Photographers recognized in state press association contest

G reater Media Newspapers photographers won three awards in the New Jersey Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for 2008.

Eric Sucar, Portrait, second place Eric Sucar, Portrait, second place The newspaper group, based in Freehold, N.J., publishes 12 weeklies, serving Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean counties.

Jeff Granit and Eric Sucar were among the journalists honored at the NJPA awards banquet April 2 at the Trenton Marriott.

Granit’s photo took first place in the General News category. It depicts family and friends mourning the loss of U.S. Army Spec. Michael Gonzalez, 20, of Spotswood, who died while serving in Iraq.

Sucar won second place in Sports Action for his photo of Jackson Memorial High School goalkeeper Mike Folk as he dives for a ball during a penalty kick on Oct. 8 in a game against Brick Township High School.

The second-place Portrait award also went to Sucar for his depiction of Executive Director Robert O’Brien at the New Jersey Museum of Boating in Point Pleasant.

Jeff Granit, General News, first place Jeff Granit, General News, first place Eric Sucar, Sports Action, second place Eric Sucar, Sports Action, second place