1980_s-photo-of-Suzanne-DeChillo-1_res-15
8602_charlyn-zlotnik-BW-CRopped_res-10
Mary-Schroeder-of-Detroit-Free-Press_res-7
Leonie-Marinovich_res-11
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Rina-Castelnuovo-lebanon1978_res-20
MAGGIE-_-CASTRO-1984_res-24
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Paula Bronstein Jakarta, Indonesia 1998. 
Yunghi Kim photo
Suzanne Dechillo on the Brooklyn Bridge

Industry Recognition

Industry Recognition

This timeline lists recognitions of “excellence” in photojournalism. Included are current and historically coveted national and international fellowships, as well as grants, and premier awards in the field of photojournalism. It also includes the National Press Photographer Association’s (NPPA) Leadership Awards, which recognize photographers and editors who made contributions in leadership and/or education to the industry for the betterment of photojournalism. In recent years there have been a surge in grants as noted in “held since.” Premier grants of $10,000 or more and are listed.

1946

1946

Marion Carpenter*

International News and Feature, Pictures of the Year.

It’s good exercise if you keep it up, but not for high-heeled shoes, Miss Carpenter.” Said President Harry Truman said to Marion Carpenter as he walked uphill to Washington Monument. Excerpt from WHNPA.

1953

Lisa Larsen*

The Magazine Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year

1957

Lisa Larsen

Still or Motion Pictures, The Overseas Press Club

1958

Lisa Larsen

The Magazine Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year

1963

Maya Okushko*

First female to place, 2nd place Feature and General News, World Press Photo

1975

Irena Giedraitiene

Feature Picture, World Press Photo

Irena Giedraitiene

General News, World Press Photo

Marjorie Morris

NPPA Leadership, The President’s Award (1957)

1976

Marjorie Morris

NPPA Leadership, The President’s Award

Melissa Farlow & Pam Spaulding

The Louisville Courier-Journal & TIME team, The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography 

Catherine Leroy*

Robert Capa Gold Medal, The Overseas Press Club (first, held 1955)

1977

Francoise Demulder*

World Press Photo of the Year

Francoise Demulder

Spot News, World Press Photo

Marjorie Morris*

NPPA Leadership Award, The Morris Berman (since 1948) editor

1978

Susan Meiselas

Robert Capa Gold Medal, The Overseas Press Club

Susan McElhinney

General News, World Press Photo

Susan McElhinney

News Feature, World Press Photo

1980

Jane Evelyn Atwood*

The Eugene Smith Grant (first recipient)

I don’t like to be called a ‘female photographer’. We don’t refer to Salgado or Cartier-Bresson as ‘male photographers’. I feel that calling us ‘female photographers’ perpetuates the idea that we are ‘lesser than’, in some way. It defines us by gender rather than by the quality of our pictures. The term ‘female photographer’ is sexist.” Said Jane Evelyn Atwood in One Piece Of Advice.

1981

Mary Ellen Mark*

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award (Since 1970)

1982

Wendy Watriss

Oskar Barnak Award, World Press Photo

1983

Stormi Greener

Oskar Barnak Award, World Press Photo

1984

Stormi Greener

Daily Life Story, World Press Photo

“I fell in love with photography in 1974 at the University of Minnesota. Stormi Greener was my North Star....the woman who showed that women could be great photographers. I am forever indebted to her. She created the STORM!’ Said Annie Griffith

Mary Ellen Mark*

Canon Photo Essayist Award, Pictures of the Year

April Saul

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award.

I would love to say it’s been easy being a woman in this business, but it was hard from the get-go,” says Saul. “Being a single mother for over 20 years has also defined me. The good news was my children made me a better person and a better photojournalist. And that being a mother did not destroy my career; it only forced me to tell stories closer to home.” —April Saul in PhotoJournal

Mary Lou Foy

NPPA Leadership, The President’s Award

Mary Lou Foy

NPPA Leadership, The Meller Award.

1985

Mary Ellen Mark

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award.

Lynn Johnson

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award.

Letizia Battaglia

The Eugene Smith Grant

Donna Ferrato

The Eugene Smith Grant

Pam Spaulding

The Nieman Fellow

Callie Shell

NPPA Leadership, The President’s Award

April Saul*

NPPA/Nikon Sabbatical Grant for Documentary Photography

1986

Carol Guzy and Michel Ducille*

The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News (first professional women awarded the Pulitzer)

Carol Guzy, is a rare combination of vulnerability and incredible inner strength. Not only is Carol the best woman photojournalist of all time, but one of the best journalists period. You should see her work in the field. She’s relentless, yet is also the antithesis of a bull in a china shop.” said Yunghi Kim*

Carol Guzy

People in the News, World Press Photo

Natalie Fobes*

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Mary Lou Foy

NPPA Leadership, The President’s Award

1987

Janet Knott

Robert Capa Gold Medal, The Overseas Press Club.

