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“Pepper spray pain” earned Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson first place in News. Here, searing eyes and burning pain greet Petty Officer Rick Marin after he’s sprayed with pepper spray during a field exercise for USS Mount Whitney security force members at Norfolk Naval Station, Va. A police officer guides him to nearby water for rinsing.

“Pepper spray pain” earned Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson first place in News. Here, searing eyes and burning pain greet Petty Officer Rick Marin after he’s sprayed with pepper spray during a field exercise for USS Mount Whitney security force members at Norfolk Naval Station, Va. A police officer guides him to nearby water for rinsing. ()

“Pepper spray pain” earned Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson first place in News. Here, searing eyes and burning pain greet Petty Officer Rick Marin after he’s sprayed with pepper spray during a field exercise for USS Mount Whitney security force members at Norfolk Naval Station, Va. A police officer guides him to nearby water for rinsing.

“Pepper spray pain” earned Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson first place in News. Here, searing eyes and burning pain greet Petty Officer Rick Marin after he’s sprayed with pepper spray during a field exercise for USS Mount Whitney security force members at Norfolk Naval Station, Va. A police officer guides him to nearby water for rinsing. ()

Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson earned an honorable mention in the Feature division with “Water stop,” in which a handful of U.S. Naval Academy plebes quench their thirst amid the chaos known simply as “Herndon.” Every year, plebes are charged with climbing and reaching the top of Herndon, a tall monument that is greased, with a hat placed atop. After reaching the hat and replacing it with another, they can successfully move on to the next year at the academy. The rite of passage usually takes more than an hour, and requires the strength and determination of the entire class.

Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson earned an honorable mention in the Feature division with “Water stop,” in which a handful of U.S. Naval Academy plebes quench their thirst amid the chaos known simply as “Herndon.” Every year, plebes are charged with climbing and reaching the top of Herndon, a tall monument that is greased, with a hat placed atop. After reaching the hat and replacing it with another, they can successfully move on to the next year at the academy. The rite of passage usually takes more than an hour, and requires the strength and determination of the entire class. ()

Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby earned third place in the News category for this untitled work, in which military members pay their respects to one of 12 servicemembers who died Aug. 7 when their -130H Combat Talon II crashed into a mountainside 20 miles south of San Juan, Puerto Rico, during a training mission.

Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby earned third place in the News category for this untitled work, in which military members pay their respects to one of 12 servicemembers who died Aug. 7 when their -130H Combat Talon II crashed into a mountainside 20 miles south of San Juan, Puerto Rico, during a training mission. ()

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew J. Hevezi earned honorable mention with his News photo titled “Mother’s Touch.” In it, Tom Horn-Ngam, 44, of Bangkok reunites with her son, Marine Cpl. Matthew D. Scott, 24, of Columbia, S.C. The reunion occurred May 28 at U’Tapao Air Base, Thailand. Scott was born in Thailand but given up for adoption at an orphanage.

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew J. Hevezi earned honorable mention with his News photo titled “Mother’s Touch.” In it, Tom Horn-Ngam, 44, of Bangkok reunites with her son, Marine Cpl. Matthew D. Scott, 24, of Columbia, S.C. The reunion occurred May 28 at U’Tapao Air Base, Thailand. Scott was born in Thailand but given up for adoption at an orphanage. ()

In Tech. Sgt. Stephen Faulisi’s honorable mention-worthy photo in the Portrait category, young Afghan girls wait their turn Dec. 3 to be seen during a Medical Civil Assistance Program held at the village of Deh Baha Ali, Afghanistan.

In Tech. Sgt. Stephen Faulisi’s honorable mention-worthy photo in the Portrait category, young Afghan girls wait their turn Dec. 3 to be seen during a Medical Civil Assistance Program held at the village of Deh Baha Ali, Afghanistan. ()

Last year’s bridesmaid, Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock, earned top honors for still photography in the 2002 Military Photographer of the Year competition.

Lock, of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., was one of two Air Force contestants who landed in the top three. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Ansarov, who took third place in 2001, moved up one spot on the podium to second. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeffrey B. Allen, of Torch Magazine on Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, was third.

The Videographer of the Year title went to Navy Chief Petty Officer David C. Kosling of Fleet Combat Camera Atlantic, in Norfolk, Va.

This year’s competition took place March 12-13, and fielded 2,321 entries in nine still categories and 72 entries in seven motion media categories.

The annual MILPHOG program recognizes military photographers and videographers for their achievements in furthering the objectives of photography within the military.

For more information about the competition, or to view more images, as well as complete results in the Motion Media categories, visit the DINFOS Web site at www.dinfos.osd.mil.

Still Photography

Military Photographer of the Year 1. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock2. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Ansarov3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeffrey B. Allen

Honorable Mention:Air Force Tech Sgt. Michael E. Buytas., Jr.Navy Petty Officer First Class Preston KeresAir Force Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall

Portrait1. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock2. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeffrey B. Allen

Honorable Mention:Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. LockNavy Petty Officer 1st Class Brien AhoAir Force Tech Sgt. Stephen Faulisi

Picture Story 1. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock2. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Ansarov3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeffrey B. Allen

Honorable Mention:Air Force Master Sgt. Scott D. WagersAir Force Tech Sgt. Michael E. Buytas, Jr.Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson

News1. Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert Benson2. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby

Honorable Mention:Air Force Tech Sgt. James E. VarhegyiMarine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Matthew J. HeveziNavy Petty Officer 1st Class Arlo K. Abrahamson

Illustrative 1. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Ansarov2. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeffrey B. Allen

Honorable Mention: Air Force Master Sgt. Scott D. WagersNavy Chief Petty Officer Robert BensonAir Force Senior Airman Bradley Church

Sports 1. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock2. Air Force Master Sgt. Val Gempis3. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Preston Keres

Honorable Mention:Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. LockAir Force Tech Sgt. Efrain GonzalezAir Force Staff Sgt. Derrick C. Goode

Feature 1. Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall2. Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Honorable Mention: Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert BensonAir Force Staff Sgt. Reynaldo RamonAir Force Senior Airman Bradley Church

Combat Camera 1. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Preston Keres2. Army Spc. Adam R. Mancini3. Air Force Tech Sgt. Michael E. Buytas, Jr.

Honorable Mention: Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel M. CullenMarine Corps Lance Cpl. Ronoldson G. SlimAir Force Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall

Pictorial 1. Navy Airman Apprentice Mark J. Rebilas2. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock3. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo, Jr.

Honorable Mention:Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Preston KeresNavy Petty Officer 2nd Class John A. Collins

Videography

Videographer of the Year1. Navy Chief Petty Officer David C. Kosling2. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Wayne W. French3. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class William F. Gowdy

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