Gersh Photo Post | Max Gersh | Multimedia Photojournalist

I’m not one to hold too much weight in journalism contests. Especially photography. Everything is subjective. But don’t get me wrong. I love to pad my resume as much as the next guy.

At the end of June or beginning of July (it was so long ago I can’t remember), the newsroom at The Courier-Times went into a bit of a frenzy trying to get stories and photos ready for the Hoosier State Press Association contest. Anything from July 2009 through June 2010 could be entered. We filled out our forms and sent in our clips.

And then we waited.

I think it was some time in October that we found out which members of our newsroom won awards. Many of us did. However, they don’t tell you what you won. They don’t even tell you how many award you won. They just tease you and try to get you to come to the awards banquet in December. That’s right. You have to wait until December to find out what you won.

At first, I tried to guess what photo(s) won awards. A week out, I’d forgotten about the whole thing.

Then came December. I was unable to attend the banquet but got updates via text message hearing how well our newspaper was doing.

This year, The Courier-Times won 18 awards and finished second in our division. Good job team!

Much to my surprise, I racked up seven awards of my own.

I got third place in the multiple picture group for my series on the Titan 500 tricycle race.

I won second and third place in best picture story (with audio soundtrack) for my pieces on Memorial Day and St. Anne’s church, respectively.

I won first place and third place in best video story for my trick shot video and cooks contest video, respectively.

Lastly, I won first place in best spot news photo with my picture of officers transferring custody of someone who was involved in an armed robbery of a store.

John Michael Evans places his hands on his head as Henry County Sheriff's deputies and Indiana State Troopers transfer him into the custody of the Randolph County Sheriff's Department. Evans was caught at his residence after allegedly committing armed robbery in Losantville. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

To round out my seventh award, the photo above won the recognition of being the best in my division and was one of six finalists (one for each of the six divisions) for photo of the year. Pretty cool.

Like I said, I don’t hold too much weight in these contest. But that won’t stop me from entering.

I was going through my May clips yesterday picking out my favorites for potential contest entry. Here are a few that stood out to me for one reason or another.

I hate working around film crews. I can’t take pictures while they are recording. Their mics will pick up my camera shutter noise. When they aren’t filming, the scene is often times less interesting. I felt like this shot of a TV crew filming “Savor Indiana” turned out nice showing the entire scene with nice lighting and at a somewhat interesting moment.

Dean Wilson, host of "Savor Indiana," licks his fingers after tasting Durham's crab bread Tuesday afternoon. Rosie Shank, left, Durham's kitchen manager, talks with cameraman Greg Williams, seen in the mirror. Also pictured is Keith Jackson, production assistant at right. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Sometimes the action isn’t in front of you. I try to remember that when I’m photographing stage performances such as concerts or plays. At this Duke Tumatoe concert, the crowd began to interact with Duke. It turned what would be a mundane concert photo into a fun and funny piece of art for the page.

Dan, left, and Beth Conway of New Castle sing along at the Duke Tumatoe concert Friday night at the Arts Park. Tumatoe repeatedly yelled "Let's get loose" and requested that the crowd respond by yelling "Loose" back. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

This time, I had to hunt for what wasn’t in front of me. On primary election night, I snapped this photo of one of the Sheriff’s candidates as the numbers were coming in. Needless to say, they weren’t in his favor.

Kim Cronk, a candidate in the Henry County Sheriff's race, reacts as results are projected on a screen Tuesday night in the Henry County Republican headquarters. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Because of privacy laws, it can be a little tricky to photograph inside a hospital, let alone inside a hospital room. After gaining the trust and permission from the supervisors, I was granted permission to follow a couple of nurses into a patients room to illustrate a story on national Nursing Services Week.

Anita Reinhart listens to the heart and lungs of a patient Wednesday evening in the Progressive Care Unit at Henry County Hospital. Dianne Stephens, left, assisted Reinhart with an IV change. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

It’s not often I get to photograph wiffle ball let alone a double play during a wiffle ball match.

After making a diving tag at home plate, Jake Nicholson turns to throw the ball to second base for a double play during a students vs. teachers wiffle ball match. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Chasing a train around town can be tedious. If you don’t get where you need to be before the train does, you might be stuck on the wrong side of the track. Timing is essential.

A train engine blocks part of A Avenue Friday morning as it connects with train cars that have been stored on New Castle tracks for over two years. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

You never know who you will meet on assignment. Wayman Hoots is quite the interesting character. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to do a story on his fishing techniques.

Indiana Conservation Officer Zach Walker, right, talks with New Castle resident Wayman Hoots Wednesday, May 19 in Memorial Park. Walker was checking on Hoots' catch for the day to make sure he was within the legal limit. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

A level of sensitivity is required when photographing a tragedy. After loosing most of their belongings in a fire, they were still gracious enough to let me in to see a slice their past salvaged from their house. As they sorted through the now dirty photographs, I gave them tips on  how to safely clean the prints.

Juliana, left, and Brooke Hughes sort through salvaged photographs Wednesday afternoon. A fire broke out Wednesday morning in their shared closet while they were at school. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

If you’re not expecting it, it will happen. Just after the Memorial Day parade, a Winnebago burst into flames relatively close to my office. Instead of fighting traffic and driving there, I sprinted down the sidewalk. The responding fire department was from out-of-town. They drove an engine in the parade. While they had no fire protection gear, they still broke out their hoses and extinguished the fire.

New Lisbon firefighter Eric Keesling finishes extinguishing a Winnebago that burst into flames Monday shortly after the Memorial Day parade in New Castle. Keesling and other members of the New Lisbon Fire Department were headed home when they saw the RV on fire. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010