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Photo of Runner Snapping Selfie Snags Prestigious Photojournalism Prize

Photojournalist Troy Wayrynen has been selected as the 1st Prize winner of the Sports Feature category in this year's Best of Photojournalism contest by the NPPA, one of the most prestigious awards for photojournalists.

His winning photo, a crop of which is shown above, shows a high school runner using his phone to take an unusual selfie at the beginning of a cross country race.

Arkansas Passes Privacy Bill That Could Kill Street Photography

Prominent photography groups are sounding the alarm about a new bill that was just passed by the Arkansas Senate. SB-79, the "Personal Rights Protection Act," would require photographers to get written consent from a stranger to feature their likeness in a photograph for most purposes.

The law could have a huge implication on street photography, whose practitioners thrive on the ability to capture life and people on camera without having to constantly stop and ask for releases from the subjects.

NPPA Calls on Photographers Disqualified from WPP to Share Their ‘Shopped Photos

The world of photojournalism took a hit earlier this month when it was revealed that 20% of the finalists in the prestigious World Press Photo competition had been disqualified due to unethical edits. The National Press Photographers Association released a statement this past weekend calling for the disqualified photographers to share the edits that eliminated them from competition.

Ferguson Cop Pulls Gun On Photographer Who Was Asking Directions to the Media Area

Cop pulled a gun on me tonight for asking a question. #ferguson— raffephoto (@raffephoto) August 20, 2014

By now we all know that the stories of media/police confrontation from Ferguson, MO have two sides. On the one hand, seemingly unnecessary arrests of major photojournalists had even the President of the United States condemning that officers' actions. On the other, a photojournalist on the ground explained why he was embarrassed by the way the media is acting in the area.

And yet, it's hard to imagine there being a good reason why, on a relatively peaceful protest day, a police officer answered a journalist's seemingly innocent question by pulling and pointing a gun at him.

Photojournalist Given Humanitarian Award for Choosing to Help Before Taking Photos

As a photojournalist, there are many moments where you have to answer a simple ethical question: do you take the photo, or do you try to help? This happens a lot in more tragic events, and conflict photographers are often accused of making the wrong choice.

Which is the right and wrong choice is up for debate in any given situation -- a photo might spark change on an international level after all -- but one thing is for sure: we don't often hear about photojournalists putting down the camera and choosing to help right then and there. That, however, is exactly what happened in the case of Miami Herald photojournalist Al Diaz in February of this year.

White House Upsets Press Photogs Again, Locks Them Out of Dalai Lama Meeting

The Obama Administration is yet again making headlines thanks to its 'closed-door' policy when it comes to anyone other than official White House photographer Pete Souza getting time to photograph the President.

This time the controversy revolves around President Obama's meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a meeting with far-reaching political implications that everyone but Mr. Souza was yet again shut out of.

NPPA Says New California Anti-Paparazzi Bill ‘Threatens First Amendment Rights’

Last Thursday, we told you about the newest anti-paparazzi bill to hit the California State Assembly. Focused on expanding the definition of harassment, SB 606 was drafted for the specific purpose of protecting the children of celebrities -- some hollywood actresses have already spoken out in support of the bill.

As with many a legal mater, however, not everyone is in favor of the bill. While most would agree that protecting children from being harassed by paparazzi is a worthy goal, the NPPA is now officially speaking out against SB 606, warning the public that this bill's vague wording "threatens first amendment rights."

NPPA Joins Fifteen Others in Copyright Suit Against Google Books

The National Press Photographers Association has decided to throw their hat in the ring with 15 other organizations that are all suing Google over what they see as "widespread, well-publicized, and uncompensated infringement of exclusive rights" perpetrated by the search giant's Google Books program.