2003

Judges' comments
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First Place A Brother by Bryan Brophy Allpix/The Star

Second Place The Confrontation by Cathal McNaughton Sunday Life

Third Place Liam Keane walks free by Brian Barron Courtpix

First Place Naming Places by Frank Miller The Irish Times

Second Place Looking for the Point! by Kyran O'Brien Evening Herald

Third Place Here Comes the Bride by Kyran O'Brien Evening Herald

Category C
Sports Action
 

First Place "A Word in Your Ear" by Morgan Treacy Inpho Photography

Second Place Winner by John McAviney Photography Services

Third Place Take Cover by Matt Browne Sportfile

Category D
Sports Features
 

First Place Be Proud by Darren Kidd Sunday Life

Second Place Face the Music by Brendan Murphy Irish News

Third Place Hands to Heaven by Matt Browne Sportsfile

Category E
Individual Study
 

First Place Mannix State Meant by Frank Miller The Irish Times

Second Place Laois Fan Crying - After all these Years. by Jim O'Kelly Irish Independant

Third Place The Devout by Keith Heneghan Freelance

Category F
People
 

First Place If only we had Heating by Brian Gavin Press 22

Second Place Missing Mum by Mark Jamieson Coleraine Chronicle

Third Place "A Stitch in Time..." by Valerie O'Sullivan Freelance

Category G
Politics
 

First Place Is that who I think it is? by Don Mac Monagle Mac Monagle Photography

Second Place Martin's Breakthrough by Ray Ryan Tuam Herald

Third Place A Face in the Crowd by Eamon Farrell Photocall Ireland

Category H
The Arts
 

First Place Portrait of an Artist by Kim Haughton Freelance

Second Place Witness Concert Campers by Tom Honan Freelance

Third Place Fine Art by Frank McGrath Irish Independant

Category I
Essays
 

First Place Sardar's Journey by Morgan Treacy Inpho Photography

Second Place Expressions of Protest by John C. Kelly The Clare Champion

Third Place Children of Chernobyl by Julien Behal Freelance

Special Humor Award
 

First Place Outstanding in her own field. That's no bull. by Dan Linehan Irish Examiner

A  NEWS
The criteria for this category are for a picture of an unscheduled event for which no advance planning was possible
OR,
a planned and organized news picture taken as a background to an event.

1st 
A Brother: The brother of Ian Malone who was killed in the war in Iraq pictured grieving at his removal in Ballyfermot.
The judges commented that in this fine photograph the details of the composition match the topic – the anguish and grief of the brother is softened by the glance of understanding from a relative.

2nd 
The Confrontation: Anti-War protesters clash with police during George Bush’s visit to Northern Ireland.
The eye contact between policeman and protester at point of confrontation gives a brief glimpse of understanding between opposing factions. An excellent composition.

3rd 
Liam Keane Walks Free: Murder accused Liam Keane walks free from court after his trial collapsed due to the ‘collective amnesia’ of witnesses.
This is a raw powerful picture of someone who is outside the constraints of law and order – and the image gives us a moment that shocked the nation. 
 
 

B  FEATURES
This category awards the best features pictures of the year that reveal the richness and diversity of everyday life.

1st 
Naming Places: Dr Eamonn Lankford naming places on Cape Clear Island.
The judges loved everything about this photograph – the light and colors, the poetry of the topic and composition. For them this is the capturing of a special moment in time that shows the beauty of the countryside and the connections with the past.

2nd 
Looking for the Point! Dublin stops to watch the Spire raise.
This is a strong picture of a special important moment in the life of the city. Each of those watching has their own story, their own identity, but they are together transfixed in the moment.

3rd 
Here comes the bride: a homeless bride leaves the YMCA hostel in Dublin.
This is a happy picture – the central figure cuts a dash in her mini skirt, doc martens and veil – and she is contrasted with the wonder of the young children surrounding her.
 

C  SPORTS
This award goes to a single action photograph in sports

1st 
‘A Word in Your Ear’: Munster’s Donacha O’Callaghan congratulates Marcus Horan as he crosses the try line in the Celtic League Final 2003.
A wonderful action shot showing the energy and rage of the moment. The central figure in this picture is lit by a beautiful and unusual light.

2nd 
Winner: Paul Finlay gives vent to his emotions as he secures Monaghan’s win over Westmeath in the all Ireland qualifier.
This is a clever and colorful composition showing the determination and relief of the central figure beautifully placed against the background crowd. Again the judges were impressed by the energy and light of this beautiful picture.

3rd 
Take cover: Jockey Kevin Power on the ground as horses fall around him during the champion bumper in Punchestown, Co. Kildare.
This is a picture that draws you into the drama of the moment. You can hear and feel the moment, how fragile the rider looks in the midst of flying hooves and clods of earth.
 

D  SPORTS FEATURES
In this category the prize is awarded to a features picture in sport.

1st 
Be proud: Eddie O’Sullivan tells his team to be proud despite being defeated by England in a six nations decider.
This is an important and difficult moment in any team’s year and it displays eloquently the support and encouragement of a manager at a discouraging moment. It conveys all too clearly that not everyone can be a winner whilst conveying the emotion of the players.

