In a recent photojournalism competition, work from Sun Publications was honored with several awards, honoring work by individual photographs and recognizing the use of photography at the newspapers.The annual competition for members of the Illinois Press Photographers' Association, held April 28 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as part of the Midwest Regional Photojournalism Conference, honors the best in newspaper photojournalism in the state.
Staff photographers Susana Vera and Marina Samovsky each received individual awards for their work based on their ability to tell in-depth stories with their photography.
Vera earned second place in the sports picture story category for her coverage of the basketball team sponsored by the Warren Special Recreation Association.
The team traveled to the state tournament last year, and Vera documented the trip and the tournament for The Gurnee Sun.
Samovsky won third place in the sports picture story category, with coverage for The LMV Sun of the first girl to play football at Libertyville High School.
Samovsky followed her through both practices and games last fall.
The Gurnee Sun was awarded first place in the weekly category for best use of photographs in a newspaper.
That entry included coverage of stay-at-home dad Dwayne Sperber, students who commute to Carmel High School from southern Wisconsin, magicians performing at Viking School and an essay about a young boy competing in youth pageants.
Staff members who contributed work to the best use of photography entry included Visuals Director Mike Davis, Regional Editor Wendy Fox Weber, Picture Editor Sid Hastings, designers Deborah Pang, Fran Genovese and Jan Housewerth and photographers Vera and Samovsky.
