Pictures of the year
Members of the YH-R photo staff, along with news producer TJ Mullinax, shoot thousands of images. We’ve compiled a gallery of each photographer’s five best images of the year.

Sunrise Outreach members lay their hands on and pray for Gideon Merchant Thursday, April 9, 2009, during their morning stop at Naches and Chestnut Avenues in Yakima, Wash.. From left are Jeff Brooks, Jackie Archibald, Frank (who asked his last name not be used) and Debra Harrington. Merchant said he has been looking for a job and "in desperate need of spiritual healing" when he by chance walked up upon the group and asked for them to pray for him. "This photo is a powerful, genuine and meaningful moment that I was lucky enough to witness and then be able to share." --Andy Sawyer
In each caption the photographer has written a comment about the photograph. Look, read and enjoy.
–Gordon King
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“I don’t like the girl’s head in the background”
The YH-R photo staff and news producer TJ Mullinax just finished judging part of a monthly photo contest organized by the National Press Photographers’ Association (the NPPA is an organization of professional photojournalists and photojournalism students). We judged photos published in May by photographers from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan.

YH-R news producer TJ Mullinax and photographer Sara Gettys and former staff photographer Kris Holland judge entries in the monthly photo contest organized by the National Press Photographers Association.
It’s always good to see the photos being shot by other photojournalists in other parts of the country (much easier now than it used to be, thanks to the internet). Read the rest of this entry »
New York and Yakima – the issues are the same
OK – I admit it. The Yakima Herald-Republic is not the New York Times. For instance, our A-1 photos often run bigger than those on the front page of the Times. And last time I checked our company directory, we don’t have any overseas bureaus or correspondents (though some people might say that Yakima is a whole different world).
But we the H-R and the New York Times do have common ground when it comes to issues of photography, technology and the changing role of photojournalism.
Michelle McNally, an assistant managing editor and former Director of Photography at the Times, answered readers’ questions last week. It’s a fascinating read and I’d recommend that anyone interested in photojournalism read the Q and A article.
–Gordon King
Good news from tragedy
Back in March I blogged about covering a fatal house in which one person was killed and another badly burned. Now there’s news that the badly burned person, Jordan Everhart, is doing much better.
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According to the story in today’s Yakima Herald-Republic, Jordan is now talking, eating and walking a few steps.
It’s great to see that Jordan is recovering from the fire and I wish him and his family well. It’s nice to have some good news come out of a tragic situation.
For more information on Jordan’s recovery, go here.
–Gordon King


