- 2010 Annual Conference
If you are interested in this award, then check out the conference and other award opportunities here.
Gordon B. Wright Photography Award
Deadline: Thursday, April 15, 2010
In the construction writing industry, photography is increasingly important as a means of communicating information and attracting readers. Therefore, in 2004 the Construction Writers Association established special awards for this discipline.
CWA presents two Gordon B. Wright Awards at its Annual Conference. These awards are presented to the winner(s) who took the winning photograph(s)–not to the publication or publishing house.
The Gordon B. Wright Award has two categories:
- Feature photograph–single photograph on a current subject of significance to the construction industry, and
- Series of related photographs–images used to illustrate a single article or series of articles on a single topic relevant to the construction industry.
These articles must be published in construction industry magazines and journals. An award is presented in each category and additional awards may be presented at the judge’s discretion. Entries submitted should by photographers who were commissioned by a publication to provide photographs. All entries should be attributed or the entry should include a statement from the publication’s editor.
The awards honor Gordon B. Wright, a distinguished editor in the industry and CWA past president. The association established the Gordon B. Wright Photography Awards in 2006 to recognize his service to CWA as a meeting photographer for more than a decade.
Recent Winners
The Construction Writers Association congratulates the winners of its Photography Awards, which were presented during the recent CWA Annual Conference.
2009
The Gordon B. Wright Photography Award for a Feature Photograph is for a single photograph on a current subject of significance to the construction industry.
William Conway won the Gordon B. Wright Feature Photograph Award for "Pouring Concrete" published in the Daily Commercial News.
Richard Gilbert won an honorable mention for “Leaning Tower of Rebar” published in the Daily Commercial News.
Past Winners
Awards Ceremony
Winners will be announced by the end of June 2010 or earlier. CWA is hosting one magnificent Annual Conference and Grand Awards Dinner in 2010! The winners will be presented awards at the CWA Annual Awards Dinner which will be held in the fall in Chicago. An exact date and location will be announced soon.
Judging Criteria
The CWA Journalism Awards Committee selects an impartial panel of industry professionals to evaluate the entries and verify that entries comply with the rules of the competition. The committee serves as the screening group to receive entries and verify their compliance with the entry rules. No individual is eligible to serve as a juror if they submit an entry in the same year or is currently affiliated with a publication or publisher of an entry. Committee members are ineligible to compete or serve as jurors.
Judges will evaluate entries as follows:
- Telling a good story: 30%
- Artistic quality: 30%
- Technical quality: 30%
- Significance of the subject: 10%
Judges are instructed to evaluate each entry primarily on journalistic merit. The jury will look more toward the merits of the entrant’s photography and communications efforts than at the entry’s presentation and promotional qualities.
Award Specifications
The Gordon Wright Photography Awards will be presented to the person(s) who took the winning photograph(s)–not to the publication or publishing house. Only one award of each kind will be presented, although the judges may, at their discretion, award honorable mentions or duplicates if more than one photographer contributed to a series of photos.
Only CWA members in good standing at the time of entry are eligible to submit entries. If multiple photographers are involved in a series, all photographers must be members of CWA at the time of judging.
Categories include 1) a feature photograph–single photograph on a current subject of significance to the construction industry and 2) a series of related photographs–photographs used to illustrate a single article or series of articles on a single topic relevant to the construction industry.
Entry Requirements
- Print and complete an entry form. Send the completed form to the designated committee chairperson. See info below for contact name and mailing information.
- Send payment to the CWA office. See info below for contact name and mailing information.
- Each photographer should submit a separate application for each entry.
- Entrant(s) must be CWA members in good standing at the time of entry. If multiple entrants are involved, then all entrants must be members of CWA at the time of the submittal.
- All entries should be attributed. Where no byline appears, the entry should include a statement from the publication's editor corroborating the responsibility of the individual photographer or group of photographers for originating the submitted material.
- All entries must have been published in a specialized business periodical, a technical association magazine, or a professional journal serving the construction industry, encompassing such disciplines and activities as architecture, engineering, planning, design, specifying, contracting (building/heavy/specialty), and construction materials, systems, equipment, or management.
- Individual photographs must have been appeared in print between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Series entries including cover dates earlier or later than specified may be submitted in their entirety, but only if 75% or more of the series was published within the specified dates.
- Good safety practices are important in good photography. Photos may be eliminated if they display violations, unless those violations are the theme, subject or the specific point of the photo.
- Photography of work under construction is encouraged and receives high consideration, rather than photography of completed projects.
- All entries become the property of CWA and entries will not be returned.
- The winning entries may be retained for archival purposes. CWA may ask permission to reprint the winning articles in its newsletter or place them on its website.
Presentation Format
The presentation format is important. Each entry must include:
- A completed copy of the Photography Awards Entry Form
- Original published tear sheets of the photograph or series of photographs
- An opening statement, no more than one page, containing
- A brief description of the specific discipline or segment of the construction industry the publication serves, and its target audience.
- An explanation of the significance and intent of the material submitted and how it was conceived and prepared;
- Any other pertinent background that might assist jurors in evaluating the entry.
- Entries should be no larger than 8½ by 11 inches unless published in larger dimensions.
- All entries should be presented in a neat and systematically organized manner and should be presented neatly and systematically organized and enclosed in a plastic carrier, folder, or binder. Boards will not be accepted.
- A CD containing the image or images scanned at 300 dpi or higher and a PDF of the opening statement.
Entry Fee
The entry fee is $125.00 per entry. Payment is accepted by check or credit card. Checks should be made payable to: CWA or the Construction Writers Association. If using a credit card, then you can fax the form to CWA.
Deadlines
The deadline for entries is Thursday, April 15, 2010.
All submittals must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2010.
The entry and the payment should be sent separately to the designated addresses by the deadline. Your entry must be sent to the committee chairperson. Your payment must be sent to CWA.
Send entries to:
Marianna B. Boucher, Photography Awards Committee Co-Chair
Corporate Communications Manager
McKim & Creed PA
243 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
United States
Please note the title “Photography Awards Entry” on the addressed envelope.
Send payment with a copy of the entry form to CWA.
By mail:
Deborah J. Hodges
Executive Director
Construction Writers Association
P.O. Box 14784
Chicago, IL 60614
United States
By fax: 773-687-8627
Checks should be made payable to CWA or the Construction Writers Association.
Please note the title “Photography Awards Entry “on the addressed envelope or fax cover sheet.
Permission and disclaimer: CWA will issue press releases announcing all winners. Award recipients may send their own releases after the official CWA press releases. The CWA logo is available upon request in writing by contacting Deborah J. Hodges, CWA Executive Director. A copy of the draft release should accompany the request for logo use.
For additional information: If you have any questions, please contact the committee chairperson(s) or the executive director.
Marianna B. Boucher, Journalism Awards Committee Co-Chair
Corporate Communications Manager
McKim & Creed PA
910-343-1048
mboucher@mckimcreed.com
Janet S. Cohen, Journalism Awards Committee Co-Chair
Director of Corporate Communications
Barton Malow Company
248-436-5508
janet.cohen@bartonmalow.com
Deborah J. Hodges
Executive Director
Construction Writers Association
773-687-8726
info@constructionwriters.org