Frank Miller, of The Irish Times, was last night named AIB Press Photographer of the Year at a gala banquet in the O'Reilly Hall, UCD.
The AIB Press Photographers Association of Ireland Awards recognise the best in press photography by Irish photographers at home and abroad. It is the third time Miller has received the award.
This year there was a record entry of almost 1,600 images from North and South. The entries were judged by an international panel chaired by Dr Pat Donlon, with Ms Daphne Angles (New York Times, Paris) and Ms Grazia Neri (Grazia Neri Photography, Milan).
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 humour.
Commenting on Frank Miller's work, the international judging panel said that it "shows the range and diversity of topics facing press photographers in their daily work. The overall quality of the pictures are exemplary, with each topic handled with both sensitivity and creativity".
The AIB PPAI exhibition, featuring over 130 prints, opens in the Gallery of Photography, Dublin, on Monday, February 23rd, and will be showcased on all 17 UGC cinema screens in Parnell Street, Dublin, for the coming two weeks. The exhibition will tour Ireland, visiting a selection of AIB branches and overseas venues in the US and Europe during the year. Masterclasses for photography students will begin in the Irish Film Institute on March 3rd.
The following are the results:
News: 1, Bryan Brophy (Allpix/the Star); 2, Cathal McNaughton, (Sunday Life); 3, Brian Barron (Courtpix).
Features: 1, Frank Miller ( The Irish Times); 2, Kyran O'Brien, (Evening Herald); 3, Kyran O'Brien, (Evening Herald).
Sports action: 1, Morgan Treacy, (Inpho Photography); 2, John McAviney (John McAviney Photography Services); 3, Matt Browne (Sportsfile).
Sports features: 1, Darren Kidd, (Sunday Life); 2, Brendan Murphy (Irish News); 3, Matt Browne (Sportsfile).
Individual study: 1, Frank Miller, (The Irish Times); 2, Jim O'Kelly, (Irish Independent); 3, Keith Heneghan (freelance).
People: 1, Brian Gavin (Press 22); 2, Mark Jamieson, Coleraine Chronicle; 3, Valerie O'Sullivan, (freelance).
Political: 1, Don Mac Monagle, (Mac Monagle Photography); 2, Ray Ryan (Tuam Herald); 3, Eamonn Farrell (Photocall Ireland).
The arts: 1, Kim Haughton, (freelance); 2, Tom Honan, (freelance); 3, Frank McGrath, (Irish Independent).
Picture story: 1, Morgan Treacy, (Inpho Photography); 2, John C. Kelly (Clare Champion); 3, Julien Behal (freelance).
Humour award: 1, Dan Linehan, (Irish Examiner)
According to the judges, Frank Miller's portfolio was selected "because of its excellence in vision, in construction, in use of colour and in its maturity. The photographer showed great versatility and adaptability - someone you would happily send on any assignment. The work displays someone who is very confident and grounded in their style, who has a real understanding of people and who shows great creativity in making pictures. Overall, the work intrigues and leaves you with the anticipation of future work and even greater things to come".