Max Filby, Columbus Dispatch
March 5, 2024 at 11:57 AM
Karaline Mishne, 11, pats her ram Rodney while her mother Amanda Mishne braids her hair at the Franklin County Fair on July 17, 2023.
Karaline Mishne, 11, pats her ram Rodney while her mother Amanda Mishne braids her hair at the Franklin County Fair on July 17, 2023.

Two Dispatch photographers won 17 awards for their work documenting life and sporting events in Greater Columbus in 2023.

The Ohio News Photographers Association (ONPA) recognized the work of Dispatch photographers Brooke LaValley and Adam Cairns.

People of Ethiopian descent, including Kdusan Araya, middle, of Bexley and her mother, Tshainesh Mesfin, attend the Palm Sunday service at Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on the Near East Side. Araya recently reunited with her parents after two years without contact due to the fighting in Tigray, Ethiopia, where they lived.People of Ethiopian descent, including Kdusan Araya, middle, of Bexley and her mother, Tshainesh Mesfin, attend the Palm Sunday service at Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on the Near East Side. Araya recently reunited with her parents after two years without contact due to the fighting in Tigray, Ethiopia, where they lived.
People of Ethiopian descent, including Kdusan Araya, middle, of Bexley and her mother, Tshainesh Mesfin, attend the Palm Sunday service at Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on the Near East Side. Araya recently reunited with her parents after two years without contact due to the fighting in Tigray, Ethiopia, where they lived.

In the category of “Photographer of the Year” for large news markets, LaValley placed second and Cairns placed third for their work. OPNA also named LaValley second in the monthly clip contest for “Photographer of the Year” and Cairns second for “Ron Kuntz Photographer of the Year.”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks with the press during a delayed start before a meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission.Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks with the press during a delayed start before a meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks with the press during a delayed start before a meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission.

Cairns was recognized with an “Award of Excellence” in the general news photo category for his coverage of the Issue 1 abortion ballot measure. LaValley finished second in the general news photo category for a picture of DeWine at the redistricting commission, according to ONPA.

The sturgeon moon, the first of two supermoons in August, rises over the Ohio State Fair. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, August’s full moon is called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon fish that could be readily caught in the Great Lakes this time of year. The next full blue moon will occur on Aug. 30.The sturgeon moon, the first of two supermoons in August, rises over the Ohio State Fair. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, August’s full moon is called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon fish that could be readily caught in the Great Lakes this time of year. The next full blue moon will occur on Aug. 30.
The sturgeon moon, the first of two supermoons in August, rises over the Ohio State Fair. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, August’s full moon is called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon fish that could be readily caught in the Great Lakes this time of year. The next full blue moon will occur on Aug. 30.

LaValley finished first in the photo illustration category while Cairns placed third for a pickleball photo in the contest’s feature photo division. In the pictorial category, Cairns placed first for a photo of a local impound lot and he placed second for a photo of the sturgeon supermoon, according to OPNA.

In the portrait personality category, LaValley was recognized with two “Awards of Excellence,” including one for a fireworks photo and another for emergency benefits ending.

Jasmine Wooten sits with her two children Arius Wooten, 8, left, and Naomi Wooten, 11, on her bed in their home on the East Side of Columbus. Jasmine is an artist and her work hangs on the wall behind her. Emergency SNAP benefits helped to feed her family during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a single mom who recently earned a master's in social work from Ohio State University.Jasmine Wooten sits with her two children Arius Wooten, 8, left, and Naomi Wooten, 11, on her bed in their home on the East Side of Columbus. Jasmine is an artist and her work hangs on the wall behind her. Emergency SNAP benefits helped to feed her family during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a single mom who recently earned a master's in social work from Ohio State University.

Cairns placed second and third in the spot news category, for photos of a SWAT team and of shell casings from a gun.

Cairns won several sports photography awards from ONPA.

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. lifts during a summer workout at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center prior to the start of fall camp.Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. lifts during a summer workout at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center prior to the start of fall camp.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. lifts during a summer workout at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center prior to the start of fall camp.

He placed both first and third in the sports picture story category for his work covering the Ryder Cup golf competition and his work capturing images of Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver at Ohio State University.

Along with the OPNA awards, Cairns was also recognized by Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) for a feature photo he snapped after the Columbus Crew’s MLS cup win in December.

Dec 9, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Christian Ramirez (17) hoists the Philip J. Anschutz Trophy after defeating the Los Angeles FC in the 2023 MLS Cup championship game at Lower.com Field.Dec 9, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Christian Ramirez (17) hoists the Philip J. Anschutz Trophy after defeating the Los Angeles FC in the 2023 MLS Cup championship game at Lower.com Field.
Dec 9, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Christian Ramirez (17) hoists the Philip J. Anschutz Trophy after defeating the Los Angeles FC in the 2023 MLS Cup championship game at Lower.com Field.

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dispatch photographers win 17 awards for covering Columbus