“Watching Janet work, is like watching guts. You understand the meaning of courage.” —Yunghi Kim

Maggie Steber

Spot News, World Press Photo

WORK ON A LONGTERM PROJECT!!! It does not have to be a war. Think of telling the story of many through the story of one. Be charming and smart. Be well-informed; know the magazine WELL before you go see an editor or send work. Be kind. Don’t talk too much about your success in this market as people are struggling. Be empathetic and generous with people. Keep your ego in your back pocket…” said Maggie Steber in PhotoJournal*

Graciela Iturbide

The Eugene Smith Grant

1988

Donna Ferrato

The Robert F KennedyJournalism for Photojournalism

Maggie Steber*

Olivier Rebbot Award, The Overseas Press Club (held since 1980)

Michele McDonald

The Nieman Fellow

Peggy Peattie

NPPA Leadership, The Berman Award for Advance Visual Journalism

1989

Cristina Garcia Rodero

The Eugene Smith Grant

Callie Shell

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (held since 1961)

1990

Carol Guzy*

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year

Rosemary Kaul

Children’s Award, World Press Photo

Stormi Greener

Canon Photo essayist Award, The Pictures of the Year

Stormi Greener

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award

Oakland Tribune team

The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News (Names not listed)

Karen Mullarkey

NPPA Leadership, The Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award

1991

Diana Walker

People in the News, World Press Photo

“This was nearly 25 years ago and Diana not only was the low person on the photo totem pole, she was female. She wasn’t an equipment geek, so she couldn’t schmooze about gear. Having just started out she didn’t have a lot of friends in the news business, and she had neither the interest nor the inclination to talk sports – that great social lubricant, especially in football-obsessed DC. She remembers spending a fair amount of that early time feeling ‘removed and irrelevant.’ Her pictures had to speak for her. They did, and ‘eventually, I came to be accepted.’” said Diana Walker in The Washington Post

Joanne Rathe

Children’s Award,World Press Photo

“Unlike the violence I witnessed in 1986 on my first trip to South Africa, in 1990 there was a certain excitement in the air. Apartheid was losing its grip. ‘Whites Only’ signs had disappeared, and Nelson Mandela’s release was imminent. My challenge was to document the subtle changes that were taking place. Two weeks after blacks had been given the right to travel on buses previously reserved for whites, black and white South Africans waited for the same bus in downtown Johannesburg. Sometimes it is just the quiet photo that speaks volumes” — Joanne Rathe of her photo in 10 World Press Photo Awards,10 Backstories

Therese Frare

Budapest Award, World Press Photo

Sylvia Plachy*

ICP Infinity Award Publication (held since 1985)

Jane Evelyn Atwood

Canon Photo essayist Award, The Pictures of the Year

The universe shown through her photographs is that of the marginalized, the forgotten, the people we ignore in the daily life of a world that is too busy and indifferent. Jane Evelyn Atwood shows them to the world in all their distress and all their dignity, clothing them with a veil of beauty that makes them strong, unique and human.” in Redmilk Magazine. Redmilk Magazine.

Donna Ferrato

Kodak Crystal Eagle Award, The Pictures of the Year

Sandra Eisert

NPPA Leadership, The Berman Award for Advance Visual Journalism (editor)

1992

April Saul

Budapest Award, World Press Photo

Olga Shalygin

Associated Press team, The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News

Suzanne Kreiter

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award.

Tara McParland

NPPA Leadership Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

1993

Marcia Nighswander, Amy Sancetta, Lynne Sladky

Associated Press Team, The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography.

Carol Guzy

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year

Jan Sonnenmair

Budapest Award, World Press Photo

Cristina Garcia Rodero

Arts and Entertainment, World Press Photo

Sandra Eisert*

NPPA Leadership, The Joseph Costa Award (held since 1954, editor)

Callie Shell

NPPA Leadership, The Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit

Carol McKay, Cindi Christie, Maria Mann

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editors)

Rita Reed

NPPA /Nikon Sabbatical Grant for Documentary Photography

1994

Ellen Binder

The Eugene Smith Grant

Jill Freedman

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Yunghi Kim*

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club (held from 1993 to 2015)

Kathy Borchers

NPPA Leadership, The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Nadia Benchallal*

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - News (held since 1991)

Susan Meiselas

Maria Moors Cabot Prize

1995

Carol Guzy

The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News

Carol Guzy

Spot News Story, World Press Photo

Katrin Freisager

Children's Award, World Press Photo

Susan Smith

NPPA Leadership President’s Award (editor)

Carol Guzy

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - News

Sonya Doctorian

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

1996

Stephanie Welsch

The Pulitzer Prize, Feature Photography

Corinne Dufka

Robert Capa Gold Medal, The Overseas Press Club

As I developed my film in the sanctuary of my hotel room, my emotions were bifurcated between relief that the powerful image was in focus, and pain at having witnessed human life treated with such utter cruelty and disdain. It is a feeling which repeated itself countless times in my career as a photojournalist and one which I have yet to reconcile.” said Corinne Dufka in 10 World Press Photo Awards,10 Backstories

Lori Grinker

Arts and Entertainment Story, World Press Photo

Barbara Kinney

People in the News, World Press Photo

Lise Safati*

ICP Infinity Award Photojournalism (held since 1985)

Yunghi Kim

Olivier Rebbot Award, The Overseas Press Club

Carol Guzy

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club

Cindi Christie

NPPA Leadership, The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Liliana Nieto del Rio

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanfordy

Peggy Peattie*

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Communications, Ohio University

1997

Yunghi Kim

Magazine Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year.

