The UK Picture Editors' Guild Awards 2012

Thousands of photos, all potential award winners, have been viewed, and judged by experienced picture editors seeking to select the greatest press images of the year.

And a searing and dramatic set of pictures detailing the reality of war has won for freelance Jason Howe the title SABMiller Photographer of the Year in the UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards.

His triumph comes on top of securing the Photo Essay Award, sponsored by the Guild, in a year otherwise dominated by the events of the Royal Jubilee and Olympic games.

Also among the galaxy of winning press photographers announced at a gala presentation ceremony in London was a 45-year old family GP from Essex who came top in the BT Spirit of the Olympics category for non-professionals.

Picking up other prizes at the Picture Editors’ Guild fourth annual Awards, joint-presented by London’s Mayor Boris Johnson, and hosted by the BBC’s Kate Silverton, were:

• Nikon Sports Photographer of the Year, John Sibley, Action Images.
• Getty Images Royal Photographer of the Year, Max Mumby.
• Celebrity Photographer of the Year, Jon Enoch.
• Bloomberg Business Photographer of the Year, Jason Alden.
  
  Jason Alden interview on Bloomberg TV
  credit: Bloomberg TV; www.bloomberg.com/
• Etihad/Newscast Young Photographer Bursary , Brad Wakefield, South West News Service.
• OpenText News Photographer of the Year, Dan Kitwood, Getty Images.
• Photobox Regional Photographer of the Year, Charles McQuillan, Pacemaker Press.
• British Airways Olympic Sports Photographer, Owen Humphreys, Press Association.
• British Airways Olympic News Photographer, Karwai Tang, Alpha Press.
• British Airways Olympic Photo Essay, Mark Pain, Mail on Sunday.
• British Airways Paralympics Sports Photographer, Adrian Dennis, AFP.
• British Airways Paralympics Photo Essay, Mark Pain, Mail on Sunday who is also overall British Airways Olympic Photographer for his achievements.

Together with the prestigious accolade of winning a category, judged by a group of the top picture editors from regional, national and international publications and agencies, each Award carries a valuable prize of cash or equipment.

Guild Chairman, Alan Sparrow, said: "We introduced a number of categories this year to cater for the exceptional interest surrounding the Olympics. It was a period that proved the dominance of the still image when it comes to capturing a memory that lasts long after the event.

"The rest of the year is also chronicled most vividly by the technical skill and outstanding journalism displayed in the thousands of fantastic photos entered for the Awards this year."

Overall winner, Jason Howe, 41, specialises in covering conflicts for newspapers and magazines. On assignment in Afghanistan he was with a detachment of troops helicoptered into Taliban territory and was there as a soldier lost both legs in an explosion.

His pictures continue the story of the injured soldier’s rescue while under fire from insurgents - and then, having survived his terrible wounds, the subsequent rehabilitation treatment back in Britain.

Chairman of the judges, David Ofield of the Evening Standard, said: "There were many great pictures from all sectors of the press - making it a tough task to select all our category winners. However, Jason's essay was just so powerful that it clinched our decision."

Previous winners of the SABMiller Photographer of the Year title have been the Guardian's Martin Argles and Matt Dunham of Associated Press. Regional, local, agency and freelance photographers have all won valuable cash prizes and trophies alongside their national colleagues.

The Judges also cast their expert eyes over the enthusiastic pictures of amateur photographers inspired by the 2012 Games to enter the BT Spirit of the Olympics competition. Shenfield, Essex, based Dr Athreya produced a sparkling image of his seven year old.

The UK Picture Editors Guild are pleased to announce that a collection of photographs from this years awards will be displayed at the Museum of London between Jan 18th and May 5th
www.museumoflondon.org.uk

Headline sponsors enabling the Guild to provide this unique opportunity to reward the very best in photo-journalism include SABMiller, the international brewer, and Nikon, plus the media companies Bloomberg, Newscast, and Getty Images. The presentation evening at the City of London headquarters of the Honorable Artillery Company on November 8th is the only event of its kind for photojournalism.

The headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company played host to the UK Picture Editors Guild Awards for the third year running.

Seventeen judges, the leading lights of photo journalism were asked to evaluate the work of over a thousand photographers to find winners in the many categories.

Three hundred guests packed the Prince Consort rooms of the HAC to attend an evening hosted by Kate Silverton and to applaud Mayor of London Boris Johnson as he presented awards to photographers.

The Mayor complimented the photographers on their skills in capturing the years news events.

Alan Sparrow, UK Picture Editors' Guild chairman, said: "The Awards have got better each year. I believe they are now the ultimate test and celebration of British press photography - the most dynamic and competitive media workplace in the world."