PPY 2010

Organiser Tim Bishop (R) eventually gets David Bebber's name right after initially announcing Daniel Berehulak as this years winner. Oops! © Magnus Andersson

Monday night saw the winners of The Press Photographer's Year accept their prizes at The National Theatre on Southbank. I went down there with my former colleague Rob Logan to enjoy the exhibition but more importantly the free bar. It would be even better if next year the do is on a Friday rather than Monday night...not that it made a huge difference to us, we always drink responsibly.


Some - but not all - of the winners. © Magnus Andersson

David Bebber of The Times deservedly won Photograph of the Year with his sublime shot of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi but there were quite a few photographers who couldn't accept their prizes due to having to work. I think the whole event coincided with the eviction of the protesters from Parliament Square as well, so that might well explain some of the absentees.


My favourite photo was the haunting portrait of snooker player Alex Higgins (who died yesterday) by Cathal McNaughton. © Magnus Andersson

The only hiccup came when one of the organisers, Tim Bishop, accidentally read out the wrong name when presenting David Bebber's big prize - in Tim's mind it had apparently gone to Daniel Berehulak again! It took a couple of seconds before he realised his mistake and announced David as the winner, but I think we all know how Tim voted. ;-D


My contribution up on the wall. © Magnus Andersson



And finally my shot of Boris in the PPY book, next to some crying fascist and the leader of the free world. © Magnus Andersson

What does it mean?

A pair of Nike Air's up in the air in Deptford. © Magnus Andersson

I don't know what it means. You can see these sneakers thrown over telephone wires all over London and there are loads of urban myths about their significance but so far I haven't heard a credible one; gang territory, drug dealers spot, street art, someone died, the list goes on. Got any ideas? In Rotherhithe there's a large tree that is actually full of them and it all seems very mysterious to me, I'll see if I can find* a pic of that to update the post with.

On Monday I will go down to the PPY event at the National Theatre. I recommend all those in London to go and check out the exhibition, it runs from July 12 to September 19, a whole nine weeks. Last year it was seen by 250,000 people!

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*Updated 25/7, below is the previously mentioned tree in Rotherhithe.


© Magnus Andersson

PPY 2010

London Mayor Boris Johnson tumbles into the Ravensbourne river during a photo call. © Magnus Andersson

You'll have to excuse me if its been a while since posting but I've taken time off work to care for a loved one who is in hospital. There is a lot of waiting involved so yesterday, as usual, I perused Twitter to pass some time. I noticed that the winners of The Press Photographers Year 2010 had been put online so I browsed through the winning entries.

To say that I was surprised when I saw my name and one of my pictures is an understatement! I had been one of the 'selected' (i.e. not a winner) in the News category, but I had no idea until that very moment, killing time in the hospital.

I had to do a double take. Usually local press photographers get short shrift when you go up against the international photojournalists, so I'm doubly pleased and honoured to have been selected. Massive congratulations to the overall winner; David Bebber of The Times!

The original blog post about the picture can be found here, and if you go the PPY website, it shows up as #81 of #119 in the 'slideshow' option.

Here's a previous post from the awards night of PPY 2008, when Daniel Berehulak scooped the big one.

Press Photographer of the Year 2008

© Magnus Andersson

As you already know, the winner of PPY 2008 was Daniel Berehulak, but today - at the private view - I managed to pap him! That's Daniel (below) bottom left, with his winning image projected above him.


© Magnus Andersson

OK, maybe you can tell that I don't do papping in my day-to-day work, praise be Thor, but it was a wonderful night of great images on display in the National Theatre. Here's Daniel accepting the prize.


© Magnus Andersson

Not so wonderful was the boasting of one of the young winners (whom shall remain anonymous), but he claimed to be a wonderful speech-giver, let alone a GREAT photographer, and possibly flirtatious with anyone happening to be female. OK, he might have been drunk.

On a lighter note, there was massive trouble with the wireless microphone during the announcements, and this one (below) kind of captured the happy and relaxed mood of the evening, when the mic cut out for umpteenth time.


© Magnus Andersson

There was also lots of free booze, so I must go to bed now. Some of us must work tomorrow.

Results are in

© Daniel Berehulak

Its Friday and I'm off to an exhibition which I've played a small part in, but more importantly, the results for The Press Photographer's Year 2008 are in! That Daniel Berehulak gets everywhere, doesn't he. Good stuff.