Top photo award for Meath man

NAVAN native David Cantwell has won the Irish Professional Photographers' Association (IPPA) Royal & SunAlliance Professional Photographer of the Year title for 2008 at the National Photographic Awards held in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.

Mr Cantwell, who is based in north Dublin, also came away with several category wins for his word, including best commercial portfolio, best advertising portfolio, best advertising image and best classical portrait titles at the event. The annual National Photographic Awards is the flagship event of the IPPA calendar.

Formerly from St Mary's Park, Navan, David Cantwell now lives in Enfield with his wife, Naomi, and two children, Adam and Aaron.

In his 10th year in business this year, he has photographed, judged and lectured all over the world. He is engaged mainly in commercial and advertising photography he has recently returned to portraiture, winning best classical portrait with his shot of Ricky Stevens, a famous photographer in Dublin. His winning Photographer of the Year photographs were all part of one project shot for Paul Sheeran Jewellers, Dublin.