by Claire O'Neill

Each year, the National Press Photographers Association hosts its prestigious Best of Photojournalism contest. Visual journalists from all over the world submit their content for review, and this year's winners were announced a few days ago. Here's a selection of some of the winning still images.

  • Natural Environment: Two Cape Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris) fight for dominance in Etosha National Park, Namibia.
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    Natural Environment: Two Cape Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris) fight for dominance in Etosha National Park, Namibia.
    David Slater/ZUMA Press
  • The Road to Office: Sen. Barack Obama sits on board his plane en route to Missouri, where he will campaign for president in St. Louis and Kansas City, Oct. 18, 2008.
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    The Road to Office: Sen. Barack Obama sits on board his plane en route to Missouri, where he will campaign for president in St. Louis and Kansas City, Oct. 18, 2008.
    David Burnett/Contact Press Images for People
  • Best of Show: Monday Lawiland, 7, screams as a Kenyan policeman with a baton approaches his home in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Jan. 17, 2008.
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    Best of Show: Monday Lawiland, 7, screams as a Kenyan policeman with a baton approaches his home in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Jan. 17, 2008.
    Walter Astrada/AFP
  • Nontraditional Photojournalism Publishing: Jenn Ackerman's series "Trapped" documents the continuous withdrawal of mental health funding that has turned jails and prisons into mental health facilities.
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    Nontraditional Photojournalism Publishing: Jenn Ackerman's series "Trapped" documents the continuous withdrawal of mental health funding that has turned jails and prisons into mental health facilities.
    Jenn Ackerman
  • Photojournalist of the Year, large markets: Congolese children wait inside the courtyard of the Mercy Corps ONG clinic where UNICEF and the IMC (International Medical Corps) distributed high nutrition cookies, Nov. 4, 2008.
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    Photojournalist of the Year, large markets: Congolese children wait inside the courtyard of the Mercy Corps ONG clinic where UNICEF and the IMC (International Medical Corps) distributed high nutrition cookies, Nov. 4, 2008.
    Walter Astrada/TIME Magazine
  • Photojournalist of the Year, smaller markets: Ken Cummings, 82, has been feeding the pigeons in his backyard for nearly 20 years. Now with rising prices affecting the cost of bird seed, Cummings has felt strain feeding his feathered friends.
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    Photojournalist of the Year, smaller markets: Ken Cummings, 82, has been feeding the pigeons in his backyard for nearly 20 years. Now with rising prices affecting the cost of bird seed, Cummings has felt strain feeding his feathered friends.
    James Gregg/Arizona Daily Star
  • Natural Disaster 2008: Rescue workers unearth the victims of a 6.1-magnitude earthquake in Panzhihua, southwest China, Aug. 31, 2008.
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    Natural Disaster 2008: Rescue workers unearth the victims of a 6.1-magnitude earthquake in Panzhihua, southwest China, Aug. 31, 2008.
    Zou Sen/ZUMA Press
  • International News: A group of Kalenji warriors have captured an enemy. He is from the same tribe as them but is married to a woman from the other tribe.
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    International News: A group of Kalenji warriors have captured an enemy. He is from the same tribe as them but is married to a woman from the other tribe.
    Paul Hansen/Dagens Nyheter
  • Enterprise Picture Story, smaller markets: In October of 2006, Iraqi translator Diyar al-Bayati was a victim of a roadside bombing. After a year-and-a-half of recovery and more than 70 surgeries, Diyar arrived in Salt Lake City as a refugee.
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    Enterprise Picture Story, smaller markets: In October of 2006, Iraqi translator Diyar al-Bayati was a victim of a roadside bombing. After a year-and-a-half of recovery and more than 70 surgeries, Diyar arrived in Salt Lake City as a refugee.
    Ramin Rahimian
  • News Portrait and Personality: Mickey Rourke returned to the big screen in The Wrestler, and is photographed with his 16-year-old Chihuahua Loki, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Nov. 7, 2008.
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    News Portrait and Personality: Mickey Rourke returned to the big screen in The Wrestler, and is photographed with his 16-year-old Chihuahua Loki, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Nov. 7, 2008.
    Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times
  • Best Published Picture Story, large markets: Three years ago the Plant City police found a girl lying alone in her room in only a diaper. She was 7 years old and could only communicate through grunts. Danielle, considered a feral child, sits next to her brother Willie on the way to horse therapy.
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    Best Published Picture Story, large markets: Three years ago the Plant City police found a girl lying alone in her room in only a diaper. She was 7 years old and could only communicate through grunts. Danielle, considered a feral child, sits next to her brother Willie on the way to horse therapy.
    Melissa Lyttle/St. Petersburg Times

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Natural Environment:
David Slater, ZUMA Press
The Road to Office:
David Burnett, Contact Press Images for People
Best of Show:
Walter Astrada, AFP
Nontraditional Photojournalism Publishing:
Jenn Ackerman, freelancer
Photojournalist of the Year (large markets):
Walter Astrada, Time Magazine
Photojournalist of the Year (small markets):
James Gregg, Arizona Daily Star
Natural Disaster 2008:
Zou Sen, ZUMA Press
International News:
Paul Hansen, Dagens Nyheter
Enterprise Picture Story, smaller markets:
Ramin Rahimian, freelancer
News Portrait and Personality:
Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
Best Published Picture Story, large markets:
Melissa Lyttle, St. Petersburg Times

Images courtesy of the National Press Photographers Association. View all NPPA winners here.