Published: Monday, 6th July, 2009 1:15pm

McVitty captures regional title for "excellent" photos

by Editorial Department

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Provincial Press Photographer of the Year John McVitty celebrates with Patricia Quinn from BT at the NIPPA BT Press Photographer of the Year awards in Belfast last week.

Dedication, commitment and an intuitive eye for the perfect picture are some of the qualities that have earned John McVitty the highest accolade in his profession.

The Impartial Reporter photographer scooped the Regional Photographer of the Year award at the prestigious BT Northern Ireland Press Photographers of the Year Awards in Belfast last week.

Organised by the Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association, the competition attracted 422 entries from 49 photographers across Northern Ireland.

Last year John was runner up in his section and picked up two merit awards but this year he went one better, collection the Regional Photographer of the Year Award. His portfolio of pictures was described by one of the four judges, The Sun"s legendary Royal Photographer, Arthur Edwards, as 'excellent'.

Arthur said: 'It shows sadness and joy and pictures that make you smile.'

Fellow judge James Meehan, described it as: 'A well edited portfolio with a very good range of images from the tragic to the hilarious.'

John was up against tough competition.

As Arthur explained: 'The quality of the work submitted blew me away and made our job particularly tough! There are countless elements that make a good picture - the story told, the angle taken, the composition, light and more. So many of the pictures got it just right. The photographers did an amazing job.'

Readers of The Impartial Reporter are treated to John"s stunning pictures on a weekly basis but they have also made the front and back pages of the daily papers. His shot of the moment the ball left the boot of international soccer star David Healey on its way to the net to give Northern Ireland a famous 1 - 0 victory over England is one for football fans to savour. And what GAA supporter can forget his picture of Tom Brewster landing the point that sent Fermanagh into the semi-final of the All-Ireland in 2004?

His picture of turkeys running fowl of the law and the Parades Commission on their traditional Christmas procession through Irvinestown earned John third place in the News section of the awards and was published in The Irish Times.

But it was the Regional Award that gave John most satisfaction.

'That"s the daddy of them all,' he smiled.

'It"s nice to get recognition for some of your hard work and the long hours,' he added.

Impartial Reporter editor, Denzil McDaniel said that everyone on the paper was delighted with John"s success.

Said Denzil: 'Photography is much more than a job to John; he pours his heart and soul into it. His work, week-in week-out is outstanding and I congratulate him on this fully deserved recognition.'