Yunghi has nerves of steel but she’s also sensitive, and that's a rare combination.” — Stan Grossfeld in AJR

Carol Guzy

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year

Gail Fisher*

Community Awareness Award, The Pictures of the Year

Yunghi Kim

General News Story, The World Press Photo

I vividly remember every step hiking through the Rwandan countryside witnessing its profound beauty. On arrival, Yolanda found her mother-in-law alive and they embraced and wept. I photographed this moment; the reunion had all of us in tears.” — Yunghi Kim of the reunion image, 10 World Press Photo Awards,10 Backstories

Corinne Dufka

Spot News Story, World Press Photo

Viviane Moos

Arts and Entertainment, World Press Photo

Gail Fisher

The Robert F Kennedy Photojournalism Award

Annie Wells

The Pulitzer Prize Spot News

Mary Ellen Mark

ICP Infinity Awards Photojournalism

Lauren Greenfield

ICP Infinity Awards Young Photographer

Donna De Cesare

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Peggy Peattie*

Alexia Foundation Grant

Janet Knott

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Comm Ohio University

Patricia Reksten

NPPA Leadership, Robin F. Garland Educators Award

Yunghi Kim

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - News

Jillian Edelstein*

Visa D’or - Feature (since 1990)

Cheryl Magazine

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

1998

Nancy Andrews

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year.

*“A pro has to make a good picture when one’s not readily apparent. A pro brings back the story every time, and on time. And, for journalism, a pro is thorough, accurate and ethical.” said Nancy Andrews in * Zphotojournal

Martha Rial

The Pulitzer Prize, Breaking News

Vanessa Winship

Arts and Entertainment Story, World Press Photo

Susan Watts

Children’s Award, World Press Photo

Susan Watts

Daily Life Story, World Press Photo

“When we met, way back on that July day, neither of us could have ever predicted the profound journey we would find ourselves on together; a journey that bonded us and lasted eighteen years until her death in 2015.” — Susan Watts of her photo in 10 World Press Photo Awards,10 Backstories

Wendy Sue Lamm

Spot News, World Press Photo

When I am photographing, I keep moving until I get a certain, very specific feeling that I am in the right place. Unfortunately, my colleague’s choice led to him getting shot at the same moment as the stone thrower. When I couldn’t find him, I phoned. I froze when someone else answered. I heard incorrectly, “he was shot in the heart, but he’ll be okay.” I panicked, but then I realized I had heard “heart” instead of “arm.” Fortunately, he healed quickly. It is important to trust your instincts. The tiniest event — a passing decision, a slight movement, releasing a camera shutter, or, just dumb luck — like a bullet, can have a momentous impact that ripples through time.” —Wendy Sue Lamm of her photo in 10 World Press Photo Awards,10 Backstories

Jodi Bieber

World Press Photo of the Year

Maggie Steber

The Alicia Patterson Grant

She preferred to look for the small moments that conveyed a big truth: that there was not only beauty but times when people came together to help each other despite the odds. Her images render those scenes well.”  — Maggie Steber in NYT Lens Blog

Heidi Bradner

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Mary Lou Foy

NPPA Leadership Award, The Joseph Costa Award (since 1954)

Alexandra Boulat

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - News

1999

Susan Walsh, Ruth Fremson

Associated Press Team, The Pulitzer Prize, Feature Photography

Dayna Smith

World Press Photo of the Year

TRIBE: People in my tribe are image-makers. We tell stories through moments; sometimes good, often not. The woman in this photo is comforted by *her* tribe on a day of unbelievable sorrow. It is the funeral for her husband and father to her six children who was shot to death on his way to check on a bakery where he had worked before the messiness of war intervened. Our tribes crossed paths that day. With simple eye contact, she gave me permission to tell her story. Izbica, Kosovo, November 11, 1998.” — Dayna Smith, of her photo in 10 World Press Photo Awards, 10 Backstories”

Yunghi Kim

General News Story, World Press Photo

Jodi Bieber

Portrait Stories, World Press Photo

Alexandra Boulat

ICP Infinity Awards Photojournalism

Jeanie Adam-Smith

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Comm Ohio University

Kathy Ryan

NPPA Leadership, The Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award (editor)

Sandra Eisert

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

2000

Carol Guzy, Michel Williamson, Lucian Perkins

The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography

Brenda Ann Kenneally

The Eugene Smith Grant

Zana Briski

Daily Life Story, World Press Photo

Tine Harden

Nature Story, World Press Photo

Lara Solt

Portrait, World Press Photo

Ami Vitale

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Kari Rene Hall

Canon Photo Essayist Award, The Pictures of the Year

Brenda Ann Kenneally

Community Awareness Award, The Pictures of the Year

Cynthia Christie

The Knight Fellowship, Visual Comm Ohio University (editor)

Lynn Johnson

The Knight Fellowship. Visual Comm Ohio University

Maria Mann

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

2001

Lara Jo Regan

Daily Life, World Press Photo

Lara Jo Regan

World Press Photo of the Year

Maya Goded

The Eugene Smith Grant

Cheryl Diaz Meyer

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club

Carol Guzy*

NPPA Leadership, The Joseph Sprague Memorial Award. Recognizes an individual who advances and elevates the visual journalism profession by conduct, initiative, leadership, skill, and devotion to duty (since 1949).

