Brian Plonka

After leaving The Spokesman-Review 17 years ago, Brian Plonka is now a photographer and videographer with the Comma Community Journalism Lab.

Brian was named Newspaper Photographer of the Year by Pictures of the Year International (POYi), one of photojournalism's most respected international competitions. His work has taken him from long-term documentary projects in the American West to assignments covering major news events and stories around the world. His approach combines the instincts of a photojournalist with the visual craft of commercial photography and documentary filmmaking. Brian looks for the people, details and moments that communicate a larger story.

He enjoys spending his free time with wife Kathy, a S-R staff photojournalist for more than two decades, at their lakefront home on a dirt road in Hauser Lake. His son Jordan is the best award won to date.