Queen’s last photo is Picture of the Year – the image you chose
The last images to be taken of Queen Elizabeth before her death last September is the first IMAGO Photograph of the Year.
The picture, announced as the winner at the UK Picture Editors’ Guild (UKPEG) at their annual awards in which it is a new category, was taken by Jane Barlow of the Press Association. It was chosen in a worldwide ballot including AI readers and won with 9,210 from a submission of over 500, whittled down to a shortlist of 20.
Jane Barlow has 15 years’ experience as a professional photographer covering news, sport and editorial assignments for regional, national and international publications. She captured the final images of the Queen at Balmoral as she waited for Liz Truss, to arrive just two days before she died. “Just prior to the new prime minister arriving in the room I just had a few moments with her majesty and that’s when I got that picture.
“When I came into the room… she was very smiley and then moved across the room into position and there was a wee while while we had to wait for Liz Truss to be announced… during that short time she did just comment on the weather, on how dark it seemed outside… she seemed in very good spirits. Obviously she was very frail but she was very smiley… I got lots of smiles from her.”
"The love affair of the British people for Her Majesty the Queen is shown once more in the choice of those voting" said Alan Sparrow, UKPEG president. "Janes's photograph, taken as the Queen waited to greet the new prime minister, Liz Truss.
"I believe the appeal of this unposed photograph is its homely feel - the roaring fire, the elderly woman, who needs a stick to support her, and a kind smile. It is the photographic 'ideal' of what we want our grandmothers to be."
Barlow’s was one of 13 prizes awarded last night – and she was also the Dave Benett Arts and Entertainment Photographer of the Year for an image of Vikings at the Shetland Up Helly Aa festival.
But the overall UKPEG Photographer of the Year was Chris Furlong of Getty Images, winning for the second year in succession with a portfolio of images of the Queen’s funeral, dramatic weather and the front line in Ukraine. He was also the Fixation News Photographer of the Year
The other winners were:
Canon Sports Photographer of the Year, Oli Scarf (AFP);
Fleet Street’s Finest Photo Essay Photographer of the Year, Jack Hill (The Times);
Nikon Student Photographer of the Year, Ryan Jenkinson (Falmouth University);
Genesis Regional Photographer of the Year, Danny Lawson (PA);
Getty Images Young Photographer of the Year, Jordan Pettitt (PA);
Lexar Royal Photographer of the Year, Samir Hussein (freelance);
Sony National Newspaper Press Photographer of the Year, Eddie Mulholland (Daily Telegraph);
UKPEG Business Photographer of the Year, Jeff Moore (freelance);
UKPEG Portrait Photographer of the Year, Gareth Cattermole (Getty Images);
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