Licensed Veterinary Technician Nia Chau preps D.J. the black bear for a CT Scan at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital. We shot this photo while covering an exam of a bear at our Veterinary Medicine Hospital. We were working on a story about the relationship between a local zoo in Athens that is supported by our Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The bear was on a visit to the hospital for a dental procedure and was anesthetized for the visit. While they had him at the hospital he was given a CT scan as well. It made for a nice little moment when the technician lifted his ear as she was adjusting him on the table before the CT scan. The photo was used on one of our stories webpages along with the story, multiple photos, and a video. The webpage for this story was published mid-November 2024 and it became the top-performing article for the year with 2,868 pageviews. It attracted 1,000 active users who spent an average of 59 seconds on the page and 65% of views came from Georgia, with notable interest from Florida, New York, Virginia, and California.
From the Judges
A beautifully composed and technically thoughtful image, this photo captures a fleeting moment of connection and care. The circular framing and focused detail create a compelling visual narrative.
