IPC Bestows 2008 Professional Photographer Leadership Awards

NEW YORK, NEW YORK-- May 2008-- The International Photographic Council (IPC), a non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, has honored the recipients of its 10th annual IPC Professional Photographer Leadership Awards at the organization's annual "International Professional Photographers Month" luncheon. The event was held at the United Nations in New York City on Thursday, May 8th.

At the luncheon, an IPC Special Lifetime Achievement Award was also designated for Rainer Schmidt, Executive Director of German Photoindustrie Verband. e.V., who is legendary for his leadership of Germany's Photokina photography convention. Mr. Hiro Sakai, President and CEO, Fujifilm U.S.A. Inc. was the keynote speaker at the luncheon.

The pro awards are presented each May, designated International Professional Photographers Month, by the International Photographic Council. Winners are selected by each of five professional photography organizations from among its members including the Advertising Photographers of America (APA); the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP); the Professional Photographers of America (PPA); the Professional School Photographers Association International (PSPA); and the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA).

Each organization decides which of their members receives the award based on the standards they use within their organization.

IPC President James Chung presented the awards, assisted by IPC Vice President and President of Plum Communications, Alice Miller, who also served as chair for the event.

The 2008 IPC Professional Photographer Leadership Award recipients are as follows:

Advertising Photographers of America (APA): George Fulton

American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP): Judy Herrmann

Professional Photographers of America (PPA): Ann Monteith

Professional School Photographers Association International (PSPA): George Davis

White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA): Marty LaVor

The IPC Special Lifetime Achievement award, designated for Rainer Schmidt, was graciously accepted by his friend and colleague, Franz Balve. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Balve, speaking on behalf of Rainer Schmidt, said that this honor has caused him to pause and reflect fondly on a lifetime of work in the photo industry. He thanked the IPC for bringing the emotions captured by photography, the universal language, into a tangible form that many can share around the world.