Each month, The Associated Press management honors photographers for outstanding photo coverage while on assignment.  The winners for the January 2015 AP Staff Photo Contest are Michael Dwyer in the news category for "Blasted by Snow", Muhammed Muheisen in the features category for his essay "Double Life" and Felipe Dana in the sports category for "Dakar Rally".  Congratulations to all the photographers for their outstanding work. Below we feature some of the contest winning imagery. 

Michael Dwyer |  Blasted by Snow

In January 2015 a powerful nor'easter affected Canada and the Central and Eastern United States, and eventually, parts of Southern Greenland and Western Europe. The nor'easter disrupted transportation, with snow emergencies declared in six states and travel bans enacted in four of these states - Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island - as well as in New York City. Most passenger rail service was suspended, and thousands of flights were canceled. Schooling and other activities had weather-related cancellations for one or more days. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency and asked residents to remain safe and off roadways. 

Muhammed Muheisen | Double Life

Across conservative Pakistan, where Islamic extremists launch near-daily attacks and many follow a strict interpretation of their Muslim faith, male cross-dressers and the transgendered face a challenge of balancing two identities. Some left their villages for the anonymity of a big city, fearing the reactions of their families while still concealing their identities from neighbors and co-workers. 

Felipe Dana | Dakar Rally

The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Most events since the inception in 1978 were from Paris, France , to Dakar, Senegal, but due to security threats in Mauritania, which led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally, the 2009 Dakar Rally was run in South America (Argentina and Chile). It has been held in South America each year since 2009. The race is open to amateur and professional entries, amateurs typically making up about eighty percent of the participants.

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