“The funny thing is, in the 90s and 2000s with TIME, Newsweek, US & World Report, Sports Illustrated etc I was always loving Lynn Johnson's, Carol Guzy, Yunghi Kim and Eli Reed and so many other women & photographers of color and gender. Most of the photogs I looked up to in the freelance world were women.” —Todd Bigelow

Nancy Andrews

NPPA Leadership, The Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit

Tara McParland**

Pictures of the Year Canon Photo Essayist awardee who documented her own cancer and treatments passed away in 2000.

When I saw the list today, I remembered Tara McParland who died of cancer in 2000. I was kicking myself thinking, ‘How could I have forgotten to forward Tara’s name?’ But then I saw you already had her name listed. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I never met her, but she and I went through chemo in 1999. We traded phone calls, laughed and cried as we tried to support each other during that tough time. I had so much admiration for her because she had such a positive attitude, even though her case was very tough. She taught me how to be a survivor. I am so happy to see her name here. She would have loved this.” —Nuri Vallbona

Holly Hughes

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

Magali Delporte

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant (held since 2001)

2002

Gail Fisher

Community Awareness Award, The Pictures of the Year International

Andrea Mohin, Ruth Fremson, Krista Niles, Nancy Siesel, Suzanne DeChillo, Kelly Guenther

New York Times Team, Pulitzer Prize Breaking News

Ruth Fremson, Stephen Crowley, Vincent Laforet, Chang W. Lee, James Hill

New York Times Team, The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography

Carolyn Cole

Robert Capa Gold Medal Overseas Press Club

Linda McConnell

Rocky Mountain News team, The Pulitzer Prize Breaking Photography

Lynsey Addario

ICP Infinity Awards Young Photographer

Sheila Springsteen

The Robert F Kennedy, Photojournalism

Maya Vidon White

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford.

“In the field being a woman is a huge advantage but not in the workplace. In conflict zones, fighters don’t perceive us as a threat and we can charm our way through security cordons. We also have exclusive access to the private sphere of women. But things toughen up in the workplace. Editors can be dismissive, male peers can elbow us out. My answer: stay away from the pack and get a unique angle. It’s a hit or miss but then you only miss out on a picture everybody else has.” —Maya Vidon White in “One Piece of Advice”

Maria Mann

NPPA Leadership Awards, The Joseph Costa Award (since 1954, editor)

Maria Mann

NPPA Leadership, The Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit (editor)

Paula Lerner

NPPA Leadership, The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Felicia Webb

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - Feature

Linda Epstein

NPPA Leadership, The Meller Award (editor)

Sophia Evans

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2003

Narelle Autio

Arts and Entertainment, World Press Photo

Gulnara Samollova

People in the News, World Press Photo

Jodi Bieber

Portraits, The World Press Photo

Amiran White

Community Awareness Award , The Pictures of the Year International

Mary Lou Foy

NPPA Leadership, The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Maggie Steber

NPPA Leadership, The Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit

Cheryl Magazine

NPPA Leadership, President’s Award (editor)

Karen Kring

NPPA Leadership, President’s Award

Cheryl Diaz Meyer

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - Daily Press

Mary Ellen Mark*

The Lucie Award, Documentary (held since 2003)

MaryAnne Golon

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

Ami Vitale

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Ami Vitale

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, The Magazine Photographer of the Year.

2004

Carolyn Cole

The Pulitzer Prize, Feature Photography

Carolyn Cole

Newspaper Photographer of the Year , The Pictures of the Year International

Carolyn Cole

NPPA Best of Photojournalism BOP, Newspaper Photographer of the Year

Cheyl Diaz Meyer and David Leeson

The Pulitzer Prize, Breaking News

Mary Ellen Mark

Arts and Entertainment, World Press Photo

Stephanie Sinclair

Contemporary Issue, World Press Photo

Lois Raimondo

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Andrea Bruce

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club

“Some people look at us women and think that we have somewhat sad lifestyles. But I’m kinda like, “Are you kidding me?! This is the best life!” We see the most amazing things, we meet the most amazing people.” —Andrea Bruce in  CJR

Annie O’Neill

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Communications, Ohio University

