Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Cloquet - Pine Journal Entry Title: Rally demands justice for Cloquet murder victims Entry Credit: Jamey Malcomb Judge Comment: Great coverage of a tough event. Emotion and conviction are conveyed. Nice details in cultines adds to the solid overall execution.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Albany/Melrose - The Post Star Entry Title: Magic moments Entry Credit: Carol Moorman Judge Comment: Solid emotional moment with reactions from multiple faces. Wish the stark cutouts and white lettering weren't there or were less prominent! This image speaks for itself.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Blooming Prairie Steele County Times Entry Title: Numb From the Fire Entry Credit: Rick Bussler Judge Comment: Great initiative in telling this story - checking in with someone after tragedy. The moment of silence near one of his remaining cows is so emotional. The close up of him while talking about a difficult topic is solid. Wishing more time was spent here in the aftermath.
Competition Comment: First place edged out a large group of quality moments submitted due to the captured emotion and details on a tough subject matter. Lots of great documentation on COVID and community happenings made for a tough 2nd and 3rd placing.
The emotion and reaction in the pageant crowning photo was just a great moment.
The dairy cow farmer story had some very nice emotional moments in an intimate follow-up story.
