An image from the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires in 2018 claimed first place in the annual competition for the Utah Press Association.

The image was made from just outside of Elk Ridge. I remember the scene quite clearly. I was leaning over the hood of my car with a 300mm lens with a 2x teleconverter on a 5D Mark III. There were other locals standing and chatting as we all made photos of the retardant being dropped. There was thick smoke filling the surrounding air, which filtered the sunlight. These wildfires are still the largest natural disaster that I have covered as a photojournalist.

Here is the link to all of the awards that the Daily Herald won in this year's Utah Press Association competition.