Bonnie Jo Mount

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford

Stephanie Sinclair

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - Feature

Sylvia Plachy

The Lucie Award,Women in Photography

Alicia Wagner Calzada

NPPA Leadership, The Meller Award

Kristen Ashburn

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2005

Deanne Fitzmaurice

The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography

“Gender really hasn’t been much of an issue for me because I never made it an issue. I think we all need to play to our strengths and our own comfort levels. Sure, as a photojournalist I’m a woman working in a male-dominated field especially when I’m shooting sports. But being female may have also saved my life” —Deanne Fitzmaurice in PhotoJournal

Anja Niedringhaus

The Associated Press Team, The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News

Kristen Ashburn

People in the News, World Press Photo

Sara Terry

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Rina Castelnuovo

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club

“Ms. Castelnuovo began her artistic life as a painter. While studying art in Rome, she discovered photography. “Immediately, it replaced everything I liked about painting,” she recalled, “and it became my whole focus.” —Rina Castelnuovo, NYT Lens Blog

Molly Bingham

The Nieman Fellow

Carolyn Drake

Community Awareness Award , The Pictures of the Year International

Geri Migielicz

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford (editor)

Claudia Guadarrama

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2006

Barbara Davidson, Melanie Burford

Dallas Morning News team, The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News

Barbara Davidson

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year International

Farah Nosh

Feature Photography, The Overseas Press Club

Kristen Ashburn

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club

Brenda Ann Kenneally

Community Awareness Award , The Pictures of the Year International

Renee C Byer

World Understanding Award , The Pictures of the year International

Laura Rauch

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford

Rebecca Sell

NPPA Leadership,The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Cathaleen Curtiss

NPPA Leadership, The Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit

Janet Reeves

NPPA Leadership, The Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award

Linda Epstein

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation (editor)

Veronique de Viguerie

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2007

Renee C. Byer

The Pulitzer Prize, Feature Photography

Nina Berman

Portrait, World Press Photo

Paula Bronstein

John Faber Award, Overseas Press Club

Mary F. Calvert

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, Photographer of the Year, Small Market

Michele Stephenson

NPPA Leadership, The Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award

“Michele Stephenson taught me so many things that it is hard to single out a few or even ten! Honesty, caring, and integrity…I will pick those three. The legacy she had will never be repeated. She was director of photography at TIME for 19 years when it was one of the most respected magazines in the world.” —MaryAnne Golon in PhotoJournal

Lizzie Sadin

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - Feature

Axelle de Russe

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2008

Preston Gannaway

The Pulitzer Prize, Feature Photography

Ariana Lindquist

Arts and Entertainment, World Press Photo

Vanessa Winship

Portrait Stories, World Press Photo

Sarah Voisin

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism Cliff Edom’s “New America Award”

Carolyn Cole

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, Photographer of the Year, Large Market

Brenda Ann Kenneally

The Alicia Patterson Grant

“With taking pictures, Kenneally writes, “comes the power to manufacture a record that future generations will consider fact. Whether we choose to look or not, these images are facts.” —Brenda Ann Kenneally, The New Yorker

Stephanie Sinclair

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Mary F. Calvert

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for International Photography

Stephanie Sinclair

Olivier Rebbot Award, The Overseas Press Club

Elizabeth Dalziel

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford

Jennifer Poggi

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Comm Ohio University

Michele McNally

NPPA Leadership, The Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award

Mona Reeder

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or- Daily Press

Susan Meiselas

Lucie Award, Photojournalism

Melissa Lyttle

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation

Brenda Ann Kenneally

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Jean Chung

Visa Pour L’image, Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award (held since 2008)

2009

Lissette Lemus

Daily Life, World Press Photo

Brenda Ann Kenneally

Daily Life Story, World Press Photo

Callie Shell

People In the News Story, World Press Photo

Carol Guzy

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for International Photography

Sarah L Voisin

John Faber Award, The Overseas Press Club

Kael Alford

The Nieman Fellow

Michelle McLoughlin

NPPA Leadership Award, The Joseph Costa Award

Barbara Davidson

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or- Daily Press

Justyna Mielnikiewicz

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Maisie Crow

Visa Pour L’image, The Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award

Karen Kasmauski*

Getty Grant

Karen Kasmauski is not a war photographer. Yet she has seen death close up in more countries than she can count.” —BBC

2010

Agnes Dherbeys

Robert Capa Gold Medal, The Overseas Press Club

“I shoot with my feeling, whether I’m happy or scared,” she said. “You can still shoot with feeling and be objective to the story. As soon as you get close to a person, they become a person. Whether they are police or protesters — they’re not just statistics.” —Agnes Dherbeys, NYT Lens Blog.

