The Virginia News Photographers Association has named Chris Tyree of The Virginian-Pilot as the 2002 Virginia Newspaper Photographer of the Year at its annual photo contest and convention in Norfolk, Virginia, Saturday, March 8, 2003.
The contest was judged by Richmond freelance photographer Charles “Stretch” Ledford, The Washington Post staff photographer Lois A. Raimondo, and Kent Kobersteen, director of photography at National Geographic Magazine. Michael Evans, an imaging software developer from Atlanta, Ga., attended to assist with the judging in which his contest software was used.

Sixty-nine photographers from Virginia entered over 2200 photographs in the competition held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

Spot News-
1^st-Dean Hoffmeyer, Richmond Times-Dispatch
2^nd-Joe Amon-Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
3^rd-Josn Meltzer-Roanoke Times
HM-Bill Tiernan-Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
HM-Seth Gitner-Roanoke Times

General News
1^st-Seth M. Gitner, Roanoke Times
2^nd-Amy Hazam-Potomac News
3^rd-L. Todd Spencer, Virginian-Pilot
HM-Jahi Chikwendiu, Washington Post
HM-Scott Neville, Eastern Shore News
HM-Reza A. Mavrashti, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

Fashion Illustration
1^st-Chris Tyree-Virginian-Pilot
2^nd-Mark Gormus-Richmond Times-Dispatch
3^rd-Genevieve Ross-Virginian-Pilot

Food Illustration
1^st-Adrin Snider, Daily Press
2^nd-Alexa Welch Edlund, Richmond Times-Dispatch
3^rd-Chris Tyree-Virginian-Pilot

Feature
1^st-Sam Dean, Roanoke Times
2^nd-Scott Neville, Eastern Shore News
3^rd-Bruce Parker, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HM-Genevieve Ross, Virginian-Pilot
HM-Sam Dean, Roanoke Times

Pictorial
1^st-Scott Neville, Eastern Shore News
2^nd-L. Todd Spencer, Virginian-Pilot
3^rd-Sam Dean, Roanoke Times
HM-Bruce Parker, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HM-Jahi Chikwendiu, Washington Post

Editorial Illustration
1^st-Reza A. Mavrashti-Free Lance-Star
2^nd-Lindy Keast Rodman, Richmond Times-Dispatch
3^rd-Mark Gormus, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HM-Bruce Parker, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HM-Adrin Snider, Daily Press

Sports Action
1^st-Kelly Presnell-Virginian-Pilot
2^nd-Sam Dean, Roanoke Times
3^rd-Kelly Presnell, Virginian-Pilot
HM-Bill Tiernan, Virginhian-Pilot
HM-Michael J. Kacmarcik, Loudon Times-Mirror
HM-L. Todd Spencer, Virginian-Pilot

Sports Feature
1^st-Sangjib Min, Daily Press
2^nd-Joe Fudge, Daily Press
3^rd-Eric Brady, Roanoke Times
HM-Chris Tyree, Virginian-Pilot
HM-Eric Brady, Roanoke Times

News Picture Story
1^st-Heather S. Hughes, Daily Press
2^nd-Chris Tyree, Virginian-Pilot
3^rd-Chris Tyree, Virginian-Pilot
HM-Amy Hazam, Potomac News
HM-Davis Turner, Free Lance-Star

Portrait
1^st-Jahi Chikwendiu, Washington Post
2^nd-Bill Tiernan, Virginian-Pilot
3^rd-Rhonda Vanover, Free Lance-Star
HM-Kat Fowler-Petersburg Progress-Index

Feature Picture Story
1^st-Adrin Snider, Daily Press
2^nd-Joe Amon, Free Lance-Star
3^rd-Sangjib Min, Daily Press
HM-Reza Mavrashti, Free Lance-Star
HM-Bill Tiernan, Free Lance-Star

Sports Picture Story
1^st- Chris Tyree, Virginian-Pilot
2^nd- Chris Tyree, Virginian-Pilot
3^rd- Mark Gormus, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HM-Josh Meltzer, Roanoke Times
HM-Davis Turner, Free Lance-Star


Lifestyle
1^st-Joe Amon, Fre Lance-Star
2^nd-Steve Earley, Virginian-Pilot
3^rd-Seth Gitner, Roanoke Times
HM-Alexa Welch Edlund, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HM-Bill Tiernan, Virginian-Pilot
HM-Jahi Chikwendiu, Washington Post


Portfolio
1^st- Chris Tyree, Virginian-Pilot
2^nd-Bill Tiernan, Virginian-Pilot
3^rd-Genevieve Ross, Virginian-Pilot


Best in Show-Sam Dean, Roanoke Times