Times Colonist photographer Darren Stone is nominated for a National Newspaper Award for an eerie photo of a hockey player who appears headless.
This is Stone’s second NNA nomination.
He is one of 69 finalists in 22 categories for the annual awards that recognize excellence in Canadian journalism.
Stone’s photo was taken during a Western Hockey League game on March 1, 2013. After a scrap with Victoria Royals’ Tim Traber, Spokane Chiefs’ Adam Smith appears to have lost his head as he skates off the ice with his jersey still pulled up over his head.
“We were delighted to learn of the nomination, which is, in itself, one of the highest honours in Canadian photojournalism,” said Dave Obee, editor-in-chief of the Times Colonist.
“Darren's photo has been rated one of the best three sports photographs of the year, no small accomplishment considering the number of photographers at a National Hockey League game or a Canadian Football League game,” Obee said.
“Just as the Victoria Royals are giving us high-calibre hockey, the photographers at the Times Colonist know how to shoot and score.”
Stone chose his hockey shot as one of his three favourite photos of 2013 in a feature that highlighted Times Colonist photographers’ top photos.
“One of the challenges in sports photography is trying to capture something different and surprising,” Stone said in text that accompanied the December 2013 feature. “The angle on this photo made for a funny optical illusion as Spokane Chiefs' Adam Smith appeared to lose his head.”
Other NNA nominees in the Sports Photography category include Amber Bracken from the Edmonton Sun, for a picture of two female boxers and blood spatter, and Jonathan Hayward from the Canadian Press, for a unique angle shot of a curler peering through the arms and legs of his sweepers.
While the majority of the nominations recognize coverage in eastern Canada, western highlights include a joint project on fatal foster care in Alberta by the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald, Gary Mason’s Globe and Mail analysis of the B.C. Liberal party provincial election win, and The Province newspaper for a series exploring racism in the Lower Mainland.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Charlottetown on May 30. Each winner receives $1,000 and a certificate. Other finalists receive citations of merit.
Read the full list of nominees: http://www.nna-ccj.ca/finalists-announced-2013-national-newspaper-awards/
