The Roanoke Times' Kyle Green was named 2009 Newspaper Photographer of the Year by three judges after winning awards in eight categories at Saturday night's Virginia News Photographers Association convention at the University of Richmond.

Times photographers captured 14 awards and eight honorable mentions in individual categories at the contest.

The paper won five first-place awards, including two for Green in the pictorial and sports picture story categories; two for Sam Dean in both news and feature video entries -- categories which were swept by Roanoke Times photographers -- and one for Justin Cook in the spot news category.

The Times' six second-place awards went to Green in the feature, sports feature, spot news and portfolio categories; to Dean for feature picture story; and to Jeanna Duerscherl for video feature.

The Times' three third-place awards went to Green for feature picture story and sports picture story; and to Duerscherl for video feature.

The paper received eight honorable mentions: Jared Soares, portfolio and news picture story; Stephanie Klein-Davis, video feature and feature picture story; Duerscherl, illustration and general news; Dean, feature; and Cook, sports action.

The VNPA is made up of newspaper, magazine and freelance photographers from around the state.

-- The Roanoke Times