One of the stunning sporting images from the winning portfolio of world renowned sports photographer James Crombie (Inpho Photography) who has been named as the AIB Press Photographer of the Year for the third time. The image above is titled 'Tangled Up' and was taken at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during the Women's Wrestlng Freestyle 50kg Semi-Final.

James Crombie wins Press Photographer of the Year award for third time

Geraldine Grennan

Published: Mon 3 Mar 2025, 1:54 PM

Last updated: Mon 3 Mar 2025, 3:09 PM

World renowned sports photographer James Crombie (Inpho Photography) has won the coveted AIB Press Photographer of the Year trophy for the third time.

The Westmeath native, who lives with his wife, Ann, and their four daughters in Ballycommon, outside Geashill, is best known for his global sensation featuring a murmuration of starlings in 2022, and his stunning portfolio of images for the Press Photographers Ireland (PPI) awards once again incorporated some breathtaking wildlife images. However, it was his sensitively planned image for Pieta's Darkness Into Light campaign featuring on the award catalogue cover that confirms Crombie's skill and adaptability.

The annual awards, now in their 47th year, recognise press photographers from around Ireland with a collection of 110 images that tell the story of 2024 in pictures.

Hosted by broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan and organised by Press Photographers Ireland CLG, the glittering ceremony was held at the UCD O'Reilly Hall where Minister Jack Chambers was on hand to present the overall winning trophy to Crombie.

Rahugh native James Crombie won praise for both his artistic and technical skills, with the judges commenting: “We judges had a difficult task comparing a shortlist of three fine portfolios of work which were very different in their scope. We ultimately decided on this superb set of images by a photographer who clearly mainly covers sport but does so with great technical and artistic skill. We were all extremely impressed with the way the photographer nailed the best possible image from so many different situations inside and outside the field of play. This photographer is our unanimous choice as photographer of the year”.

The judging panel was again led by former picture editor of The Irish Times, Frank Miller alongside this year’s two judges Kate Horgan, photographer & one of the curators of the PPI Life Under Covid Collection and Shaun Botterill of Getty Images. Journalist Philip Bromwell and former RTÉ cameraman Michael Lee led the judging of the Multimedia category.

A delighted James Crombie punches the air with delight as he is named as the 'AIB Press Photographer of the Year 2025' for a third time at the 47th annual awards ceremony in Dublin over the weekend. Also in the picture are PPI President Dave Branigan, AIB CEO Colin Hunt and Minister Jack Chambers. The event saw photographers from all across Ireland honoured and recognised for excellence in press photography. ©INPHO/Arthur Carron Photo by ©INPHO/Arthur Carron

Another image from James Crombie's award-winning portfolio for the 47th annual Press Photographers Ireland annual award, where he was named as overall 'Photographer of the Year' for a third time.

'The tears of joy shed by Kellie Harrington at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games when she became the first Irish woman to win medals at two Olympic Games also formed part of the stunning portfolio by James Crombie who was crowned as 'AIB Press Photograper of the Year 2025' for the third time.

James Crombie pictured with his wife, Ann, to whom he paid a touching tribute on his 'X' account after winning the AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award over the weekned.

In a touching tribute to his wife and four daughters on his 'X' account hours after his latest award win, James Crombie declared himself to be "absolutely over the moon" to have been named the AIB Press Photographer of the Year for 2025, and added that he could not have done it " without my amazing and beautiful wife Ann and our four daughters." He also thanked Bill and the team at Inpho Photography and everyone who had sent him messages of support on his big win.