War And Disaster Images Stand Out At WHNPA Gala

WASHINGTON ? Hundreds of photojournalists, video photographers and editors gathered Saturday night at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington for the 85th annual White House News Photographers Association awards dinner.

Winners had been announced previously, with the Washington Post 's Andrea Bruce winning Photographer of the Year, the association's top photography award, for the third time. (Complete list of winners.)

The mood at the black-tie gala was mostly serious, which was fitting given that much of the winning work was connected to the war in Iraq and natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and the Kashmir earthquake.

President Bush, who attended the event last year, was not present. Instead, Bush addressed the photographers in a short video recorded earlier. There was a problem with garbled audio at the beginning of the clip, causing a moment of laughter, but it quickly cleared up.

"You have a profound role in recording history," the president said. "Photojournalists are often the first at the scene of breaking news and the record you create is often the most direct connection people have to historic events. ... Our democracy is stronger because of your dedication to this important profession."

The president mentioned the subjects of a few of the award-winning photos, then added dryly, "There's even one of me with light bulbs over my head."

Reuters photographer Kevin Lamarque gets the distinction of being at the end of that presidential barb. His photo of the president's face from the nose up, looking slightly confused, with starry lights out of focus behind him, won second place in the presidential category.

There was little humor otherwise, and certainly nothing approaching the biting satire Stephen Colbert delivered in his controversial routine last week at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

WHNPA emcee Norah O'Donnell, an NBC News correspondent, narrated a few good-natured video clips of the president caught in unscripted moments. In one, a news camera that had been mounted on the ceiling during a press conference suddenly fell and dangled precariously over reporters. Bush joked, "Are you wearing your helmets?" in the clip.

Outgoing WHNPA president Susan Walsh, who had a baby April 25, was not present but also sent in a video. As the video showed her holding her newborn son, the room responded with oohs and aahs.

The dinner marked the transition from Walsh, an Associated Press photographer who has served as WHNPA president for five years, to new president Dennis Brack of Black Star. "I'd like to again add my thanks to Susie for a great five years of service," Brack said as he took over at the end of the dinner.

Two members of the military accepted awards for their photography and video work. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock won military photographer of the year, while Air Force Senior Airman Anna M. Wiesse was named military videographer of the year.

Dai Baker, Video Photographer of the Year, led the room in a chorus of "Happy Birthday" to his father as he accepted his award.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Gordon Swenson, a video editor who has worked with ABC's Nightline and other news programs.

Related story

• Feb. 3: WHNPA Names Andrea Bruce Photographer of the Year