FORMER Corkman photographer Mark Condron has been named as the winner of the Press Photographers Association AIB Photojournalist of the Year for 2009.

The 31-year-old Castletownroche native, who has worked for the Sunday Tribune for the past seven-years, beat off stiff opposition from more than 130 photographers from around Ireland to scoop the prestigious award.

His portfolio of stunning images was among more than 2,000 images entered into the competition, which showcases the very best of press photography from around the country.

Mark is no stranger to success having won the coveted News Photographer of the Year Award in addition to numerous individual category awards in the competition in recent years.

However speaking to The Corkman from Dublin after receiving his latest accolade, Mark admitted he was "stunned" when he heard his name being announced from the podium.

"It may be an overused cliché, but this really is a dream come true for me. This is the award that every press photographer dreams about winning. When my name was announced I was stunned and to be honest it took a few minutes for the whole thing to sink in," said Mark.

"I suppose you always hope that you will win awards such as this, but given the high standard of photography out there you never really believe you will," he said.

The judging panel for the competition certainly believed that Mark's portfolio was a step above the rest, saying that it "was everything you would expect" from a prize-winning presentation.

"The photographs are strong on all aspects of the craft but crucially they also manage to tell the story and give the news with an eye to creating something different and lasting," they said.

PPAI president David Sleator congratulated Mark for his contribution to photojournalism in Ireland.

"The overall quality of Mark's pictures is exemplary, with each topic handled with both sensitivity and creativity. Mark's dedication and commitment to his profession has been well rewarded," said Mr Sleator.

Mark's portfolio of images ran the whole gauntlet of emotions, featuring thought provoking images of tragedy, hope, humour and the indominatable nature of the human spirit.

Mark put his skill with the camera down to a number of factors.

"It is hard to say exactly what makes a good photographer, although one essential requirement is having a quick eye to spot an image that will stand out. Patience is also a huge virtue as you can be on a job for hours but that perfect image will only come along in a split second," he said.

"Of course being in the right place at the right time is a big part of the job. For example working on a job on O'Connell Street last year when a Luas tram hit a bus. I was literally standing only yards away at the time. Other images stand out for obvious reasons, for example the one I took in Uganda of a man putting a coffin on the back of his motorbike," said Mark.

"An award-winning image is one that will tell as story and will remain relevant long after the camera lens has clicked. I have been fortunate in my career to have been in a position to catch many images that have done that," he added.

- BILL BROWNE bbrowne@corkman.ie