As part of its ongoing commitment to recognize and support photojournalists, the Nikon Spirit Initiative sponsored the White House News Photographers' Association's annual gala awards
dinner for the 12th consecutive year on May 21, 2005. Special guest, President George W. Bush, presented a humorous slideshow of photographs and honored the top photojournalists, including the Washington Post's Andrea Bruce Woodall, who was named Photographer of the Year, and veteran photographer Chick Harrity who took home a lifetime achievement award.
"Nikon is proud to continue its support of the White House News Photographers' Association as part of the Nikon Spirit Initiative," said Anna Marie Bakker, General Manager of communications for Nikon Inc. "The WHNPA provides an invaluable service to our world by being our eyes into some of the most historic moments ever. Nikon is grateful to WHNPA, and especially President Bush, for making this endeavor such a success."
Woodall, a first-place winner in the organization's Eyes of History 2005 Still Photography Contest, was named Photographer of the Year by WHNPA for producing a tremendous portfolio that included breathtaking images from Iraq during the recent war. In honor of her work, Woodall was presented with a Nikon D2x digital SLR camera and lens.
A lifetime achievement award was presented to Chick Harrity, whose 48-year career included 35 years in Washington with the Associated Press and U.S. News and World Report. In an emotional surprise to Harrity, his award was presented by the young woman whose image he captured in the famous, "Baby in the Box" image which he captured while she was an orphan in Vietnam. She was later adopted by an American woman.
President Bush's slideshow featured a number of photographs of members of the White House press corps, and even the President himself, in humorous poses. In the end, though, the President echoed the sentiment that ruled the night. "When people think of historic events, they don't usually remember the words that were written. They remember the images. One photo may not provide a complete history, but it gives us a glimpse of history and that's important
work."
For more information about the Nikon Spirit Initiative, and Nikon's ongoing efforts to support professional photographers, please visit http://www.nikonspiritinitiative.com.