Former Pilot photographer receives national award

June Casagrande

Former Daily Pilot photographer Sean Hiller won first place in a

national photojournalism contest for an image first published in the

Pilot last year.

The National Press Photographers Assn. awarded Hiller first place

in its Domestic News category for the photo of highway patrol

officers clinging to the ankle of a suicidal man who had flung

himself from the Costa Mesa Freeway interchange.

The unidentified Tustin man was threatening to take his life on

March 1, 2003, when Hiller and reporter Lolita Harper responded to

the scene just moments before the officers lost their grip.

The man survived the 60-foot fall down to the San Diego Freeway,

but was hospitalized in critical condition for some time afterward.

Hiller, a spot-news aficionado nicknamed “Scoop” by journalism

colleagues, said he was thrilled to learn two weeks ago that he had

won the top honor.

“It definitely feels good,” Hiller said. “It’s weird. The picture

has brought me a lot of recognition. When I introduce myself to

photographers in the area, they’ve seen the photo and know who I am.

It’s weird.”

Daily Pilot editor Tony Dodero praised Hiller’s accomplishment.

“The Daily Pilot has a long history of excellence in

photojournalism. This national award is just another example of that

tradition and Sean Hiller is a phenomenal talent who is so deserving

of this award.”

Hiller is now a staff photographer at the Daily Breeze in Los

Angeles County’s South Bay region.

Winning entries in the contest can be view at https://www.nppa.org.