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*
“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.
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