2012 NPOY Picture Story Nominees

First Place: Ben Nelms / Canadian Geographic / Reuters – “Freegan”
Second Place: Ben Nelms / Canadian Geographic – “Fin — The Great Green Shark Hunt”
Third Place: Marco Campanozzi / La Presse
Honourable Mention: John Lehmann / The Globe and Mail – “The Boxer”

 

Ben Nelms / Canadian Geographic / Reuters – Freegan

In a wealthy country like Canada, you would think that no one, save for a few homeless people, would search through dumpsters for food.

And, you would be wrong.

In communities across the continent, you may find people going through the garbage. They call themselves “freegans” – the word compounded from “free” and “vegan” – and they gather edible food from the garbage bins of grocery stores or food stands that would otherwise have been thrown away. Bread, fruit, vegetables, canned goods and even ice-cream are found and given a second chance. Freegans aim to spend little to no money purchasing food and other goods, not through financial need but rather to try to address issues of over-consumption and excess. For most, freeganism is a lifestyle, not a diet or fad.

 

Ben Nelms / Canadian Geographic – Fin — The Great Green Shark Hunt

Last year, Canada became home to the first shark fishery in the world that was labeled with a Marine Stewardship Council certification. This is an internationally recognized certification that lists the British Columbia Spiny Dogfish Shark industry as ‘certified sustainable seafood’. The fishery is located in the Pacific waters off the coast of Canada and around Vancouver Island.

Sharks have been hunted by humans for centuries. Typically, they were harvested to produce shark fin soup – a delicacy in Chinese culture – and the practice continues today in Canadian Pacific waters. Animal rights advocates criticize the shark fin harvest, often referencing horrific videos and photographs to argue the process is inhumane and unjustified. Proponents counter that consuming shark fins is integral to maintaining cultural traditions. 

 

Marco Campanozzi / La Presse

Two years after the revolution, Egyptians are asked to vote over a controversial referendum according new power to President Mohamed Morsi. Many Egyptians see the new constitution as a regression for the people and the population is polarized over the debate.

 

John Lehmann / The Globe and Mail – The Boxer

There are two sides to Alisah McPhee. By day, she’s in front of a blackboard as an elementary school teacher in Bradner, British Columbia. By night, she’s under the lights and in the ring as an undefeated amateur Vancouver boxer.

“Teach her how it’s done,” her supporters yell during a match. “Teach her her ABCs.”

But it’s not boxing that makes Ms. McPhee, 31, nervous. She’d rather face an opponent’s jab than a room full of pre-teens.

“I was sweating,” she says, laughing as she recalls her first day on the job. “With 30 kids in the classroom, and you don’t know them, you’ve got to get to know every single person and build a relationship with each individual.”

She started boxing in 2009, winning her first fight five months later. Her dad was in the crowd then but he hasn’t returned, saying he can’t bear to watch. But her students’ families relish their teacher’s double life. Amid the two endeavours, she finds common ground.

“You gotta to be prepared everyday,” she says of her teaching gig. “My lesson plan and my day plan but if what’s coming at you isn’t what you have planned then you’ve got to throw it out the window.” Just like in the ring.