My boy is wicked-smart!

I had been waiting to post this one until it was officially official (you read that right) and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), finally posted some results. Okay, so most of you are probably lost, so here is the dea...
The NPPA is probably the most highly regarded organization for people behind the camera (still & video) in the news industry. Each year they name a Photographer Of the Year (POY) for each of the regions and for the nation. You enter 2 stories 4 times a year and the winners get points. The person with the most points at the end of the year is... the POY. One other thing, while Regions 5 & 9 are highly regarded because of 4 really good photography stations in Minneapolis and Denver respectively, I believe that Region 6 is the most difficult region. It includes: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South & North Carolina, which means that you compete against people in Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greenville, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm and other notable markets.
Well, the Region 6 Photographer Of the Year for 2006 is none other than Jon Samuels (the guy with the cat below). Jon is a photog at WXIA in Atlanta and... my best friend. We started at UGA together, started our TV careers in Columbus together and worked in Greenville together. I've always known that Jon had a great eye, good skills and an unparalleled work ethic and I knew that one day others would recognize it too... now they have.
So it brings me great joy to say CONGRATULATIONS to Jon for winning Region 6 for 2006.

Who did he beat?
Our former Assistant Chief Photog and one of my mentors, John Hendon (a previous Region 6 POY & multiple Emmy winner). As you can see below John didn't take the news so well and went on a rabid rampage.

Seriously, both Jon and John are amazing photogs and I am proud of them both and it's wonderful to see such good guys at the top of the list in Region 6.