2nd 
Face the Music: The finals of the Ulster Senior Boxing Championships
fought out against the backdrop of a giant organ in a Belfast music recital hall. 
The judges deemed this a lyrical picture. It juxtaposes a musical element against a sporting element. The photographer has stayed back from the immediate action and has given the scene a timeless quality.

3rd 
Hands to Heaven: Johnny Murtagh celebrates winning the Budweiser Irish Derby on Alamshar at the Curragh, Co. Kildare.
This image captures the sheer joy of the moment. The beautiful colors and happy cheering crowds make for a wonderful composition.
 

E   INDIVIDUAL STUDY
The prize is awarded for a picture with the emphasis on a single individual, be it portrait, or study.

1st 
Manix State Meant: Gerard Manix Flynn with his ‘state meant’ about institutional abuse.
An elegant composition - the central figure’s face shows how the past weighs on him, yet there is pride in this important moment as he looks to the future.

2nd 
Laois fan- crying – after all these years: Noel Carroll after victory for Laois over Kildare after years in the Leinster football final.
Lovely picture of a candid moment when the tears that are shed are joyful.

3rd 
The Devout: a pilgrim prays by St. Patrick’s bed on top of Croagh Patrick. 
This is a powerful photograph of a private moment of pray. The pilgrim is totally still, isolated, oblivious to the movement of the crowds around her.
 

F  PEOPLE
In this category the judges were looking for those special photographs where the emphasis is on the relationship between two or more people.

1st 
If only we had heating: Dan and Biddy Buckley who have no heating in their home over the Christmas and New Year.
This is an image of great beauty and economy in its elements. The dignity of the couple who sit stoically underneath their duvet, with one candle lighting the scene is a far more powerful and stronger than any public protest. 

2nd 
Missing Mum: Sons in sadness after missing mother in the Gulf War.
This is a subtle, tender and gentle image of a moment of great longing and love – as two young children look at the photograph of their absent mother.

3rd 
‘A stitch in time’: After 50 years mending and sewing, tailor brothers Sean and Timmy Corkory finally call it a day in Killorglin. 
The silent rapport between the two brothers in tangible. It is an image suffused with gentle pride and regret, and gives us a glimpse of a way of life that will have disappeared in the next five to ten years.
 

G POLITICAL
This is awarded to a picture that captures political life on Ireland during the past year.

1st 
‘Is that who I think it is?’: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern meets Enda Kenny at Listowel Races.
This is an image of a rare moment in political life when two opponents meet by chance, and it shows the tension and shrewdness necessary for survival in the political life.

2nd 
Martin’s Breakthrough: The country’s first elected mayor from the traveling community. Tuam’s mayor Martin Ward chats with settled members of his community. 
This photograph is like a short story. It is beautifully composed and painterly and shows an important political moment. There is a mixture of pride and dignity in the exchange between people normally on the fringes of Irish society.

3rd 
A Face in the Crowd: Disgraced former Taoiseach Charles Haughey attends the funeral of his brother Jock.
This image conveys the sense of loss and isolation of this formally powerful individual now abandoned in a large crowd.
 

H  THE ARTS
This category recognizes a picture which captures, highlights or documents the richness of the arts in Ireland.

1st 
Portrait of an Artist: Artist Davis King in his Dublin studio as he works on a skyscape 
The judges deem this not just a record of a moment in an artist’s life but a highly artistic image in itself. It conveys the stillness l and concentration of the artist in the act of painting a landscape – and it teases the viewer who wants to see the finished picture.

2nd 
Witness Concert Campers
The judges admired the shrewdness of the photographer in spotting the angle of the campers’ tents as an imaginative composition. It is truly a case of ‘performance art’ where attending a concert becomes art itself!

3rd 
Fine Art: Tom Wilson inspects the pictures at the 149th Annual Exhibition of the Watercolor Society of Ireland.
Lovely colors and light as photographer captures this quiet moment of contemplation – something with which we can all relate. 
 

I  PICTURE STORY
The picture essay prize goes to a well-edited, well thought-through picture essay or reportage.

1st 
Sardar’s Journey: Afghanistan Special Olympics athlete Sardar during the ups and downs of a day spent visiting schools in Galway.
This is a great picture essay which uses a modern, visual language to tell the tale. It is a real story which in the subtle way it is edited gives us a powerful and moving sense of inclusion in the young boy’s day.

2nd 
Expressions of Protest: Protesters meet with the law in an anti-war protest at Shannon International Airport.
This excellent composition tells one of the big political stories of 2003, and does it by showing us a range of different, powerful expressions with real interaction between the individual images.

3rd 
Children of Chernobyl: Pictures taken in Belarus in October 2003 documenting the illness and suffering of the children in orphanages and hospice centers as a result of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
This picture essay demonstrates how the story of Chernobyl continues to devastate ordinary lives. It is a story we must continue to tell.
 

HUMOR
Outstanding in his field: a cow gets a bird’s eye view with a little help from her friends at Annascual, Co. Kerry.
No Comment!
 
 

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: Frank Miller, Irish Times

The photographer of the year was chosen by the judges from amongst the large number of excellent prize winners you have seen here tonight. The winning portfolio was selected because of its excellence in vision, in construction, in use of color 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.