March 11, 2003

Andrea Bruce Woodall of The Washington Post was named photographer of the year by the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA). Additionally, Andrea's photograph of former Vice President Al Gore campaigning for Democratic candidates for Congress won the "Political Photo of the Year" award.

Andrea's portfolio included a behind-the-scenes essay on Gore as he contemplated whether or not to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. One judge of the competition said the photos resonated with the judges for both for their intimacy and their humor. "She had pictures that made us laugh out loud," he said.

One of the funnier shots shows the former Vice President in a moment when he's clearly lost his way. In the photo, Gore sits behind the wheel of a rental car, puzzling over a map while his press secretary gives directions.

Andrea also entered various single images, as well as a story on one of the first firefighters to respond to the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon. Andrea got inside access to the firefighter-turned post-traumatic stress victim and his friends' attempts to console him. "Andrea's work ultimately prevailed because she had the largest breadth of work."

Andrea's winning images are available by visiting http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/photo/bestofthepost/ brucewoodallandrea/. The White House News Photographers Association website is www.whnpa.org