Important updates
Judging, convention, and business
Contest Judging News
We’re pleased to announce that judging for the 75th Annual ONPA Still & Multimedia Contest is set for the last Saturday of the month, March 28, 2026 via Zoom. Once again, results will be posted live and judging segments will be able to be viewed on our YouTube channel.
Appearing on this year’s judging panel is:
Seth Harrison is a staff photographer for The Journal News/USA TODAY Network in the New York City area for going on 39 years. His body of work includes documenting the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, several presidential elections, the mass shooting in Newtown, five World Series, the pandemic, and protests in New York City following the death of George Floyd. Most recently, he has covered unrest and protests following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, followed by Israel’s response in Gaza, as well as protests against administration policies regarding immigrants.
Briana Sanchez, a visual journalist based in Boston, Massachusetts. Sanchez is currently a Photo Editor at the Boston Globe. Previously she was the Director of Photography at the Austin American-Statesman. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in journalism and is a Chips Quinn scholar. Sanchez spent the first few years of her career at daily newspapers in Minnesota and South Dakota. In 2019, she returned home to El Paso, Texas, where she worked as a photojournalist at the El Paso Times covering the border. She later shifted her career to photo editing at the Austin American-Statesman. She now lives in Boston and is part of the Globe’s photo editing team.
Patrick Breen is a staff photographer and videographer for the Arizona Republic. He is a winner of three Arizona Press Club’s Arizona Photographer of the Year and three AZPC’s Sports Photographer of the Year. His documentary work on high school sports has earned him three Southwest Regional Emmy awards. Over his 15-year career, he has prided himself on documenting all aspects of life in the American Southwest. When not shooting, he can be found on the basketball court trying to teach his six-year-old how to dribble with his left hand.
Convention News
Registration for the ONPA 75th Anniversary Convention and Awards Dinner is now open.
We would love for you to join us June 19-21, 2026 for our celebration at the The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center, formerly the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, located at: 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center, OH 43035.
The ONPA will commemorate our rich history by honoring all current or past members, students and lifers!
Celebrate the weekend with us during a Friday night reception – details forthcoming, and a Saturday conference to include numerous speakers as well as an awards dinner Saturday night to highlight our members and organization. Looks for updates soon as details are finalized.
*Lunch Saturday is on your own.
Consider making the weekend a family affair as the center offers many amenities and is not far from popular Columbus destinations such as the Columbus Zoo, COSI, Ohio History Center, and more.
We are asking all those who register to submit three pictures separate from your registration: One of you when you entered the workforce, one current picture and one of your favorite images made as a working photojournalist. These images, along with some of our archived images, will be presented in a slide show during the weekend. Please email those to Kim Barth, ONPA chair at: onpachair1951@gmail.com
To make a reservation for June 19-21, use the button below or call the front desk at: 614-880-4300. Be sure to use our group code: 421701. The cutoff date is Friday, May 1, 2026. Please do not wait until the last minute to register because there are other events planned at the Ohioan that weekend.
Due to rising hotel fees and dinners costs, we are charging a registration fee this year. It does NOT cover our costs, but the fee will help offset some of costs associated with this event. A fee of $25.00 is required for all current ONPA members, including students and life members. This fee includes the convention and the Saturday night awards dinner. Non-members are welcome to join us for the conference and dinner at a cost of $30.00 per person.
Business News
We are still seeking nominations for ONPA Board of Trustees positions as this is an election year. Currently, the roles of president, vice president, and secretary will be vacated; although, all seats can be contested. An official nomination is required. Please reach out to Kim Barth with a short statement of interest and bio at: onpachair1951@gmail.com. Those interested should be thinking about creative ways of moving the organization into a more active position of photographer advocacy and education as we look to expand the vision of ONPA. Voting on a new Board will be conducted electronically with swearing in to happen on convention weekend.
As we approach the celebration of 75 years, it’s important to recognize where the organization originated and continue towards inclusivity. The photojournalism landscape has changed quite a bit since the 1950’s. With this in mind, the Board worked tirelessly over several years to create revised bylaws underscoring diversity, equity, and inclusion. To that end, a vote on the revised governing language is desired. A downloadable .pdf showing the updated language with the integrated old terminology can be accessed through the voting form, making it easy to read what changes are proposed. Note: all pronouns were changed from the masculine (old) to neutral (new) and not highlighted.