Every month, we choose three outstanding photos for recognition. These are photos submitted by Associated Press member newspapers. From these, we select a winning photograph, and two honorable mentions.

1999
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How I got the picture: Ryan Mercer

After a little harassment, the Coast Guard crew at Station Portsmouth Harbor granted me access to the team going out on a 44-foot boat to pick up the Bella Julia at the Isles of Shoals, where a cutter had towed him through the night from about 70 miles out.

The shoals are about six miles out from the Coast Guard Station. Needless to say, the Coast Guard was not thrilled about the idea of me being aboard. Seas were predicted to be pretty active and the boat is mostly open, not too many safe places to hang on to if you're not familiar with it.

We left at 6 a.m. It was really cold but surprisingly calm.

The only really hard parts were shooting in a survival suit – they are big and bulky and don't hold camera straps very well, keeping away from salt water and keeping my balance on a boat that, on occasion, was pitching interestingly close to 10 or 12 degrees from the surface of the ocean.

When we started towing The Bella Julia back to land, the waves were getting going. Ice was all over the front of the boat from the waves and water coming over and around the boat and both cameras I brought got drenched in salt water. By an act of God, they are both working great (I love Canon!!!).