IPC Announces Eight 2013 Leadership Award Recipients
Honors Professional Photographers at Luncheon in New U.N. Delegates Dining Room
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 24, 2013—The International Photographic Council (IPC), a non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2013 IPC Professional Photographer Leadership Awards. The award recipients will be honored at the 15th Annual IPC Pro Award Luncheon, to be held at the United Nations in New York City on Wednesday, May 22, at 11:30 a.m.
As it does each year, the IPC Awards Luncheon kicks off “May, International Professional Photography Month,” saluting professionals around the globe. “The winners, nominated by professional photography organizations, are selected because they best represent the groups’ criteria and ideals,” says IPC President James Chung. Award Luncheon Chair and keynoter Andy Marcus, President of Fred Marcus Photography, will discuss “The World of Professional Photographers.” IPC President James Chung will welcome the group. IPC Vice Presidents Kathy Schneider and Alice Miller will interview the honorees to determine what drives their passion for photography, how their businesses have adapted to change, and their “must have” photography products.
Eight associations have designated honorees for the 2013 IPC Leadership Award: American Photographic Artists (APA), American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), Federation of European Photographers (FEP), National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA), White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA), and Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI).
The 2013 IPC Professional Photographer Leadership Award recipients are:
• American Photographic Artists (APA): Anthony Nex
• American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP): Shawn Henry
• Federation of European Photographers (FEP): Neil Warner
• National Press Photographers Association (NPPA): Michelle McLoughlin
• Professional Photographers of America (PPA): Don Dickson
• Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA): John Rak
• White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA): Charles Dharapak
• Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI): Cliff Mautner
Anthony Nex has a large commercial studio in Los Angeles, with a prestigious clientele including Disney, Sony, Microsoft, Citibank, Fox, and MGM. Originally specializing in still life, his assignments have ranged from Ndebele children in South Africa to motor homes in Kentucky, from glass factories in Pennsylvania to reef sharks in the South Pacific. Anthony finds his work with children for commercial clients captivates him the most. As co-chairman of the Los Angeles Chapter of APA, he helps photographers on the rise bring their vision to a global audience.
The former national President of the American Society of Media Photographers, Shawn G. Henry has worked as an editorial and corporate photographer for nearly 25 years. He photographs real people in real places, shooting assignments for Business Week, Forbes, the National Geographic Society and Time magazines, as well as corporate clients including Bank of America, Fidelity Investments and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Prior to joining the ASMP board, Shawn served as vice president of Editorial Photographers. He currently lives in Gloucester, MA, America’s oldest fishing port.
FEP Vice President Neil Warner, FBIPP, FMPA, FIPPACr, holds the Master Qualified European Photographer award, Fellowship of the Irish Professional Photographers Association, Fellowship of the British Institute of Professional Photography and Fellowship of the British Master Photographers Association. Specializing in corporate, commercial, illustrative, fine art photography and corporate video production, Neil is three times Irish Professional Photographer of the Year. FEP President from 2008 to 2012, he received the FEP Merit Award for outstanding leadership and dedication. He works throughout Europe and lives in Galway, Ireland.
Michelle McLoughlin, an independent photojournalist, has covered news, travel, sports, corporate reports, advertising and documentary stories for prestigious clients and publications, e.g., Reuters, Associated Press, Newsweek, Time, Der Spiegel and Wired. Previously with the Meriden-Record Journal and The Middletown Press, Michelle earned a B.S. degree in Journalism from Boston University. Chairperson for NPPA’s Northern Short Course in Photojournalism, she has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Press Managing Editors Association and New England Newspaper Association. Born in Liverpool, England, she is based in New Haven, CT.
Don Dickson launched Don Dickson Photography 36 years ago, at age 20, after receiving a business degree. He was president of PPA in 2011. A Certified Professional Photographer, he has a Master of Photography degree, Photographic Craftsman degree and Honorary Master of Photography degree from PPA. He was awarded the Honorary Education Associate from the American Society of Photographers and won the Gerhard Bakker award, PPA’s highest award for excellence in education. Don is executive director of the Texas School of Photography, the largest PPA-affiliated photographic school. He and Charlcey, his wife of 33 years, live in Texas and have two children.
John Rak purchased The Artona Group Inc. in Vancouver, BC, Canada, in 1977, at age 22 with his wife, Mun Kwan. Today the staff is 120 strong and sales have increased 100 fold. John passionately focuses on customer service, technological innovation and continuous improvement, in his business and the school photography community. A member of PMA, PSPA and SPAC, he speaks at industry focus groups, chairs meetings on the state of the School Photography industry, mentors and encourages photographers to celebrate human achievement through portraiture. He draws steady support from his wife of 35 years and his children Michael, TJ and Amanda, who manage the business.
Charles Dharapak began his photojournalism career in 1995 as a staff photographer for the Associated Press based in Bangkok, Thailand, and covered the pro-democracy movement in Burma and Cambodia’s civil war. Named the AP’s chief photographer and photo editor in Jakarta, Indonesia, he covered riots leading to the fall of dictator Suharto, East Timor’s independence, communal and religious conflicts, and the rise of Muslim extremism. After assignments in the Middle East covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he transferred to the AP Washington bureau, covering the White House and national politics, including the 2004, 2008, and 2012 U.S. Presidential campaigns.
Cliff Mautner began his 30-year photography career as a photojournalist for 15 years and 6,000 assignments with The Philadelphia Inquirer, then with an eclectic commercial clientele ranging from Comcast to Subaru, before launching his wedding photography business. Some 850 weddings later, Cliff is best known for his ability to create quality images in severe lighting conditions and for his diligence in capturing decisive moments. He was named one of the top 10 worldwide wedding photographers by American PHOTO magazine, won the WPPI Grand Award for photojournalism and the 2012 Nikon WPPI photographer of the year award. He is a spokesperson for Nikon and NIKKOR and founder of the “Lighting and Skillset Bootcamp” outside Philadelphia.
Reservations for the May 22 Pro Award Luncheon at the United Nations must be received by Monday, April 26. To RSVP or receive more information, please call James Chung at 914.476.1712 or email him at jchung1@prodigy.net.
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The International Photographic Council (IPC) is a multinational, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, composed of representatives from every major sector of the photographic industry. Founded in 1974, IPC is dedicated to increasing worldwide recognition of photography as a universal means of communication. IPC’s motto is “Peace Through Understanding, Understanding Through Photography, the Universal Language.”