The Kentucky News Photographers Association, an accredited chapter of the National Press Photographers Association, will hold it’s annual POY contest and Educational Seminar Friday, Jan 20th, and Saturday Jan. 21st at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. This year’s event is being held in conjunction with the Kentucky Press Association and the Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association’s annual conventions at the same location. This will be the largest gathering of journalists in the state. The KPA event is Jan 19-20 and the KIPA happens the same time as the KNPA, Jan 20-21.

The KNPA kicks off the weekend with the Still and TV judging on Friday at 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.  The judging is open to the public and thousands of images and hours of video from the past year in Kentucky will be judged by Corey Perrine, The Omaha World-Herald; Amy Smotherman Burgess, The Knoxville News Sentinel; Sam Riche, IU Health Visual Media Coordinator; Kevin Torres, KUSA-TV in Denver, Co.; and Les Rose, CBS in L.A.  Special guest speakers include recently retired Courier-Journal photojournalist Bill Luster, last year’s video POY Michael Driver of WHAS, local news watcher Rob Mattheu and Tim Broekema, a professor of Photojournalism at Western Kentucky University. Visit the KNPA web site at knpa.org for contest rules and deadlines.

The Educational Seminar will start Saturday morning at 8:30 featuring all nine speakers throughout the day. The awards presentation and slide show will kick off at noon, free for paid seminar attendees.

The KNPA is member funded and the fees we charge cover the costs of the contest and seminar. We have reduced our costs at every corner and still strive to host the best weekend of photojournalism we can. KNPA professional dues are $35 and $10 for students. POY contest entry fees are $25 for professionals and $10 for students. The KNPA Educational Seminar on Saturday is $20 for professionals and free for students who are paid KNPA members. The seminar is $25 for non-KNPA members.

You must have your dues and contest fees paid before the contest judging begins. You can pay your seminar fees on Saturday at the registration desk. We will have a registration desk set up both days so you can pay your dues, seminar registration fees. You must check in Saturday at the registration desk to sign in, pay your fees and pick up your name tag. The KNPA will accept cash, checks and credit cards on Saturday.

Nikon and Canon will be set up displaying the latest cameras, lenses and accessories. And they will be set up for a clean and check! (2 piece maximum)

You can get info on the KPA event by visiting their web site at www.kypress.com.

Contact the Embassy Suites, 1801 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511 859-455-5000 to book a room.

Please help us spread the work to any visual journalist, freelancer and student in the state. Visit us on Facebook and on our web site knpa.org. Please email Joe Imel with any questions at joeimel@me.com.