by Claire O'Neill

In the world of visual vocations, to be featured in a Communication Arts annual is like receiving a superlative in your high school yearbook — only better. The magazine, founded in 1959, is an industry handbook for design, illustration, advertising and photography. In addition to six regular issues per year, editors also assemble an "annual" for each category, featuring the best work selected by a small jury. It's considered one of the most prestigious competitions in the creative arts, and this year's photography category was no exception.

  • This image directs viewers to a Web site, reasonpartners.org, where they can learn more about how pollution and human behavior have affected the wildlife habitat and also how to get involved with the featured charities.
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    This image directs viewers to a Web site, reasonpartners.org, where they can learn more about how pollution and human behavior have affected the wildlife habitat and also how to get involved with the featured charities.
    John Fiorucci, photographer; Mike Mulik, art director; Subtle Composites, retoucher; Holmes & Lee, ad agency; Reason Partners, client
  • Print ad for Purell hand sanitizer. Headline: It's a dirty world out there.
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    Print ad for Purell hand sanitizer. Headline: It's a dirty world out there.
    Don Dixon, photographer; Dave Marsden, art director; Martin Shewchuk, creative director; Luna Simic, retoucher; JWT Toronto, ad agency; Johnson & Johnson, client
  • Part of a campaign for Vaseline.
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    Part of a campaign for Vaseline.
    Howard Schatz, photographer; Andre Masis, art director; John Foster/Craig Smith, creative directors; BBH, New York, ad agency; Unilever, client
  • "A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan" by Seamus Murphy is a chronicle of the Afghan people in their struggle to survive the savageries of war.
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    "A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan" by Seamus Murphy is a chronicle of the Afghan people in their struggle to survive the savageries of war.
    Seamus Murphy, photographer; Henrietta Molinaro, designer; Saqi Books, client
  • China's Liang Huo competes in the men's semifinal of the 10 meter diving competition.
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    China's Liang Huo competes in the men's semifinal of the 10 meter diving competition.
    Vincent Laforet, photographer; Susanne Miklas, photography deputy director; Elizabeth Johnson/Leah Latella, photo editors; Simon Barnett, director of photography; Newsweek, client
  • "One Last Love Affair" is about Canadian icon Leonard Cohen, who is "embraced like a lost prophet returning to the stage from years of seclusion, on the brink of financial ruin."
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    "One Last Love Affair" is about Canadian icon Leonard Cohen, who is "embraced like a lost prophet returning to the stage from years of seclusion, on the brink of financial ruin."
    Chris Woods, photographer; Jeff Harris/Andrew Tolson, creative directors; Macleans, client
  • Portrait of an unnamed baby elephant born at the Anantara Elephant Camp in Northern Thailand.
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    Portrait of an unnamed baby elephant born at the Anantara Elephant Camp in Northern Thailand.
    Palani Mohan, photographer; Reportage by Getty Images
  • "This photo appeared in a Food For The Poor newsletter. The topic of the newsletter was about the poor who survive off of garbage dumps in Central America. It was one of the organization's more successful campaigns of the year."
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    "This photo appeared in a Food For The Poor newsletter. The topic of the newsletter was about the poor who survive off of garbage dumps in Central America. It was one of the organization's more successful campaigns of the year."
    Benjamin Rusnak, photographer; Food for the Poor, Zuma, client
  • "Stadium."
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    "Stadium."
    Yuri Dojc, photographer; Joseph Leo, creative director; Michael Dojc, producer
  • "Charging Horses." Outtake of a Leopold Ketel & Partners shoot for Pendleton woolen mills used for gallery sale.
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    "Charging Horses." Outtake of a Leopold Ketel & Partners shoot for Pendleton woolen mills used for gallery sale.
    Chris Gordaneer, photographer; Brian Dixon, art director

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The winners in the 2009 photography annual are divided into subcategories such as editorial, advertising and unpublished work. From Callie Shell's Obama campaign series to a Vaseline ad to a portrait of Tim Gunn, the wide-ranging photographs cover the breadth of... well, the art of communication.

One notable difference this year was the digitization of both the content and the competition. Over 90 percent of the submissions were sent electronically. The jury also noted, some with dismay, the undeniable evolution of photography — how many submissions leaned more toward illustration than photography after heavy post-production.

To get an idea of who's who in the photography annual, owner and editor Patrick Coyne sent us a selection of winners in various categories. For more information, check out the Communication Arts Web site.

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