John Lazar and Paul Connors, two photojournalism students at Cal State Long Beach, were awarded first and second prize on Feb. 25 at the San Antonio Winery for their work in a student portfolio competition sponsored by the Press Photographers of Greater Los Angeles.
The student portfolio competition was a contest in which students submitted a portfolio of photographs in such areas as sports, news and feature stories for the chance to become PPGLA student photographer of the year.
John Lazar, who won first prize, received a check for $1500 and a camera body (camera without a lens).
Lazar said he felt great about winning first prize and receiving his check.
"It's like $1500 dollars I haven't planned on having," Lazar said. "It makes life $1500 easier."
Lazar is also a free-lance photographer who says he got involved in photography in 1987.
"I basically had three hundred extra dollars in my pocket that was burning a hole," Lazar said. "I didn't know what to spend it on and I figured 'hey,' I'll go buy a camera."
Paul Connors, who won second prize, received a $500 scholarship.
"It was kind of a kick-ass experience," Connors said. "We took first and second."
Connors added that he felt great because he didn't expect to win anything and thought it was nice surprise.
Besides being a CSULB photojournalism student, Connors minors in German studies.
Lazar said that he and Connors were both thankful that they were chosen as the top student photographers.