Samantha aims to snap up top award

Jun 18 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON student is in the frame for a top international photography award.

Samantha Connolly has snapped up a Photography Masters Cup Nominee Award in the category of photojournalism.

The 23-year-old was delighted to receive the nomination at a prestigious live online winners and nomination ceremony presented by International Color Awards to recognise excellence in colour photography. Thousands of images were received from 92 countries.

The nominated photographers were selected by a judging panel from the international photography community, including Christie's (New York), National Geographic (Washington) and Fox Broadcasting Company (Los Angeles). The panel reviewed the images online over an eight-week period.

Samantha’s exceptional image, "We Must Not Stand Apart WTC Steel Girder", was entered in the photojournalism category and received a high percentage of votes overall.

Basil O’Brien, the awards creative director, said: “Samantha Connolly's work represents colour photography at its finest and we're pleased to present her with the title of nominee.”

Samantha, who has a BA (First Class Honours) in Communication and Mass Media, graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University last year and is currently studying photography at Glasgow Metropolitan College.

She said this week: “I am very excited to be nominated for such a prestigious award by judges who are the top in their field.

“Throughout university, I was drawn to the visual arts and after completing work experience at the Glasgow Herald and Glasgow Evening Times, I felt drawn to photojournalism.

“So to be nominated in this category is an amazing honour.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my photography education at Glasgow Metropolitan College and exploring other fields of photography, such as portraiture, advertising and abstract photography.”

Samantha’s image is a symbol of hope and unity.

She added: “It reminds us that many people of different faiths and ethnicities were affected by 9/11 and that instead of being divided by invisible lines drawn between East and West, we are not separate entities because we all believe in the same things - humanity and peace, so we must stand united.”

You can view the third Annual Winners Gallery online by logging on to www.photomasterscup.com