David McCreery was cheering in silence when he noticed the judges looking at his photograph.

“I was rooting like a mime,” the computer science seniorsaid.

McCreery took honorable mention in the portrait personality category of the Michigan Press Photographers Association’s Pictures of the Year contest last weekend.

His image, “Closing Argument,” was of a man on trial awaiting the verdict with his head buried in his hands. He was one of four MSU students to win honors at the event. The photo was done as free-lance work for the Lansing State Journal.

Greg De Reuiter, chief photographer for the Lansing State Journal, said the contest is probably the state’s toughest newspaper photography competition.

“Winning in that contest is quite an honor,” he said.

Kent Miller, vice president of the association, said judges were looking for a photo that portrayed the character of the subject

“A photographer takes pictures with their eye which is like their heart,” said Miller, who is also chief photo editor at The Bay City Times.