This is an amazing time in Utah photojournalism. No doubt in my mind, the talent level among newspaper photographers in this state is higher right now than it has ever been. Leading the way are several young and passionate photographers who see the world with such a fresh eye that their work invigorates me daily. Three of them were recently recognized in the Best of Photojournalism Contest, one of the most prestigious contests in the world.

Here are four photographers whose work you should be watching:

In the early morning of October 20, 2006, six days before his 21st birthday, the Humvee Iraqi translator Diyar al-Bayati was riding in during a routine patrol came under attack by a roadside bomb and an ambush. On his last mission and his last hour as a translator before moving to Kuwait for a safer translating job, Diyar lost both of his legs and had his right arm horribly maimed. On April 11, 2008, after a year and half of recovery and over 70 surgeries in Baghdad and Amman, Jordan, Diyar arrived in Salt Lake City as a refugee. Now, he spends his days waking up late (if he sleeps at all), barely eating, running errands, being taken around to different medical appointments, watching movies, and using the Internet to talk with friends and family. Despite Diyar’s intense drive, intelligence, self-reliance, and positive attitude about his new life, he can never go back home and his life will never be normal.

Ramin Rahimian is a freelancer based in Ogden. His essay Last Mission/Last Hour took 1st Place, Enterprise Picture Story in the Best of Photojournalism Competition. Lucky for you, Ramin blogs, and you can follow him here:

Heather Pullman leaves the St. Anne’s homeless shelter in Ogden, after moving out all her family’s belongings, on Dec. 4, 2008. Pullman, her partner Charles Brown and their three children, spent several months at a homeless shelter in Ogden, Utah, after losing their home to foreclosure. The family found a home in November 2008, and Charles Brown started work at a local factory. But Pullman’s mental illness and an emotional disconnect among the family members make it hard to deal with life for them and they hope they won’t lose their home again. “The struggle isn’t over,” Charles Brown said. “This is just the beginning.” Because of the economic crisis, more and more families have flocked to homeless shelters in Utah after losing their housing.

Djamila Grossman is a photographer/videographer with the Ogden Standard-Examiner. Her photo essay on a family who lost their home to foreclosure was awarded an honorable mention in the Best Published Picture Story category in the Best of Photojournalism Competition.

Djamila blogs, and you can follow her here:

Mike Terry is a photographer/videographer with the Deseret News. His essay on Rodeo was awarded 3rd Place, Sports Picture Story in the Best of Photojournalism Competition.

Mike is my skateboard buddy and also has a famous blog:

Tim Hussin interned at the Deseret News last summer, then at the Rocky Mountain News, and then moved back to Florida. He was named College Photographer of the Year with a portfolio that was mostly shot here in Utah. Make sure you check out his winning portfolio.

What a great world we live in because like the others, Tim also blogs:

There are many other great photojournalists in Utah that I could and should blog about. I’m already feeling guilty about leaving their names out. We’re still friends, right? But a CPOY and three BOP wins in one year (and each a photo essay) is unheard of, so much respect to these four.