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Alumnus named WHNPA Still Photographer of the Year

Patrick SmithPatrick Smith, a Towson University graduate and Getty Images photographer, has been named the Still Photographer of the Year by the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA).

mass communication major and former photo editor of the Towerlight, Smith has been working as a freelance photojournalist and traveling the world since he graduated in 2009.

“I am happy, humbled and proud, to say the very least,” said Smith in response.

“I am fortunate to work alongside and also compete with the very best photojournalists and editors who continually inspire me to document stories locally and nationally. I feel like Getty Images deserves the credit on this one—their trust, support and guidance has been unparalleled,” he continued.

“Their dedication to visual story telling and photojournalism is why they are regularly published and are respected as leaders in their field,” said WHNPA President Ron Sachs of the “Eyes of History” contest winners. “The quality of the contest submissions gets better each and every year.”

As the Still Photographer of the Year, Smith will this May be honored at a black-tie gala at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., where he will meet President Barack Obama, government dignitaries and fellow industry celebrities.

See a few of Smith’s winning entries below:

A man stares at the site in which the statue of former Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno stood now sits empty after it was removed six months after his death by workers outside Beaver Stadium on July 22, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. In the worst scandal in the history of college sports, Penn State's president Rodney Erickson made the decision Sunday to remove the statue in the wake of the child sex scandal because it was believed that Paterno had detailed knowledge of Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing children before and after Sandusky retired from coaching at Penn State. The same day, the NCAA also imposed unprecedented penalties against the Penn State football program for its involvement in the sexual abuse scandal that centered on Sandusky.

A man stares at the now-empty site of the statue of former Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno.
Photo by Patrick Smith.

Dale Harris of the St. Paul’s Crusaders rushes down the sideline during an MIAA B Conference regular season game at St. Paul's School. Photo by Patrick Smith. Courtesy of the Baltimore Sun.

Dale Harris of the St. Paul’s Crusaders rushes down the sideline during a regular season game.
Photo by Patrick Smith.

On a rainy afternoon, passerby make their way up the street in midtown Manhattan, in New York, Ny., on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.

On a rainy afternoon, passersby make their way up the street in midtown Manhattan, in New York, N.Y.
Photo by Patrick Smith.

Zach Gascho, #1005 of Catoctin, looks down at his teammate Garrett Buckley after he and other runners collapsed to the ground after finishing the Boys' Class 2A Maryland MPSSAA Cross Country State Championships at Hereford High School on November 10, 2012 in Parkton, Md. Buckley finished the race in 33rd place, while their team went on to finish in 26th overall.

Runners collapse to the ground after finishing the Cross Country State Championships at Hereford High School.
Photo by Patrick Smith.

To see more of Patrick’s winning photography, visit www.whnpa.org.

More of Smith’s photography can also be seen on his website and blog.

 

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