Photography by Rodrigo Abd, Associated Press | Crab fisherman, whose clothing and equipment are soaked with oil, take a smoke break on Lake Maracaibo near Punta Gorda beach in Cabimas, Venezuela on May 17, 2019. The photo was published on Oct. 11, 2019, when an explosion badly burned three fishermen as they started their boats near a natural gas leak that bubbles up from the bottom of the lake, engulfing them in flames.

Congratulations to Rodrigo Abd!

Rodrigo Abd, a staff photographer with the Associated Press based in Lima, Peru, and competing out of NPPA's New York/International region, has been named the 2019 National Clip Contest Photographer of the Year. Abd finished with 390 points.

There was a 3-way tie for second place among Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press, Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman and Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen, with 260 points. Janner was recently named the South Regional Clip Contest Photographer of the Year and Rivoli the New York/International Clip Contest Photographer of the Year.

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