2003
Photographers Praised for Hard Work, Dedication
Address by
Stephen Humphries
President,
Press Photographers Association of Ireland
GOOD evening ladies, gentlemen, special guests, judges, and, of course,
fellow photographers. It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the AIB / PPAI
awards for 2003.
Last year, our new sponsors AIB came on board to help us celebrate our
silver anniversary. And tonight, I’m pleased to say, that partnership continues
as we come together once again to honor the work of Ireland’s press photographers.
The awards are 26 years on the go now — that’s a long time…. but it’s
nice to see that Tom Burke and Billy Higgins are STILL getting good mileage
out of those suits they wore to that first dinner back in 1978!
Thanks to Allied Irish Banks, photographers were afforded a wonderful
showcase for their work last year, when our annual exhibition not only
went on tour around the branch network but also was showcased for the FIRST
time in the United States.
On behalf of our association, I want to thank AIB managing director
Donal Forde – who is here tonight with his wife Niamh — I would also like
to pay special thanks to Brenda Moriarty (head of brand management ) and
Kathy Mc Garry (sponsorship manager) not forgetting all of the branch managers
who made us so welcome and who helped to make the exhibition the success
that it undoubtedly was.
So what did the thousands of people who viewed our photographs see?
Well, I hope they saw the passion with which we go about our job, and the
pride we take in our work.
And I hope they were variously entertained and enlightened, gladdened
or maybe saddened, perhaps even a little angered by our images — they represent
our personal record of the present, which will endure for everyone into
the future.
I think we can say that we as photographers were spoiled for choice
last year, as the broad sweep of subjects and themes submitted for consideration
clearly shows.
These pictures also give some idea of the varied and often unpredictable
nature of our working life. From mudslides in the West to Westlife weddings.
From the trials and tribulations of celebrity chefs, to the trials and
punishments of the bin tax protesters. Sporting events, social events,
public events, non-events…We cover them all…
Take for example, the recent unveiling of Dublin’s shiniest new monument,
the dreaded spire which was absolute torture to photograph, but that didn’t
stop picture editors dispatching us in droves to record the occasion.
We tried and exhausted every angle. Some went up in buckets attached
to cranes. Others took to the sky in helicopters. A few lay on their backs
in puddles in the middle of O'Connell street and some indulged in heroics
on the roof of the GPO, the likes of which haven’t been seen since 1916!
And still…it didn’t quite fit in the frame.
But, it’s not always about getting that perfect shot, which…might explain
why those amazing first pictures from the surface of Mars were bumped from
the front pages to make way for Britney Spears on her wedding day. It's
just a matter of priorities I guess! Neither is it always about deadlines
and exclusives.
This year, at the behest of the tireless Ray McManus — and believe me,
he’s a hard man to refuse! — photographer's gave of their time and expertise
to cover every detail of the Special Olympics. It was a humbling and rewarding
experience for all of us, and one we will never, ever forget.
During those magical two weeks, some of us even managed to bag a photo
of Roy Keane…and he was smiling!
Our job has so much to offer. There are so many opportunities – and
as you will see from the competition entries….it’s impossible to run out
of possibilities.
Finally, we said goodbye to four cherished colleagues and stalwart PPAI
members over the year. Brendan Mc Cann, Art O’Callaghan, Trevor Scott and
Sea Byrne are sadly missed and fondly remembered.
And so, to the main event. The competition.
The standard, as ever, was extremely high. Pat Donlon, who is bowing
out as chairman of the judging panel after seven years of superb work,
headed up our first ever all-female panel, joined by Daphne Angles from
the New York Times in Paris and Grazia Neri from Milan. We thank
them for all their hard work — I know we didn’t give them an easy task.
They deserve a round of applause
So thanks again to our sponsors, judges, and all the entrants. And before
I go, I would like to make a special presentation to Pat Donlon, who has
made such a valuable contribution to the PPAI over the years. We’ll miss
her commitment and dedication, and hope she will return to enjoy these
awards with us in the coming years as a valued friend.
Frank Miller's Winning Portfolio
The first, second
and third placed photographs in ten categories at the Irish Press Photographers
Association of Ireland Awards 2003.
 
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