AIB/PPAI Awards: Irish Timesphotographer Bryan O'Brien was last night named AIB/PPAI Press Photographer of the Year at a function in Dublin. Three other Irish Timesphotographers received prizes - Brenda Fitzsimons, Alan Betson and Dara MacDonail.
There were 1,400 entries from 122 photographers North and South and the winners were selected by a panel of judges including chairwoman Bride Rosney (Director of Communications, RTE), Sophie Batterbury (the Independent, London) and Seamus Conlan (WorldPictureNetwork, New York).
Apart from the overall award,prizes were awarded in the categories of News, Features, Sports Action, Sports Features, People, Individual Study, The Arts, Politics, Picture Story and two special awards for Humour and the Ryder Cup.
The judges said that Bryan O'Brien submitted a very strong portfolio which demonstrated a distinctive and very well developed style. "The winner clearly takes time to find different images and angles and is not afraid to take well-calculated risks. A very worthy winner this person appears to invest time before taking pictures to maximise effect."
Speaking at the presentation, AIB managing director Donal Forde said: "Each photograph tells a story and the emotions they evoke cover a very broad spectrum. We have been involved with the PPAI for five years now and we believe that photojournalism is an important record of society today. Furthermore the PPAI exhibition gives the public the opportunity to view this wonderful collection of photography when it tours our branches nationwide."
The exhibition, featuring 109 prints, opens in the Gallery of Photography, Temple Bar, Dublin, this Tuesday. It will then tour Ireland and overseas including Europe and the US. Masterclasses for photography students will be held in various venues over the coming months.
THE RESULTS:
Category A - NEWS:1: David Conachy, Sunday Independent. 2, Tony Gavin, Sunday Independent. 3, Bryan O'Brien, The Irish Times.
Category B - FEATURES: 1, Ray Ryan, Tuam Herald.2, Brendan Murphy, Irish News. 3, Peter Wilcock, freelance.
Category C - SPORTS ACTION:1, Matt Browne, Sportsfile. 2, Niall Carson, PA. 3, Tom Honan, freelance.
Category D - SPORTS FEATURES:1, Morgan Treacy, Inpho Photography. 2, Alan Betson, The Irish Times. 3, Dara MacDonail, The Irish Times
Category E - INDIVIDUAL STUDY:1, Graham Hughes, Photocall Ireland. 2, Brendan Murphy, Irish News. 3, Mark Condren, Sunday Tribune.
Category F - PEOPLE:1, Mark McCall, Mark McCall Photography. 2, Noel Gavin, the Star/AllPix. 3, Julien Behal, PA.
Category G - POLITICS:1, Daragh MacSweeney, Provision. 2, David Conachy, Sunday Independent. 3, Brenda Fitzsimons, The Irish Times.
Category H - THE ARTS:1, Mark Condren, Sunday Tribune. 2, Steve Humphreys, Irish Independent.3, Bryan O'Brien, The Irish Times.
Category I - PICTURE ESSAY:1, David Conachy, Sunday Independent. 2, Tom Honan, freelance. 3, Morgan Treacy, Inpho Photography.
HUMOUR AWARD:Frank McGrath, Irish Independent.
RYDER CUP AWARD:David Conachy, Sunday Independent.