Awards Season-Behind the Lens-Dispatch

FILE - Amy Madigan, center, reacts to winning the award for best supporting actress for "Weapons" during the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 4, 2026.

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5 indelible photos from Hollywood's awards season, and the stories behind them

5 indelible photos from Hollywood's awards season, and the stories behind them

As a staff photojournalist for The Associated Press based in Los Angeles, Chris Pizzello covers hundreds of entertainment events a year. It all culminates in awards season, where he captures the defining moments in the lives of the celebrities he’s shot day in and day out, from the triumphs of Beyoncé and Bad Bunny at the Grammys to the envelope snafu and The Slap at the Oscars. This year, he chose five key photos and shared the stories behind making them. They range from Amy Madigan and Michael B. Jordan's surprise wins to Teyana Taylor's celebration. He connected with Ethan Hawke while making hurried portraits and shot Justin Bieber's stripped-down performance from afar.