Mary Chind

The Pulitzer Prize, Breaking News

Kitra Cahana

Arts and Entertainment, World Press Photo

Gihan Tubbeh

Daily Life Story, World Press Photo

Elizabeth Kreutz

Sports Feature, World Press Photo

Darcy Padilla

The Eugene Smith Grant

Shiho Fukada

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Carol Guzy

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for Domestic Photography

Sara Voisin

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for International Photography

Lynsey Addario

Olivier Rebbot Award, The Overseas Press Club

Sue Morrow

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Comm Ohio University (editor)

Michelle McLoughlin

NPPA Leadership, The President’s Award

Graciela Iturbide

The Lucie Award

Martina Bacigalupo

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Lizzie Sadin

Visa Pour L’image, The Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award

2011

Carol Guzy, Nikki Kahn, Ricky Carioti

The Pulitzer Prize Breaking News

Barbara Davidson

The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography

Jodie Bieber

World Press Photo of the Year

Jodie Bieber

Portrait, World Press Photo

“During the shoot I put down my camera and said to that I cannot imagine how it must have felt to be pinned down and violated so brutally. I also commented what a beautiful women she was and that with surgery her external beauty would return. I asked her if we could work together to show her inner strength, her inner beauty, her power… the room felt light, as if she got what I was saying. She looked back at the camera and that’s when I took this photograph” —Jodi Bieber of her photo in Aisha, 10 World Press Photo Awards, 10 Backstories

Krisanne Johnson

The Eugene Smith Grant

Andrea Bruce

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Ami Vitale

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Laura Antrim Caskey

The Robert F Kennedy for Domestic Photography

Karen Kasmauski

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Comm Ohio University

In this world where over 1.8 billion photographs are uploaded to the Internet every day, young photographers will need to find a way to distinguish themselves from the chaos. My advice: think very deeply as to why she wants to enter this profession…I hope she enters it because she has a deep curiosity about everything in this world and with that a great passion for life, feeling deeply for family, neighbors, community, cooking, hiking, anything really; so deep that she is willing to sacrifice for it. With this passion and curiosity, let her be guided by a strong ethical code to help her through life. She should follow her interests and not set out on a path she thinks she needs to be on. Life will take her where she longs.” —Karen Kasmauski, “One Piece of Advice”

Shiho Fukada

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or- Daily Press

Michelle Mcloughlin

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation

Ilvy Njiokiktjien

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Catalina Martin-Chico

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or Humanitarian Award (held since 2011)

2012

Laerke Posselt

Portraits, World Press Photo

Laerke Posselt

Portrait, World Press Photo

Stephanie Sinclair

Contemporary Issues Story, World Press Photo

Kathryn Cook

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Katie Falkenberg

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for Domestic Photography

Julia Xanthos

NPPA Leadership,The Humanitarian Award (held since 1985)

Stephanie Sinclair

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - Feature

Sarah Caron

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Andrea Bruce

The Chris Hondros Fund Award (held since 2012)

Julia Xanthos

NPPA Leadership,The Humanitarian Award (held since 1985)

Katie Falkenberg

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for Domestic Photography

Kathryn Cook

The Alexia Foundation Grant

2013

Renee C. Byer

The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography

Maika Elan

Contemporary Issuesa Story, World Press Photo

Marie Haid

Observation Portrait, World Press Photo

Kitra Cahana

The ICP Infinity Awards Young Photographers

Barbara Davidson

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, Pictures of the Year International

Lisa Krantz

NPPA Leadership, The John Durniak Outstanding Mentor Award (held since 1998)

Noriko Hayashi

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or - Feature

Cathaleen Curtiss

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation

Caroline Couig

NPPA Leadership, The Meller Award

Mary F. Calvert

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

After being laid off from The Washington Times in 2011, along with all of the newspaper’s photographers, searched for a story close to home that she could feel passionate about and finance herself. She found one: ….Because Ms. Calvert has been financing the project by herself, she has concentrated on people who live within driving distance of her hometown, Washington.” —Mary F. Calvert, Ms. Calvert sexual assault in the United States military NYT Lens Blog

Sara Lewkowicz

Visa Pour L’image, The Remi Ochlik Award (held since 2006)

Newsha Tavakolian

Visa Pour L’image, The Carmignac Photojournalism Award (held since 2009)

Donna De Cesare

Maria Moors Cabot Prize

2014

Carla Kogelman

Observation Portrait Story, World Press Photo

Stephanie Sinclair and Jessica Dimmock

The ICP Infinity Awards Photojournalism

April Saul

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Mary F. Calvert

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Lisa Krantz

Community Awareness Award, Pictures of the Year International

Melissa Lyttle

NPPA Leadership Award, The Clifton Edom Award Inspire to New Heights

Rita Reed

NPPA Leadership, The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Danese Kenon

NPPA Leadership, The John Durniak Outstanding Mentor Award

Meeri Koutaniemi

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or- Daily Press

Viviane Dalles

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2015

Raphaela Rosella

Portrait, World Press Photo

Sofia Valiente

Portrait Story, World Press Photo

Mary F. Calvert

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, The Cliff Edom’s “New America Award”

2015

Darcy Padilla

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Heidi Levine

Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism (held since 2015)

Building trust with those you want to photograph is a tool even more crucial than the type of lens or camera you use” —Heidi Levine, “One Piece Of Advice”

Carolyn Van Houten

Newspaper Photographer of the Year , Pictures of the Year International

Yunghi Kim

NPPA Leadership,The Clifton Edom Award, Inspire to New Heights.

