James Crombie accepts his award from Paul Sherwood, president, Press Photographers Association of Ireland, at the ceremony last night; Miriam O'Callaghan was MC for the event.

Crombie retains Photographer of the Year title for 2022

Published: Sat 19 Feb 2022, 10:08 AM

Last updated: Sat 19 Feb 2022, 5:26 PM

Though he “only found out in the last hour or so” before he was announced as the Press Photographer of the year, James Crombie had time to write down a few words.

This is the second year in a row the Rahugh native who lives in Ballycommon has won the award, and his portfolio stood out for the judges, for a number of reasons, said Miriam O’Callaghan, MC for the Press Photographers Association of Ireland awards event last night.

But first to James’s comments: “I completely did not expect to win this today, I’ve only found out, literally in the last hour, I was in Dublin, and it was a complete shock to me.

“I’m very humbled to have won this tonight, and I’m constantly in awe of the work of my fellow press photographers in Ireland, the amazing standard of photography is truly outstanding.

“I’d like to thank a couple of people; I’d like to thank my employers, Inpho Photography, especially Billy Stickland, my parents Anne and Sean and my brothers David and Shane, also my wife and my four daughers Hailey, Anna, Sarah and Chloe, just a special mention to my Aunty Mary, who is in hospital at the moment, we’re all thinking of her, and we’re praying for her.

“Thanks very much.”

In her citation, host Miriam O’Callaghan said: “Choosing the press photographer of the year was an extremely difficult task. We got the shortlist down to four really excellent portfolios; however, after intense debate and knowing that there could only be one overall winner, we unanimaously agreed that this (James’s portfolio was on display as she spoke) was the outstanding portofolio of the awards.

“The photographer wins the overall award based on their enthusiastic, innovative approach, the diversity of their work, their hard work ethic and the sheer excellence of execution.

“If a tiebreak was needed, and it probably wasn’t, one particular image in this portfolio raises it to an absolutely higher level from the competition.”

The exhibition of winning photographs will go on tour around the country in the coming months; details will be on the PPAI website at ppai.ie and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.