Historic visual record of pandemic will be donated by PPAI to the National Archives and National Library System
Wilson Hartnell has been announced as an associate sponsor of this year’s Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) ‘Press Photographer of the Year Awards’.
For the past 43 years, the PPAI has held an annual competition which showcases and honours the very best press images of the year, taken by the Association’s 200+ members. The winning photographs are chosen by an international panel of judges chaired by former Irish Times picture editor, Frank Miller and includes international photographers, Eddie Keogh and Edmond Terakopian as well as multimedia category judges, Philip Bromwell, Broadcaster and Michael Lee, former RTÉ cameraman.
Almost 2,000 photographs are entered annually in the awards, across nine categories from News to Portrait and Sports, Arts and Entertainment to Politics, Reportage, Nature and Environment. There is also a multi-media award for video entries.
Due to pandemic restrictions, this year the awards ceremony will be live streamed on the evening of 26th February. The virtual event will be hosted by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan and each category will be introduced by selected guests.
Covid-19, A Visual Record
To mark the profound and tragic events of the past year, shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the Press Photographers Association of Ireland are forming a historic visual record of Ireland during the past unprecedented year. The collection, which will be shortlisted by the judging panel, will go on display online and will also be donated to the National Archives and National Library System. This stark collection of historic images will pay homage to those who have sadly lost their lives, those working tirelessly on the front line and all affected by the pandemic.
Commenting on the awards, Crispin Rodwell, President, Press Photographers Association of Ireland, said: “It has been an extraordinary past twelve months in the country’s history, during which the members of the PPAI have served their vital role in producing a visual record of the pandemic, which will be preserved in the nation’s archives.
But while Covid-19 has touched every corner of the country and every aspect of Irish society, life goes on and the work and professionalism of our press photographers continues. Our awards recognise and reward the very best press photography from a truly momentous year and this collection of images will stand as a memorial to those that lost their lives and to those that saved many more”.
Sharon Murphy, MPRII, Chief Executive, Wilson Hartnell commented: “Images have a unique ability to tell stories in ways that words can’t. They stir our emotions, capture history and unforgettable moments and experiences that forever serve as tangible memory banks. Wilson Hartnell is proud to be an associate sponsor of the PPAI ‘Press Photographer of the Year’ Awards and we wish all those who have entered the very best of luck for the 26th February”.
The 43rd annual Press Photographers Association of Ireland ‘Press Photographer of the Year Awards’ will be broadcast at 8p.m. on Friday, 26th February 2021 via www.ppai.ie/livestream
