American Photography 34 Winners

Faces of an Epidemic

A family mourns the death of their son, Brian Malmsbury, who overdoesed on heroin in the basement of their home. Faces of an Epidemic. October 2017. In Montgomery County, Ohio, opioid addiction permeates everyday life.

Faces of an Epidemic

The scene of an overdose death in Drexel, Ohio. Faces of an Epidemic. October 2017. In Montgomery County, Ohio, opioid addiction permeates everyday life.

Faces of an Epidemic

Deputy Andy Teague arrests a man for possession of heroin and crystal methamphetamine in Drexel, Ohio. Faces of an Epidemic. October 2017. In Montgomery County, Ohio, opioid addiction permeates everyday life.

Faces of an Epidemic

The body of someone who has died from a suspected opioid overdose. Faces of an Epidemic. October 2017. In Montgomery County, Ohio, opioid addiction permeates everyday life.

Faces of an Epidemic

A family mourns the loss of their son, Brian Malmsbury, who died from a heroin overdose in the basement of his families home in Miamisburg, OH (a city in Montgomery County). (From left to right: Brian’s half-sister, Brittany Neff [Brittany's boyfriend died of a heroin overdose last year], his step-dad, Damian Neff, and his mother, Patty Neff. Behind the family are police officers and officials from the Montgomery County coroner’s office.

Faces of an Epidemic

A police officer touches the body of a man who had just overdosed to determine if he was still alive. He was not and had died before law enforcement and paramedics could arrive. In the background is his daughter. Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50 and kill more people each year than car accidents. In Montgomery County, Ohio opioid addiction permeates daily life.

Faces of an Epidemic

After a foot pursuit with a police officer from the Montgomery County Sheriff's department, a man is arrested for possession (and subsequently charged with possession) of crystal meth and heroin in Drexel, Ohio. Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50 and kill more people each year than car accidents. In Montgomery County, Ohio opioid addiction permeates daily life.

Faces of an Epidemic

A body of someone who died from a suspected overdose at the Montgomery County coroner’s morgue. At least half of the bodies in the background are also deaths from suspected overdoses, which is typical for them now. The morgue has been experiencing periods of “overflow” where they run out of room to accommodate the increase in dead bodies every few weeks, so they rent refrigerated trailers for more space. It’s a “mass- casualty event” county coroner Kent Harshbarger has said, but one played out in slow-motion. Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50 and kill more people each year than car accidents. In Montgomery County, Ohio opioid addiction permeates daily life.

Lauren Returns Home

Lauren Returns Home. September 2017. Lauren Gundlach returns to her childhood home with her father after it was destroyed by floodwater. When 51 inches of rain fell over Houston during Hurricane Harvey, the reservoir held back water until it threatened to breach the dams. That’s when the government decided they had to open the gates, flooding West Houston's Energy Corridor.

Climate Changed

Miami resident Chris Martin embraces a crosswalk pole as he makes his way though floodwater on Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami during Hurricane Irma's landfall in Florida. Hurricane Irma, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the north Atlantic made landfall in Florida with winds exceeding 252 kilometers an hour. Storm surges flooded downtown Miami and left many along throughout the Florida keys and the western coast without homes.

Surviving Irma

Bonita Springs, Florida - Residents work to recover their destroyed possessions after their home was damaged by floodwater a day after Hurricane Irma passed through Lee County on the southwest coast of Florida. Hurricane Irma, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the north Atlantic made landfall in Florida with winds exceeding 252 kilometers an hour. Storm surges flooded downtown Miami and left many along throughout the Florida keys and the western coast without homes.

Surviving Irma

Chris Martin makes his way through floodwater on Brickell Avenue in Miami. Surviving Irma. September 2017. Florida before, during and after Hurricane Irma's landfall.

Surviving Irma

Residents work to recover possessions after their home was damaged by at least four feet of floodwater a day after Irma passed through Lee County. Surviving Irma. September 2017. Photographs of preparation and aftermath of Hurricane Irma as it made landfall in florida

Surviving Irma

Miami resident Chris Martin embraces a crosswalk pole in floodwater on Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami during Irma’s landfall. Surviving Irma. September 2017. Photographs of preparation and aftermath of Hurricane Irma as it made landfall in florida

The First Day

The First Day. January 2017. The Inauguration on January 20th, Donald J. Trump took the oath office, becoming the 45th president of the United States. His supporters congregated in front of the Capitol building. As he started speaking, it began to rain. Later on, protestors clashed with police and supporters.