The awards ceremony for the Photographer of the Year Competition, hosted by Mallow Camera Club, took place during the Dinner & Awards Evening at Springfort Hall on Monday, 25th November 2024.
This competition, a key highlight of the club’s annual calendar, attracted an impressive number of entries. Participants submitted three printed monochrome images and three printed colour images, each judged individually rather than as part of a collective panel.
The competition featured four judging grades, ranging from Grade 1 for beginners and less-experienced photographers to Grade 4 for the most advanced members. Prizes were awarded across each grade and category.
The esteemed judging panel included Mark Sedgwick FIPF EFIAP ESFIAP, Anne Cassidy FIPF FRPS AFIAP, and Judy Boyle FIPF FRPS MFIAP EFIAP/g. Their meticulous evaluation, scoring, and constructive feedback were highly valued by all participants. A special thanks goes to Mark, Anne, and Judy for their expertise and dedication.
Behind the scenes, organising the competition required significant effort. Sincere appreciation goes to Niamh Barrett, the Competition Secretary, and Assistant Competition Secretaries Lisa Egan and Helen Vaughan, for their dedication in planning and coordinating the event. Thanks also to Anne Buckley for liaising with Springfort Hall.
A big thank-you to all Club Members for their efforts in printing and mounting the mono and colour images for display and also thanks you to those for mounting them on the display boards throughout the night. Special thanks goes to Noely Ward and Gaz France for their wonderful entertainment throughout the evening.
A charitable raffle held during the event raised €355, which will be donated to Cork Mental Health, an organization that supports and empowers individuals with mental health challenges. Thank you to everyone who contributed, including the raffle organisers Anne Buckley, Ann O’Mara, and Maura Crowley, as well as the prize donors and ticket buyers.
Congratulations to all competition winners and thank you to everyone who participated. The standard of submissions was exceptional, showcasing many outstanding images.
For a detailed breakdown of results and glimpses of the winners, please enjoy the following images.
Grade 1
Grade 1 Mono Panel
1st Maura Crowley
2nd Patricia O’Shea
3rd Pam Lukeman
Grade 1 Colour Panel
1st Patricia O’ Shea
2nd Noel Lehane
3rd Maura Crowley
Best Image Grade 1
Maura Crowley – ‘Viking’
POTY Grade 1
1st Maura Crowley
2nd Patricia O’Shea
3rd Pam Lukeman
Grade 2
Grade 2 Mono Panel
1st Barry Murphy LIPF
2nd Anne Buckley
3rd Eamon O’Donnell
Grade 2 Colour Panel
1st Eamon O’Donnell
2nd Barry Murphy LIPF
3rd Anne Buckley
Best Image Grade 2
Robert Rath – ‘Grey Nurse Shark’
POTY Grade 2
1st Barry Murphy LIPF
2nd Eamon O’Donnell
3rd Anne Buckley
Grade 3
Grade 3 Mono Panel
1st Helen Vaughan LIPF
2nd Peggy O’Brien LIPF
3rd Niamh Barrett LIPF
Grade 3 Colour Panel
1st Helen Vaughan LIPF
2nd Tony Coakley LIPF
3rd Niamh Barrett LIPF
Best Image Grade 3
Helen Vaughan LIPF – ‘What the Heck’
POTY Grade 3
1st Helen Vaughan LIPF
2nd Niamh Barrett LIPF
3rd Fred Ward LIPF
Grade 4
Grade 4 Mono Panel
1st Joy Buckley LIPF
2nd Viv Buckley FIPF AFIAP
3rd Paul Tips LIPF
Grade 4 Colour Panel
1st Joy Buckley LIPF
2nd Jim McSweeney LIPF
3rd Vincent Higgins LIPF
Best Image Grade 4
Joy Buckley LIPF – ‘Pause’
POTY Grade 4
1st Joy Buckley LIPF
2nd Jim McSweeney LIPF
3rd Viv Buckley FIPF AFIAP
Overall POTY
Mono Panel
1st Joy Buckley LIPF
2nd Helen Vaughan LIPF
3rd Barry Murphy LIPF
Colour Panel
1st Helen Vaughan LIPF
2nd Joy Buckley LIPF
3rd Jim McSweeney LIPF
Photographer of the Year 24
1st Joy Buckley LIPF
2nd Helen Vaughan LIPF
3rd Jim McSweeney LIPF
Judge’s Favourite Images
Judy Boyle
Helen Vaughan LIPF – ‘What the Heck’
Anne Cassidy
Neily Curtin AIPF AFIAP – ‘Sunken Boat’
Mark Sedwick
Paul Tips LIPF – ‘Wasp Resting’
