A candid picture of a "found situation" containing strong human interest, a fresh view of the ordinary or humor. In all cases the dignity of the subject must be respected.
Caption
Slide 3 of 8
Bronze: Lola
November 5, 2010
Laura "Lola" Meske gives a customer a lap dance at The Foxhole Strip Club in Newcastle, Ohio on November 5, 2010. Night after night of physically taxing work, the 42-year-old Meske is able to go home and know that her family will be able to make it one more day. Personal pride is sacrificed to make ends meet.
"Sometimes I feel bad about what I do, (but) at the end of the day, there's food on the table and my electric is paid and my rent is paid," Meske explained in a melancholy but matter-of-fact tone. "And that's what it all comes down to."
After narrowly escaping her alcoholic ex-husband, Meske and her children moved into a trailer home directly across from the Foxhole so that Meske would not have depend on anyone to get to work.