Judges Bryan O'Brien, Chief VideoJournalist The Irish Times
Marc O'Sullivan, Freelance Press & PR Photographer, Dublin
Barry Cronin, Freelance Photographer, The Sunday Times. Photographers-22Feature-64 News-49Sports-57Spot News-7Portrait-34Multi-Photo 8 entries/93 photosFEATUREJudges comments: Terrific variety of photos here showing some wonderful spontaneous moments from daily life. The winning image has instant impact and makes you do a double take. We love the pattern in the second place winner, the random placing of the subjects within the pattern of the maze. Third place winner captures a really nice moment using amazing light and considerable technical skills. 1. Chad Hipolito/Reuters Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit signage of a bald eagle on display on the street in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada January 15, 2020.
2. Shannon VanRaes/Winnipeg Free Press Visitors wind their way though a giant snow maze, stopping along the way to take selfies, on January 3, 2020. The maze is located near St. Adolphe and is considered the largest of its kind in the world.
3. Crystal Schick/Yukon NewsVictoria Baines throws hot water into the -35 C air during sunset in Whitehorse on Jan. 11. During the 10-day cold snap, Yukoners could be found outside throwing hot water in the air, trying to blow bubbles and any other cold weather experiments they could think of.
NEWS Judges comments: The winning image is a beautiful portrayal of grief, timeless and thought provoking.Second place is a nicely seen detail that manages to sum up the whole story while third place is a perfectly composed shot that captures emotion on what could have been a dull assignment. 1. Jesse Winter/ReutersMourners attend a vigil for the victims of a Ukrainian passenger jet which was shot down in Iran, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada January 14, 2020.
2. Darryl Dyck/BloombergMeng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co., wears an electronic monitoring device on her ankle as she leaves her home to attend Supreme Court for an extradition hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.
3. Cole Burston/The Canadian PressMembers of Toronto's Iranian community dance as they celebrate the death of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 3, 2020.
SPORTSJudges comments: Fantastic range of sports photos capturing both the movement, symmetry and colour from the sporting world, any photo that makes curling look interesting deserves a prize!, joking aside the winning photographer has caught all three elements of sport, teamwork, skill and concentration and by blurring the action has conveyed these components in an interesting and vibrant way.1. Evan BuhlerSkip Laura Walker throws a rock during the 2020 Sentinel Storage Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the Murray Arena in Okotoks, Alta. On Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.
2. Cole Burston/Getty ImagesTORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net against Raul Neto #19 of the Philadelphia 76ers during second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2020 in Toronto, Canada.
3. Kevin Light/Freelance Members of the Oak Bay Recreation community complete their morning workout by swimming laps in the 25 meter pool in Victoria, British Columbia on January 28th, 2020.
SPOT NEWSJudges comments: A good mix of drama and news recording the tensions and struggles of emergency and law enforcement services told with a professional viewpoint.1. Ben Nelms/CBCVPD K-9 unit responds to an alleged robbery at a pharmacy on Abbott and Hastings street in Vancouver, British Columbia on Monday, January 2, 2020.
2. Daniel Crump/FreelanceFreelance. Firefighters battle a major fire in the 400 block of Maryland Street in Winnipeg. Efforts to fight the fire were made more difficult by freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions. January 8, 2020.
3. Chelsea Kemp/Rocky Mountain OutlookCrews clean up a semi that rolled over on westbound Highway 1A on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020.
PORTRAITJudges Comments: First prize is an an intriguing image, very filmic. The photographer made an interesting picture out of what could have been a dull assignment. Without the caption One could imagine a thousand different scenes being played out here. The winner of second place is a well framed photo with great interaction between subjects and in third place this image has lovely use of light with a great combination of the old and the new world.1. Ben Nelms/CBCBillionaire Joe Segal (L) eats lunch with a business partner at the Four Seasons hotel restaurant that will be closing next week in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. Mr. Segal has held ‘power lunches’ for more than 30 years at the same table.
