I’ve been a little busy of late working with a team of people culminating in a National photography competition over the weekend (I won’t name names but there was pineapple involved).

Along with a whole range of responsibilities I also had the task of collecting the International judges as they arrived into Dublin airport last Friday. Three people I had been in email communication with; but had never met in person.

For over 6 months the process of gathering nearly 2,500 images for this year’s competition began. Multiple sponsors in place, brand new software, answering emails throughout Christmas, regional qualifying rounds - the task lists seemingly endless.

However, all the exhaustion melted away as the first of our judges to arrive was treated to a performance of An Tiarna Talún by the Athenry Music School Orchestra in Terminal 2. Absolute magic!

The weekend was a superb celebration of photography with our esteemed judges; Paul Keene FRPS, MGAGB, MFIAP, EFIAP/d3, Ian Whiston DPAGB, EFIAP, BPES, Claudio Calosi EFIAP/s, GPU CR-5, GPU VIP-4, HON. FCIS and Podge Kelly FIPF, EFIAP, AMIPP, ASITTIP, LSWPP.

Congratulations to all the participants, winners and the overall winners Hugh Wilkinson and Graham Kelly.

You can listen to a podcast of the weekend recorded and edited on the Sunday by Diarmuid and Darren of the Irish Photography Podcast, it really is a great show to listen to so please support the lads by subscribing to their Podcast/YouTube channels.

To finish once again I apologise to our Italian judge, Claudio, for the pineapple on the pizza. You never knew it existed until you came to Ireland but I hope the orchestra playing at your arrival makes up for it!

Below you’ll find a short vlog about the event too from the lads. Thank you so much Darren and Diarmuid.