Free Press photographer Ryan Garza wins top honor in photojournalism competition

Detroit Free Press
·1 min read

Free Press photographer takes home top honor in local photojournalism competition

Detroit Free Press staff photographer Ryan Garza was named Photographer of the Year by the Michigan Press Photographers Association at its annual convention last weekend. Garza last held the title in 2012.

Ryan Garza, photographer, Detroit Free Press, is photographed on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 in Detroit.
Ryan Garza, photographer, Detroit Free Press, is photographed on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 in Detroit.

In addition, the Free Press' coverage of Oxford students bonding with other school shooting survivors and stories from the paper's photo series "Where We Live" were among the many photography and video stories also recognized by the statewide organization.

The photography staff took home a combined 26 awards from the MPPA, including nine first places in the photography and video categories.

Leon Sims helps puts a helmet on his son Quenton Sims, 7, as Cynthia Wardlaw helps to put on his skates before hockey practice at the Jack Adams Memorial Arena in Detroit on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. This photo won first place in the Sports Feature category at the MPPA's annual contest.
Leon Sims helps puts a helmet on his son Quenton Sims, 7, as Cynthia Wardlaw helps to put on his skates before hockey practice at the Jack Adams Memorial Arena in Detroit on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. This photo won first place in the Sports Feature category at the MPPA's annual contest.

“Awards like this are important because being recognized by your peers says that the photographers are working at a really high level, but more importantly, they are dedicated journalists who are committed to showing our communities in all their complexity, humanity and beauty,” Senior News Director for Visuals Kathy Kieliszewski said.

Staff photographer Sarahbeth Maney earned an honorable mention in Photographer of the Year category and former photo intern Annie Barker, a Michigan State University graduate, won the College Photographer of the Year category.

Fifth grader Kenyon Sims, 11, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma bone cancer in 2020, sings a high note with excitement while sitting in a limousine after attending a school assembly to celebrate his birthday at Detroit Premier Academy in Detroit on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.
Fifth grader Kenyon Sims, 11, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma bone cancer in 2020, sings a high note with excitement while sitting in a limousine after attending a school assembly to celebrate his birthday at Detroit Premier Academy in Detroit on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.

The honored work featured a series of boxing events in the Upper Peninsula, a student racing team in Detroit and a video story about Bob’s Barn Jamboree in Odessa.

Check out more of the award-winning work at the links below

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ryan Garza wins Michigan Press Photographers Association award