The annual awards recognize and celebrate the art of press photography.
“To claim two awards in such a highly contested competition, cements Matt's place as the one of the best all around photographers of this generation,” said AP Europe Regional Photo Editor Tony Hicks.
Matt Dunham has taken two of the most memorable photos in 2011, including an iconic image of Kate and Wills kissing on the balcony on their wedding day. To get this shot, Matt was on a platform erected for photographers and TV cameras which faces the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Technically Matt had four cameras set up - he held the longest lens on a tripod and the other cameras were triggered from that camera so he could capture the moment on four different lenses. The photographers had met at 6 am in the morning and were pre allocated spots on the platform with no priority to anyone. Matt literally could not move from that position until the kiss and after the royal couple had left the balcony after greeting the crowds but he had an internet cable connected to his main camera and was able to file the image almost instantly to the AP picture desk.
Dunham, who was nominated in three of the eight categories, also was selected as Royal Photographer of the Year at the awards ceremony in London Tuesday night. The panel of judges is made up entirely of working picture editors from national and regional newspapers and international photo agencies.
Dunham’s winning pictures included the famous shot of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall as they got caught up in demonstrations on their way to the theatre in central London. Their car was surrounded by crowds as police clashed with demonstrators last December. At the time, protests were at a high against coalition government cuts and controversial plans to triple university tuition fees in England.
The UK Picture Editors' Guild has been established 30 years and is formed by picture editors from the picture desks of the national press, regional newspapers, international press agencies and domestic photo agencies. See the list of all the winners on the UK Picture Editors’ Guild.
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