Fayette County

Herald-Leader chief photographer Charles Bertram named Photographer of the Year

Herald-Leader Staff Report
William Smith, who was passing by when he saw the fire, put water on the burning house at 3158 Leestown Road in Lexington on Sept. 18, 2015. Occupant Clarence Woodrum was rescued from his second floor balcony by Smith and another man. Smith saw the fire and stopped to help rescue Woodrum and then put water on the fire until firefighters arrived. The fire department also rescued several of Woodrum’s dogs and gave them oxygen before returning them to Woodrum.
William Smith, who was passing by when he saw the fire, put water on the burning house at 3158 Leestown Road in Lexington on Sept. 18, 2015. Occupant Clarence Woodrum was rescued from his second floor balcony by Smith and another man. Smith saw the fire and stopped to help rescue Woodrum and then put water on the fire until firefighters arrived. The fire department also rescued several of Woodrum’s dogs and gave them oxygen before returning them to Woodrum. Charles Bertram cbertram@herald-leader.com

Herald-Leader chief photographer Charles Bertram has been named Photographer of the Year by the Kentucky News Photographers Association.

This marks the sixth time Bertram has won the award, including back-to-back photographer of the year awards in 2009 and 2010.

“It’s very humbling to win, competing against the talent that we have in this state,” said Bertram, who has worked at the Herald-Leader for 39 years.

The awards were announced at the Kentucky News Photographers Association’s annual seminar, held Friday and Saturday in Lexington.

Michael Reaves, photo director for the Kentucky Kernel, the University of Kentucky’s independent student newspaper, was named Kentucky Student Photographer of the Year.

Students from UK, Western Kentucky University, the University of Louisville and Morehead State University competed.

This is the first time a UK student has won the award.

This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Herald-Leader chief photographer Charles Bertram named Photographer of the Year."

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