aquatics"      
2nd, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Angel"      
3rd, Tim Johnson, Suburban News Publications (Columbus), "Schoolhouse Light"      
Award of Excellence, Bill Lackey, Springfield New-Sun, "Wrestling Fan"      
Award of Excellence, Cassandra Bergman, Suburban News Publications (Columbus), "Graduation"      
Award of Excellence, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch, "Robin Rescue"
Award of Excellence, Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, "Puzzled"      
Award of Excellence, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register, "Bird Watchers"      
Award of Excellence, Jeffry Konczal, Suburban News Publications (Columbus), "Canine Companions"

Enterprise Feature Picture      
1st, Randy Roberts, The (Findlay) Courier, "Schools Out"      
2nd, Mary Circelli, The Columbus Dispatch, "Solitary"      
3rd, Jim Witmer, Dayton Daily News, "Breezy Flag"      
Award of Excellence, Dave Zapotosky, The (Toledo) Blade, "Hose Job"      
Award of Excellence, Neal C. Lauron, The Columbus Dispatch, "That’s My Boy"      
Award of Excellence, Tracy Boulian, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Cooling Off"      
Award of Excellence, Thomas Ondrey, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Bridal Shower"

Feature Picture Story      
1st, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Johanna: Facing Forward"      
2nd, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch, "Born To Soon"       
3rd, Shari Lewis, The Columbus Dispatch, "An Interrupted Life"      
Award of Excellence, Chris Stephens, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Mental Health Nurse"      
Award of Excellence, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Nutcracker"      
Award of Excellence, Tim Johnson, Suburban News Publications, "Schoolhouse"

General News      
1st, Dave Zapotosky, The (Toledo) Blade, "Tears for Hero"      
2nd, Doral Chenoweth III, The Columbus Dispatch, "Old Deportation Order"      
3rd, Ben French, Suburban News Publications (Columbus), "Welcome Home"      
Award of Excellence, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Eviction"
Award of Excellence, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Tears For Cookie"
Award of Excellence, Tracy Boulian, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Welcome Home"
Award of Excellence, Tom Dodge, The Columbus Dispatch, "Blue Light Special"
Award of Excellence, Ed Suba Jr, Akron Beacon Journal, "Vigil For Jessie"
Award of Excellence, Lew Stamp, Akron Beacon Journal, "Shawrica Lester"

Issue Illustration      
1st, Andrea Levy,The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Faces of Sacrifice"      
2nd, Andrea Levy,The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer,, "Magic of Mushrooms"      
3rd, Andrea Levy,The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer,, "Big Bad Wolf"      
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy,The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Heavy Burden"            
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy,The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Full House"            
Award of Excellence, David Foster,Kent State University, "Love on the Beach"

Product Illustration      
1st, Thomas Ondrey, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Fall Fashion"      
2nd, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, "Chocolate"      
3rd, Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, "Pepper Power"      
Award of Excellence, Chris Stephens, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Pewter Vases"            
Award of Excellence, Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, "Dried Fruit"
Award of Excellence, Lisa Powell, Dayton Daily News, "Swimsuit Fashion"

News Picture Story      
1st, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Foreclosure"      
2nd, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, "Knife Standoff"      
3rd, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Tears For Cookie"      
Award of Excellence, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Success Tech Shooting"            
Award of Excellence, Ken Love, Akron Beacon Journal, "Hometown Hero"            
Award of Excellence, Ken Love, Akron Beacon Journal, "Coming Home"

Pictorial      
1st, Ken Love, Aakron Beacon Journal, "Amish Buggy"      
2nd, Chris Stephens, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Herons"      
3rd, Paul Tople, Akron Beacon Journal, "Hot Air Balloons"      
Award of Excellence, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Peace Lanterns"            
Award of Excellence, Joshua Gunter, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Surfer"            
Award of Excellence, James DeCamp, The Columbus Dispatch, "Flag Burning"            
Award of Excellence, Chris Stephens, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Rain"            
Award of Excellence, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch, "Number 8 School"      
Award of Excellence, Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, "Winter Storm"

Portrait/Personality      
1st, Abigail Bobrow, Sandusky Register, "Mourning Mufaro"      
2nd, Doral Chenoweth III, The Columbus Dispatch, "Foreclosed"      
3rd, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Bantu"      
Award of Excellence, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch, "Breastbuy"      
Award of Excellence, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch, "Critic"      
Award of Excellence, Stephanie J. Smith, The (Lorain) Morning Journal, "Miles Robles

Sports Action      
1st, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Head First"      
2nd, Mark Duncan, Associated Press, "Ouch"      
3rd, David Rea, ThisWeek Newspapers (Columbus), "Determined"      
Award of Excellence, Chris Parker, ThisWeek Newspapers (Columbus), "Hurdles"      
Award of Excellence, Jeffry Konczal, Suburban News Publications (Columbus), "At Bat"      
Award of Excellence, Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio State Wreslting"      
Award of Excellence, Maribeth Joeright, The (Willoughby) News Herald, "Sand Storm"            
Award of Excellence, Marshall Gorby, Springfield News-Sun, "Wood Chipping"            
Award of Excellence, Neal C. Lauron, The Columbus Dispatch, "Finger Tips"            
Award of Excellence, Neal C. Lauron, The Columbus Dispatch, "Slip Up"

Sports Feature      
1st, Chris Parker, ThisWeek Newspapers (Columbus), "Consolation"      
2nd, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "State Champs"      
3rd, Chuck Crow, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Baseball Bubble"      
Award of Excellence, Chuck Crow, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer,  "Bird Ball"      
Award of Excellence, Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository, "Just a Spritz""      
Award of Excellence, Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, "Rag Ball"
Award of Excellence, Andrew Dolph, The (Medina) Gazette, "One Last Taste"
Award of Excellence, David Foster, Kent State University, "Hockey"
Award of Excellence, John Kuntz, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Bloody"
Award of Excellence, Lonnie Timmons III, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Romeo Travis"

Sports Picture Story      
1st, Andy Morrison, The Blade, "Racing For Recovery"      
2nd, Chuck Crow, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Emotional Ride"      
3rd, Chuck Crow, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Wild and Wacky"

Spot News (Under 100,000 circulation)      
1st, Robert K. Yosay, The Vindicator, "She’s Gone"      
2nd, Marshal Gorby, Springfield News-Sun, "Still Standing"      
3rd, Stephanie Krell, The (Ravenna) Record Courier, "Drowning"            
Award of Excellence, Barbara J. Perenic, Springfield News-Sun, "Trapped"      
Award of Excellence, Duncan Scott, The (Willoughby) News Herald, "Christmas Fire"            
Award of Excellence, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register, "Walk Away Tom"      
Award of Excellence, Marshall Gorby, Springfield News-Sun, "Fatal Site"

Spot News (Over 100,000 circulation)      
1st Ron Alvey, Dayton Daily News, "Shattered Dreams"      
2nd, Lew Stamp, Akron Beacon Journal, "Victim Compassion"      
3rd, Peggy Turbett, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Deluge Dash"      
Award of Excellence, Ken Love, Akron Beacon Journal, "Dogs"      
Award of Excellence, Tony Dejak, Associated Press, "Terror"            
Award of Excellence, Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade, "Shooting"            
Award of Excellence, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, "Taser"

Team Picture Story      
1st, Akron Beacon Journal, "Missing Mom"      
2nd, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "Snow"      
3rd, Akron Beacon Journal, "Gondor, Resh"
Award of Excellence, Akron Beacon Journal, "Akron Marathon"
Award of Excellence, The Blade, "Officer Down"