The Banks’s Midlands Press Photographer awards have announced winners in ten categories to recognise the talents of newspaper photographers all over the region.

The Press Photographer of the Year is Roy Kilcullen of the Coventry Evening Telegraph, whose portfolio of five pictures comprising news, sports and features secured the accolade.

The runner-up was James Millar, Nottingham Evening Post.

The Banks’s Weekly Press Photographer of the Year was Sarah Jeynes of the Walsall Advertiser.

She also supplied a portfolio of five photos from different areas of work, and two of her prizewinning images are reproduced above and below.

Her colleague, Tamworth-based deputy chief photographer Paul Kyte, scored joint second place in the same category, with Andrew Pickford (Leek Post and Times) the other runner-up.

The awards are now in their seventh year and cover every aspect of local press photography – from news and features to sports and community.

All pictures had to have been published in a newspaper during last year to qualify.

The judges this year comprised Press Association picture editor Martin Keene, Dave Webb of North News and Adrian Willis, Banks’s marketing manager. The Awards were adjudicated by Jeremy Eaton of Vital PR.

Other awards were:

Banks’s Freelance Photographer of the Year
Mike Scott.

Banks’s Features Photographer of the Year
David Hamilton, Express and Star;
Runner-up: Tim Thursfield, Express and Star.

Banks’s Sports Photographer of the Year
Alistair Langham, Leicester Mercury;
Runner-up: Sam Bagnall, Sunday Mercury.

Banks’s Young Photographer of the Year
A portfolio of 5 pictures which demonstrate youth, socialising and the next generation.
Joint winners: Alex Severn, Gloucestershire Echo; Clare Lewis, The Sentinel.

Banks’s Best News Picture
A single picture which captures the essence of news photography at its very best.
John James, Birmingham Post;
Runner-up: Andrew Proudman, The Sentinel.

Banks’s Best Community Picture
A single picture which best reflects community involvement/spirit.
Richard Nelmes, Coventry Evening Telegraph;
Runner-up: Tim Sturgess, Express & Star.

Banks’s Best Creative Image
A single picture which makes use of the wide variety of electronic imagery now available.
Andrew Pickford, Leek Post and Times;
Runner-up: Alan Williamson, Lichfield Mercury.

Banks’s Local Hero Award
A single picture that demonstrates the essence of regional media, the local paper and the core values of Banks’s.
Steve Murphy, Birmingham Evening Mail;
Runner-up: John James, Birmingham Post.

To see more of the winning pictures, click here.

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