I haven’t blogged in a few months, taking some time for a particularly busy season at work, at school, and as a dad.

But this occasion called for me to restart the engine.

Every year I pay particular attention to the winners of the NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism Video Awards. It’s a one-stop collection of some of the finest photography from some of the most prolific and talented photographers in the country. This year I set new marks personally, placing with five different stories in six different categories. But I never stop learning.

Through their work, my colleagues across the country never stop teaching.

Here are five lessons I learned from five powerful pieces of journalism and storytelling:

THE STORY: Remembering the Stains on the Sidewalk, by Jed Gamber (WBFF-TV, Baltimore)
THE LESSON: Commit at every level, not just with the camera.

I remember seeing this story when it first showed up in my Facebook newsfeed. I was blown back then and was blown back watching it again this weekend.

Jed Gamber has won a cavalcade of awards for photography in his still-young career, and he has helped build a tremendous team at WBFF-TV in Baltimore. This story shows the standard he sets.

Gamber and reporter Paul Gessler follow a still photographer who’s documenting the city’s homicides every day for a year. The camerawork is immaculate, but Gamber doesn’t stop there. He uses a projector, he stacks photographs on top of each other with a series of smash edits, and uses subtle but effective camera clicks to provide audio cues.

The whole thing is a masterpiece, pushed by a moving, meaningful message.

THE STORIES: Keeping Tabs and John Donaldson by Chad Nelson (KARE-TV, Twin Cities)
THE LESSON: Have fun. Break rules. And bring energy to your edit.

After watching this first story about a man collecting soda can tabs, you might wonder how many soda cans its editor drank while putting it together.

Chad Nelson commits to an effects-laden, music-driven concept, filling the three-minute story with stacks of Mountain Dews, split-screens of tab piles, and a general jovial energy that propels this dynamic piece. Reporter Boyd Huppert, with his typically masterful writing, is entirely on board.

Much of what Nelson attempts here isn’t traditional. But that’s the point. It remains the point in the second piece below, Sports Feature winner John Donaldson. Nelson erects a vision for a story and then embraces it fully. It’s hard to watch either piece, as a viewer or fellow photojournalist, and not be stunned.

THE STORY: It Was Pristine, by Ted Land (KING-TV, Seattle)
THE LESSON: Use your tools. All of them. Even on your own. Even on deadline.

I’ve been a fan of Ted Land long before he was a superstar solo video journalist with KING-TV in Seattle. He was an early guest on my podcast and a major interview for my how-to book for MMJs, The Solo Video Journalist. I always love watching his work because he continues to push himself and grow.

Here’s a perfect showcase. This piece, which won for Solo Video Journalist General News, shows Ted using two cameras in about 20 different ways. He puts a GoPro on the dashboard of a car, pans and tilts with his main gear to fully capture high-standing trees, and does whatever necessary to best service the story.

THE STORY: Smallville, by Forrest Sanders (WSMV, Nashville)
THE LESSON: There’s always room to slow it down.

Speaking of solo video journalists who continue to shine, Forrest Sanders has captured seemingly every solo award under the sun this year.

And speaking of the sun … look at the way Sanders captures sunset, sparkling water, and just about everything else in this story about remembering a lost loved one. But it’s not just the visuals. Sanders tells a powerful story, but he takes his time and lets moments breathe. Silence can be so powerful, and Sanders embraces it.

This is a five-minute story that doesn’t sprint, yet you’ll be engaged the whole time.

The Solo Video Journalist is available for purchase. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the publisher’s web site.

Matt Pearl is the author of the Telling the Story blog and podcast. Feel free to comment below or e-mail Matt at matt@tellingthestoryblog.com. You can also follow Matt on Facebook and Twitter.