1st place, Feature: Erica Carcamo, 4, plays in the sand while laying in a hammock as waves wash ashore underneath the pier of Buckroe Beach Friday morning. (Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press)

Jonathon Gruenke, a staff photographer at the Daily Press in Newport News, is the 2014 Virginia Photographer of the Year, winning with 25 points spread among seven awards. Gruenke, who shared the 2014 Clip Photographer of the Year title with Roanoke’s Erica Yoon, edged out fellow Daily Press staffer and acting VNPA president Rob Ostermaier, who earned 21 points with nine awards. Finishing in third place was Mike Morones of the Military Times newspapers in Springfield with 16 points with 4 awards including top portfolio.

In all, 21 photographers from across the state placed in the 2014 contest. The contest was judged at the offices of Gannett Government Media in Springfield, VA by Preston Keres, Molly Riley and Dan Gross.