Aaron Thompson, a photographer at The Daily News Journal at Murfreesboro, Tenn., received Photo of the Year honors from the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association for a photo of a young boy at his father’s funeral. The boy was receiving the flag that had covered his father’s coffin.
Thompson’s photo, which also placed first in the news feature category, was judged to be the best because of its technical quality, originality and overall aesthetics, according to an SNPA announcement. Judges said his photo was a very simple picture. While there have been many grave site photographs over the years, the judges said: “This one is the most striking. The expression of the little boy fighting to be strong is heartbreaking,” according to the release. See link for photographer's account of taking the photograph below.