2. Darryl Dyck/The Globe and MailMalik Malikzada, left, and his wife Jamila Malikzada pose for a photograph at their restaurant, Jamila’s Kitchen and Grill, in Coquitlam, B.C., on Thursday January 2, 2020.
3. Dave Holland/FreelanceAtlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka poses for photos in his grandfather’s sheepskin coat in Calgary, AB on January 7, 2020.
MULTI-PHOTOJudges comments: Nice range of picture stories and reportage here. First and second prizewinners showed the photographer making a wide and diverse range of images from different angles to get a real sense of the event. We also loved the simple approach taken by third prize winner making very simple pictures with interesting use of repetition and symmetry telling the story of the closing store. 1. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press A woman wearing a bathrobe pays for parking before participating in the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
Zhidong Yu, centre, 87, waits to participate in his 20th Polar Bear Swim at the 100th anniversary of the event at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
Spectators and people waiting to participate in the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim stand on the beach at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
A police officer takes cover behind a lifeguard chair as people sprint down the beach to the water at English Bay during the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
A woman sprints down the beach ahead of the crowd, to the water at English Bay during the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
A woman reacts while participating in the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
A woman in a Supergirl costume carries a can of beer and a bottle of Irish cream as she runs into the waters of English Bay during the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
Three women embrace as they celebrate after participating in the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
A woman and a dog participate in the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
People are silhouetted while participating in the 100th anniversary Polar Bear Swim at English Bay, in Vancouver, on Wednesday January 1, 2020. According to the City of Vancouver the initial swim was in 1920 when approximately 10 swimmers participated.
2. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press Incense burns as a man pauses in prayer to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., just after midnight on Saturday January 25, 2020.
A woman wearing a mask over her mouth and nose raises burning incense while pausing in prayer to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., late on Friday January 24, 2020.
Incense burns as a man pauses in prayer to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., late on Friday January 24, 2020.
Incense burns as a woman wearing a mask over her mouth and nose marks the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., late on Friday January 24, 2020.
Incense burns as thousands of people gather to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., just after midnight on Saturday January 25, 2020.
Incense burns as people gather to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., late on Friday January 24, 2020.
Awoman wearing a mask over her mouth and nose holds incense and bows to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple, in Richmond, B.C., late on Friday January 24, 2020.
An elderly woman watches the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
A man in a horse costume waits to participate in the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
A man in a rat costume prepares to march in the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020. According to the Chinese zodiac 2020 is the year of the rat.
Firecrackers explode as people watch the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
A woman covering a young girl's ears reacts as firecrackers explode during the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
An elderly woman wears a facemask while watching the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
A boy holds part of a dragon dance costume while waiting to participate in the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
George Leung waits to lead the Chinese New Year Parade through Chinatown, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
Dancers perform a dragon dance during the Chinese New Year Parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday January 26, 2020.
3. Cole Burston/BloombergA sign is seen outside of one of the last remaining Zellers stores in Canada, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Signage is seen inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Fixtures and mannequins are seen for sale inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Signage is seen inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Signage is seen inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
A shopper is seen looking through the last racks of clothing inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Signage is seen inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
A lone shopper strolls the empty floor inside one of Canada's last remaining Zellers, as it gets set to shutter its doors for the last time this month, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, January 23, 2020.
2020 STANDINGS…MONTH…TOTAL1. Darryl Dyck/Freelance…...170…...170
2. Cole Burston/Freelance….100…..100
3. Ben Nelms/CBC….............100…...100
4. Evan Buhler/Freelance….....50…...50
4. Chad Hipolito/Freelance…..50…..50
4. Jesse Winter/The Star Vancouver…50…50
5. Daniel Crump/Freelance…..40…..40
5. Shannon VanRaes/Winnipeg Free Press…40...40
6. Chelsea Kemp/Rocky Mountain Outlook…30…30
6. Dave Holland/Freelance…...30…...30
6. Kevin Light/Freelance…......30…....30