We are only as good as the pictures we take and the ethics we observe and internalizing the advice given to us. Freelancers are often in it alone, for them it’s even more important to form a tight support group with a few trusted photo friends for support; to bounce ideas, get feedback, help in licensing images and to network. Like every industry, there are jerks and if you are seeing too many jerks, it’s time to broaden your circle, and seek a new circle.” —Yunghi Kim, One Piece Of Advice

Cathaleen Curtiss

NPPA Leadership,The Morris Berman Advance in Visual Journalism Award

Donna Ferrato

NPPA Leadership, The Humanitarian Award

Loret Steinberg

NPPA Leadership,The Robin F. Garland Educators Award

Stephanie Sinclair

The Lucie Award, Humanitarian

Anne Herbst

NPPA Leadership, Special Citation

Anastasia Rudenko

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

2016

Jessica Rinaldi

The Pulitzer Prize Feature Photography

Darcy Padilla

Long Term Project, World Press Photo

“In doing this, my point has been is to look how incredibly difficult this kind of poverty is.” —Darcy Padilla on her twenty-one year “Family Love” project NYT Lens Blog

Mary F. Calvert

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, The Cliff Edom’s “New America Award”

Carolyn Cole

The Robert F Kennedy Journalism for Domestic Photography

Adriane Ohanesian

Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism

Meridith Kohut

Feature Photography,mThe Overseas Press Club

Andrea Bruce

The Nieman Fellow

Anastasia Taylor Lind

The Nieman Fellow

Jan Sonnenmair

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Comm Ohio University

Tsuneko Sasamoto

The Lucie Award: LIfetime Achievement

Darcy Padilla

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Pauline Beugnies

Visa Pour L’image, The Camille Lepage Award (held since 2015)

Lizzie Sadin

Visa Pour L’image, The Carmignac Photojournalism Award

Diana Zeneb

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or Humanitarian Award

Daniella Zalcman

NPPA Leadership, The Clifton Edom Award, Inspire to New Heights

Mary F. Calvert, Kirstin Luce, Katie Orlinsky

Getty Reportage Grant

2017

Carol Guzy

Robert Capa Gold Medal, The Overseas Press Club

Mary F. Calvert

Long Term Projects, The World Press Photo

Amber Bracken

Contemporary Issues story, The World Press Photo

Alyssa Schukar

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, The Cliff Edom’s “New America Award”

Jessica Phelps

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, The Photographer of the Year, Small Market

Stephanie Sinclair

Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism

Andrea Bruce

Environmental Visions Award, The Pictures of the Year International

Katie Falkenberg

Multimedia Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year International

Sarah Blesener

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Laurie Skrivan

The Robert F Kennedy, Domestic Photography

Daniella Zalcman

The Robert F Kennedy, International Photography

Elodie Mailliet Storm

The John S Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford (editor)

Catalina Martin-Chico

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Angela Ponce Romero

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or Humanitarian Award

Meridith Kohut

The Chris Hondros Fund Award

Paula Bronstein, Barbara Peacock

Getty Reportage Grant

“Resilience! I love the description in the dictionary “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness: the often remarkable resilience of so many.” Over the years of working in difficult places like Afghanistan I have found that I needed resilience more than anything else. I needed to have the drive and enthusiasm to tell myself that I couldn’t fail. Gaining access is vital to your story, often when the door slams in your face you need to find a way to open it again eventually getting the images that tell the intimate and sensitive stories.”—Paula Bronstein, “One Piece of Advice

2018

Ami Vitale

Nature and environment Story, The World Press Photo

Jeba Khamis

Contemporary Issues Story, The World Press Photo

Carla Kogelman

Long Term Project, The World Press Photo

Nancy Andrews

The Alicia Patterson Grant

Andrea Bruce

Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism

Carolyn Van Houten

Robert Capa, The Overseas Press Club

Jessica Phelps

Newspaper Photographer of the Year, The Pictures of the Year International

Amber Bracken

The ICP Infinity Awards, Photojournalism

Natalie Keyssar

The ICP Infinity Awards, Emerging Photographer

Rena Effendi

The Alexia Foundation Grant

Lisa Krantz and Michelle Agins

NPPA Leadership, The Joseph Sprague Memorial Award, recognizes an individual who advances and elevates the visual journalism profession by conduct, initiative, leadership, skill, and devotion to duty (held since 1949).

Nicole Fruge

NPPA Leadership, The Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award

Marcy Nighswander

NPPA, The Garland Educators Award

Kathleen Flynn

NPPA Leadership, The Humanitarian Award

Marilyn Newton

NPPA Leadership Burt Williams Educator Award

“Known for her tenacity in chasing down breaking news and her dedication to the job, Newton is believed to be the first woman hired as a full-time newspaper photographer in Nevada.” (Excerpt from Nevada Press Association)

Veronique de Viguerie

Visa D’or - News

Jane Evelyn Atwood

The Lucie Award in Documentary (since 2003)

Laura Morton

Visa Pour L’image, Canon Female Photojournalist Grant

Kasia Strek

Visa Pour L’image, The Camille Lepage Award

Veronique de Viguerie

Visa Pour L’image, Visa D’or Humanitarian Award

Sim Chi Yin

The Chris Hondros Fund Award

2019

Carol Guzy*

Al Neuharth, The Newseum’s Excellence In The Media

“Journalists are challenged not only to expose issues and report the news but also to find poetry in everyday lives and evoke empathy.”—Carol Guzy

Maggie Steber

President’s Award, Distinguished service in the field of journalism, The Overseas Press Club

Sarah Blesener

Long Term Project, World Press Photo.

