2022 Dith Pran Instagram Photo Shootout Competition

 
 

Update Sept. 8, 2022:

AAJA and the Photojournalists Affinity Group would like to congratulate our winning entries for the 2022 Dith Pran Instagram Photo Shootout: 

First Place: Paul Kuroda 

Second Place: Lea Konczal 

Third Place: Nandita Godbole

We want to thank everyone who participated this year. Paul will receive complimentary registration for next year’s convention and all three winners will also receive additional prizes donated by Michael Yamashita. We’d like to thank our judges Robert Hanashiro, Alex Wong and Darrell Miho for taking the time to review all the entries. We look forward to hosting this again next year in Washington, D.C.

First Place: Paul Kuroda

Paul Louis Harreko removes his Iron Man suit in his small apartment after spending a night on Hollywood Boulevard posing with tourists for change on Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Hollywood, California. Harreko said he can collect about $100 a day but his unfound dream is to become an actor. Harreko says he can only spend three hours a day in the suit as it is uncomfortable, with its rigid posture and lack of ventilation. He lives alone with his 17-year-old black cat. Harreko said he is working on a feature film.

Second Place: Lea Konczal

Al Underwood is a multiple-time gold medalist at the National Beard and Mustache Championships. He won second place at the world championships in 2013. Underwood's mustache, which he describes as an "accidental hobby," takes about three years to grow. He's had the current version for 11 years.

Third Place: Nandita Godbole

“Hollyweird 2.0”

The reflection of a hotel marquee on the fake turf roof near an amusement park, at dusk, gives new meaning to the concept of an “amusement park.”

Location: Universal City, L.A.

2022 Instagram Photo Shootout Rules:

AAJA is proud to announce that the 2022 Dith Pran Photo Shootout Competition will take place in Los Angeles, Calif. from July 23-29. Photos can be taken anywhere in Los Angeles County during the time period specified below. This year’s theme is “California Dreaming/Hollyweird.” Many people have a dreams of making it big in Hollywood and the California lifestyle, so we combined the two.

  • This contest is open to ALL attendees of #AAJA22. The winner will receive free registration for next year’s convention.

  • Entrant does not have to be an AAJA member, but Entrant must be a registered attendee at AAJA22.

  • Submit photo entries using the Instagram hashtag #AAJAPhoto. Upload your photo submission(s) with caption information using any Instagram App.

  • Contestants can start shooting anytime beginning 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 23, Pacific Time and must be uploaded by the contest deadline stated below.

  • Deadline: Photo submission(s) must be uploaded on Instagram by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, July 29, 2022.

  • A professional grade camera is not required. Images submitted from mobile devices (cellphone or tablet) are acceptable.

  • Each entrant can submit up to three (3) images. Judging will be based on a single image and not a series of images.

  • Entries should be based on the theme. Photos will be judged on theme interpretation, artistic style, composition & technical execution. This year’s theme is a suggestion and photographs unrelated to the theme are acceptable.

  • Entrants also need to email aajaphoto@gmail.com with their entrant’s name, Instagram account name, cell phone number, email address and caption information of 100 words or less. Failure to email this information may disqualify an entry.

  • Only minor burning, dodging and slight color adjustment and cropping are acceptable. NO FILTERS ALLOWED! No special artistic app filters allowed. Any significantly digitally modified or altered photograph will be disqualified and is at the sole discretion of the judges. The only exception is the black and white filter.

There is no cost to enter the competition.

Winners will be posted on www.AAJAPhoto.org. The First Place winner will have their name engraved on the Annual Dith Pran Photo Shootout perpetual award. First, second, and third place winners will be announced on Saturday, July 30 at the annual Gala Awards Dinner.

First place prize is free admission to next year’s convention, a $250 value.

For any questions, please contact AAJA photographer James Yee (317-640-1873) or Alex Wong (202-438-7050) or email questions to aajaphoto@gmail.com.

The AAJA Photo Shootout was started in 2000 during the annual AAJA National Convention. The competition name was changed in 2008 to honor New York Times photographer Dith Pran, who risked his life in Cambodia during the genocide by the Khmer Rouge to help journalists tell the story of atrocities in his home country. His story inspired the film, “The Killing Fields.” Pran passed away in 2008.