Professional Photographers of West Virginia hosts annual conference, names 2026 Photographer of the Year

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Professional Photographers of West Virginia, the state-level affiliate group of the Professional Photographers of America, held their Annual Convention earlier this month and Perry Bennett, the photographer of the state Legislature was named the 2026 Photographer of the Year.

During the conference, which was held March 6-8, seen greater than 30 members from round and out of doors West Virginia attend. This offered members the chance for skilled improvement, networking, and training throughout varied photographic specialties and genres.

The weekend was used for members to study web site improvement, on-line advertising and marketing greatest practices, attended a lecture on the historical past on Military Photography, discovered about Adobe Lightroom Classic software program greatest practices, and loved working with their colleagues in a hands-on location and studio taking pictures session.

A big a part of the conference is the juried picture competitors, the place photographers submit the perfect pictures they’ve created over the earlier 12 months in quite a lot of competitors classes together with Portraits, Landscapes/Nature, Weddings, and Photojournalism/Reportage.

For 2026, 223 pictures had been submitted, with 127 of them incomes advantage recognition.

“This year’s image competition was especially meaningful as it reflected both strong participation and strong work,” Image Competition Chairman Danny Leary stated. “The sheer numbers of participants, images entered, and the total number of merits earned shows the commitment our photographers have to improving their craft. I’m incredibly grateful to see that level of enthusiasm and excellence on display.”

Perry Bennett submitted 25 pictures and 19 earned Merit scores. Those scores from this 12 months and final 12 months helped him with the Photographer of the Year award.

“Earning the title of POTY for the second year in a row is a great honor,” Bennett stated. “I am thrilled to see my work judged so favorably and to carry such an esteemed title awarded by my colleagues and the organization.”

Also, in the course of the conference, members had been honored throughout an official awards banquet Saturday night together with PPWV Past-President Susie Herndon was acknowledged with the Joseph Barta Award for service to the group. Members Mike Maxson and Edwin “Bo” Wriston had been acknowledged for incomes the PPA designation as Certified Professional Photographer, and members Ed Conner, David P. McMasters, and Anthony Rumley had been introduced with Medallion Awards which symbolize attaining 25 or extra whole deserves in PPWV competitions.

Individual awards for the 2026 included:

Walter E. Johnston Memorial Trophy for greatest black & white portrait

Dew Drop In White – Perry Bennett

George J. Kossuth Natural Color Award for greatest pure coloration portrait

Wrapped In Innocence – Matt Canterbury

Joseph Blackwood Trophy for greatest industrial picture

1972 In Blue – David Buckwalter

Best Wedding Candid

His Little Girl Always – Danny Leary

Best Wedding Portrait

Held By Her Circle – Jamie Cox

Frank Mauritz Trophy for greatest wedding ceremony entry

His Little Girl Always – Danny Leary

Archibald Wallace Memorial Trophy for greatest pictorial or illustrative picture

Blood Moon Eclipse – David Buckwalter

Phillips/Rittenhouse News Photo Award for greatest information {photograph}

Crescendo – Perry Bennett

Best Non-Event Album

Soda-licious – Brian Price

James H. Hall Award, awarded to the most effective picture by a first-time entrant

Gateway To Dallas – David Buckwalter

Best High School Senior Portrait

Getting Off Track – Matt Canterbury

Best Animal Portrait

The Cost of Freedom – Brian Price

Best Boudoir Image

Desires In Darkness – David Buckwalter

Best Children’s Portrait

Wrapped in Innocence – Matt Canterbury

Best Nature or Landscape Image

Gateway To Dallas – David Buckwalter

Barbara Sullivan Award for greatest open artwork picture

Put On A Happy Face – Matt Canterbury

Nelson Paden Progressive Photographer, highest scoring shopper picture by a PPWV member

Getting Off Track – Matt Canterbury

Dick Phillips Memorial Trophy, highest scoring picture by a grasp photographer

Gateway To Dallas – David Buckwalter

American Society of Photographers Elite Award, highest scoring picture by an ASP member

Big Ditch Sunrise – Ed Conner

CPP Award-Sponsored by PPA, highest scoring picture by an authorized skilled photographer

White Farm – David McMasters

Judges Choice Awards

Gwen Meehan – Unfiltered by Danny Leary

David Foltz – Gone Before Us by Anthony Rumley

Fred Morton – Lines Between Light and Shadow

Presidents Cup Best of Show

Gateway To Dallas – David Buckwalter

Photographer of The Year, awarded to the photographer with the best common rating on entrants prime six entries that additionally entered the earlier 12 months’s fall competitors

Perry Bennett

Top 10 Photographers, as ranked by highest common scores.

David Buckwalter

Perry Bennett

Matt Canterbury

Anthony Rumley

Edwin L. “Bo” Wriston

Julius Wiggins

Rodney Patterson

Danny Leary

Brian Price

David P. McMasters