Olivia Harris

Contemporary Issues Story, World Press Photo

Diana Markosian

Contemporary Issues, World Press Photo

Forough Alaei

Sports, World Press Photo

Benedicte Kurzen

Portraits, World Press Photo

Mary F. Calvert

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, The Cliff Edom’s “New America Award”

Maggie Steber

The Lucie Award, Photojournalism

Carolyn Van Houten

The Robert F Kennedy, Domestic Photography

Molly Roberts

The Knight Fellowship in Visual Communications, Ohio University

FOOTNOTES

*First female recipients.

Grants listed are photojournalism grants of $10k or more.

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Leadership Awards for stills photojournalists and editors, not a complete list due to difficulty in sourcing. This award is important because it recognizes those who contributed to education and for the betterment to photojournalism. 

  • Joseph Sprague Memorial Award held since 1949: recognizes an individual who advances and elevates the visual journalism profession by conduct, initiative, leadership, skill, and devotion to duty. 
  • Joseph Costa Award held since 1954.  
  • Clifton Edom Award held since 1991. “this award recognizes an individual in the tradition of Cliff Edom to inspire and motivate members of the visual journalism community to reach new heights” 
  • Morris Berman Citation held since 1948. “This citation is given to an individual for special contributions advancing the interests of visual journalism”
  • Kenneth P Mclaughlin Award held since 1950. “This award is given to those rendering continuing outstanding service in the interest of visual journalism”
  • J Winston Lemen Award held since 1948
  • Burt Williams Award 
  • John Durniak Mentor Citation held since 1998. “Awarded to an individual who has served as an outstanding mentor, either to a specific individual or to photojournalism in general” 
  • The NPPA President’s Award held since 1957
  • NPPA Special Citation held since 1962, “These special citations are awarded to individuals for making significant contributions that advance the interests of visual journalism” 
  • Robin Garland Educator Award held since 1974. 
  • Humanitarian Award held since 1985
  • Samuel Meller Award held since 1958
  • Jim Gordon Editor of the Year Award held since 1958.  “Given to the editor(s) of an outstanding newspaper, magazine, video, movie, website, book, or other publication or broadcast that supports and promotes strong visual journalism, and best use of photography, and whose individual dedication and efforts have moved visual journalism’s standards forward while also advancing the best interests of all photographers” 

Pictures of the Year, 1953 Newspaper and Magazine Photographer of the Year. Lisa Larsen and Carol Guzy were first women to place.  Magazine Photographer of the Year changed to Agency/Freelance in 2009. Listed are the premier awards only.

Alicia Patterson Grant first held in 1966 it includes Journalists. 

W. Eugene Smith Grant first held in 1980. 

ICP Infinity Award first held in 1985. 

Alexia Foundation Grant: first professional awarded in 1997.  

Robert F Kennedy Journalism Award in photography held since 1970. 

Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism first held since 2015.

World Press Photo. Lists first place in photojournalism categories held since 1955.

Pulitzer Prize: Two categories for photography: News and Features for images published in American Newspapers. Though anyone can be nominated. Many newsrooms honored the tradition of nominating 3 entries per year.  Rules changed in recent years to include magazine photography.
Photography held since 1942, Spot News and Feature photography since 1968.
Photography Pulitzer finalists are not listed but you can see the list here.

Same for the OverSeas Press Club Awards: Robert Capa, Olivier Rebbot, John Faber, images had to be published in print and also honored tradition of 3 entries per newspaper. 

Olivier Rebbot Best photographic reporting for magazines from abroad held since 1980 to 2018

John Faber Award Best photographic reporting for newspapers from abroad from 1993 to 2015 

Robert Capa Medal Award courage in photojournalism held since 1955

Feature photography Award held since 2004 

Visa Pour L’image Festival award and grants selected during the festival in Perpignan, France. The first photojournalism festival founded in 1989.

  • Visa D’Or News held since 1991 
  • Visa D’or Feature held since 1990
  • Visa D’or Daily Press Held since 1991
  • Alexandra Boulat Award held since 2008
  • Humanitarian Award held since 2011
  • Remi Ochlik Award held since 2006
  • Carmignac Photojournalism Award held since 2009
  • Camille Lepage Award held since 2015
  • Canon Female Photojournalist Grant held since 2001

Chris Hondros Fund Award held since 2012

Lucie Awards held since 2003, photojournalists listed.

NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism (BOP), some premier awards listed. Not a complete list, held since 2001.

Getty Reportage Grants. Not a complete list. 

Some of the awards are listed the following year when it is awarded.