This year's Photographer of the Year was selected by the photo staff of The Seattle Times, including staff photographers Alan Berner, Steve Ringman, Tom Reese; and photo editor Angela Gottschalk.

Second runner-up
Andy Sawyer, The Tribune

Since May of 1997, Andy Sawyer has worked as a staff photographer for the East Valley Tribune since May 1997. During that time, he has twice before been a finalist for Ariona Photographer of the Year.
This year, the judges praised the combination of a strong photo story, Motel Mom, with some impressive single images. Of particular note, judges said, were shots of a Phoenix Suns coach reacting to a dunk, a prank leaving a student duct-taped to a pole and Santa in a cart heading to the barrio.

First runner-up
Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic

Chow has been a staff photographer for the Arizona Republic and the late Phoenix Gazette since 1989. This is the 9th time he has been a finalist for the Arizona Press Club Photographer of the Year, a distinction he has won three times. He has also won the National Press Photographers Association's Region 10 Photographer of the Year in 1993 and placed second in 2001.
Judges this year singled out two especially strong entries in Chow's portfolio: "The sensitive story on the burned firefighter is its strength along with a key single from the World Series of a blown save by the Diamondback reliever," they said.

Photographer of the Year
Pat Shannahan, The Arizona Republic

Pat Shannahan has been a photographer for The Arizona Republic since March of 2001. He previously was the photo editor and chief photographer for The Vicksburg Post in Vicksburg, Miss.
Shannahan graduated from Arizona State University in December of 2001 with a degree in journalism. While attending ASU, he interned at The Arizona Republic, The East Valley Tribune and The Colorado Springs Gazette.
Judges singled out Shannahan's combination of strong individual images and black-and-white documentary photojournalism of the Arizona Training School. "Good feature singles with a dose of humor," they wrote. "Creative coverage of David Byrne in concert. Extra effort led to an interpretative, underwater photo of a new aquatic center opening."