Best Sports Picture Story - Sites over 500K views/month

Best Picture Story judging criteria:
The best use of still photographs where the content of the images is presented in the most direct and easily accessible way possible. Animation can be used only to advance from one image to another and audio, where appropriate, can be used to enhance the storytelling.

Judges' comments:
In the Best Sports Picture Story category, "Cal Ripken Retires" deserves honorable mention. The photo essay exhibited solid photography with a nice historical perspective and a unifying narrative component. At times the navigation was disorienting and some additions, like the poor quality audio files, seemed to detract from, rather then enhance, the story. The gallery of Cal Ripken cards was a nice addition that used the medium well. -- Maria Bunai

Best Sports Picture Story - Independent

First Place: (no award)
Second Place: First Division - G.M. Reeves
Third Place: (no award)

Judges' comments:
"First Division," a gritty independently produced black and white picture story about Palestinian football players, scores a second place in Best Sports Picture Story. Strong images of this unique situation and the cleanly designed presentation caught the judges' attention. Lacking, however, is a clear narrative to accompany the pictures. The need for complete captions, tighter editing, and focus kept this entry from top honors in this category. -- J. Carl Ganter

In several categories, first, second, or third place awards were not given because the work did not reflect the standards expected from that position compared to the entire body of contest submissions.