VODAFONE AND PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE PICTURE TOGETHER (Please select a category from the list on the left) It was congratulations all round at the Vodafone Northern Ireland Press Photographer of the Year Awards 2004 which took place last night (Wednesday May 19th) at a gala dinner in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast. This is the second year of Vodafone's sponsorship of this prestigious event which saw photographers from newspapers and agencies all across Northern Ireland enter the various categories. There were 35 cash prizes on offer totalling more than £11,000, along with the very attractive, specially-commissioned Vodafone trophies. This year’s awards attracted an entry of sixty one photographers and nearly 550 pictures in total. Vodafone UK Director, Helen Keays, said that she was delighted to be attending the Awards for the first time and paid tribute to the judges of the awards, James Meehan, Picture Editor of Ireland on Sunday and Susan Banton, Associate Picture Editor of Time Magazine. She also praised the Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association for their vigorous promotion of the awards over the past two years, resulting in such a healthy number of entrants. Last year, Vodafone instigated three new Merit Awards for photographers working on provincial newspapers. This year they further expanded the awards with a new category - Politics - and the awarding of cash prizes for 3rd and 4th places in the main six categories. BBC presenter, Christine Bleakley, compered the awards ceremony. The winners were: Vodafone NI Press Photographer of the Year: Winner: Cathal McNaughton, Sunday Life Runner Up: William Cherry, Pacemaker Press International Vodafone NI Provincial Press Photographer of the Year: Winner: Mal McCann, Andersonstown News Runner Up: Tony Hendron, Portadown Times News: Winner: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker Press International - `Grief' Runner Up: Alasdair McBroom, Belfast Telegraph - `We'll Make a Bonfire of Our Troubles' 3rd: Joanne Symington, Irish News - `Living in Fear' 4th: Paul Faith, Press Association - `Silent Reflection' Politics: Winner: Mal McCann, Andersonstown News - `Men Against Boys' Runner Up: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker Press International - `Time's Up' 3rd: Justin Kernoghan, Photopress - `Nail Biting Finish' 4th: Paul Faith, Press Association - `Trimble's Inner Circle' Sport: Winner: Paul Faith, Press Association - `It's a Knock Out' Runner Up: William Cherry, Pacemaker Press International - `Chin' 3rd: Tony Hendron, Portadown Times - `Big Boys Don't Cry' 4th: Mal McCann, Andersonstown News - `Form an Orderly Queue' Features: Winner: Justin Kernoghan, Photopress - `Tyreing Inferno' Runner Up: Niall Carson, Irish News - `Freedom Steps' 3rd: Cathal McNaughton, Sunday Life - `Through the Looking Glass' 4th: Paul McErlane, Reuters - `Special Branch' People: Winner: Mal McCann, Andersonstown News - `Bog Meadow Bachelor' Runner Up: Alasdair McBroom, Belfast Telegraph - `We Know Where You Live' 3rd: Cathal McNaughton, Sunday Life - `Size Doesn't Matter' 4th: Bill Smyth, Irish News - `Faces of Despair' Picture Story: Winner: Stephen Davison, Pacemaker Press International - `A Rock and a Hard Place' Runner Up: Niall Carson, Irish News - `The One That Got Away' 3rd: Title Fight, Pacemaker Press International - `Title Fight' 4th: Crispin Rodwell, Sunday Times - `Food Convoy Relief' The Vodafone Special Merit Award for a concept in black and white: John Harrison, John Harrison Photography - `The Conductor' Belfast Merit Awards: Brendan Murphy, Irish News - `Rainy Day in Belfast' Stephen Davison, Pacemaker Press International - `Durkan's Election Selection' Conor McCaughley, Sunday World - `The Boxer' Provincial Merit Awards: David Scott, Freelance - `A Light of Hope' Darryl Mooney, Freelance - `Heavens Above' John McVitty, Impartial Reporter - `I'll Score - You Can Bet Your Shirt On It'