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One of the Finest: A Tribute to Vincent O’Byrne

Vincent O’Byrne Image by David Cantwell
Image by David Cantwell

Vincent O’Byrne or Vinnie, as he was affectionately known by many, was a huge presence in photography, both here in Ireland and across Europe.

His sudden passing has come as a terrible shock to his family and friends, and his many friends throughout the photographic community in Ireland and abroad.

Vinnie was, quite simply, one of the finest photographers this country has produced.

He was a true creative and a master of light, fiercely individual with a radical mind and an ability to see things differently. Fine art photography, particulary his exploration of the nude and human form, was where his heart lay, but his talent crossed every area of photography. He was an exceptional commercial and advertising photographer, a hugely talented retoucher and an artist with a distinctive vision.

But the labels never really mattered with Vinnie. He was simply a gifted photographer. He knew his craft inside out, pushed boundaries, questioned things, experimented and constantly looked for another way. He wasn’t interested in simply repeating what had already been done. His work was unmistakably his own.

His achievements over a lifetime in photography were extraordinary.

Vinnie was a three time Irish Professional Photographer of the Year and served as President of the Irish Professional Photographers Association. He achieved Fellowship in Professional Advertising Photography with the IPPA in 1995, and at the time the only Fellowship in Advertising Photography in Ireland. He became the first Irish photographer to achieve Fellowship with the Master Photographers Association and was one of only a handful outside the UK to hold that distinction at the time. He was also named Overseas Master Photographer of the Year and Overseas Pictorial and Illustrative Master Photographer of the Year.

His standing within European photography was equally significant. In 2000, he achieved his Qualified European Photographer distinction in Advertising Photography, and in 2005 became the first Irish photographer to achieve the Master Qualified European Photographer ( MQEP) , the highest accolade in European professional photography and one of only three awarded at the time.

He was appointed a Qualifications Judge with the Federation of European Photographers and the IPPA, and his knowledge and judgement were respected at the highest levels of the profession.

Vinnie won for Ireland at the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards on three occasions and was later invited to judge the competition. He represented Ireland as a speaker at the World Congress of Professional Photographers and judged, lectured and gave masterclasses throughout Europe and internationally. His work also reached beyond the world of professional photography. He exhibited at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and internationally, and was recognised through the Kilkenny Cream of Irish Awards for his talent and contribution to the arts. It is an extraordinary photographic legacy.

Many people will remember Vinnie for his generosity. If he knew something that could help you, he shared it. There were no secrets. He gave his time and knowledge, through judging, workshops, masterclasses and lectures, or simply by sitting down with another photographer and talking through their work.

He was a natural mentor, but he also challenged you. He made you think differently. He made you look harder.

That radical mind was never far away. He questioned things, pulled them apart and looked for another way. A conversation with Vinnie could change how you looked at a photograph, and sometimes how you looked at photography itself. Friendship with Vinnie required very little maintenance. You could pick up the phone having not spoken for a some time and it made absolutely no difference. Within a minute you were back into it, as though you had spoken the week before, photography, ideas, people, life. You carried on where you left off.

Anyone who knew Vinnie will recognise that.

There are a great many photographers working today who are better photographers because Vincent O’Byrne took the time to share something, encourage them, challenge them, or simply make them see photography differently.

Perhaps that is his greatest legacy.

Not the awards, Fellowships or qualifications, remarkable as they are, but the photographers he helped, the people he taught, the knowledge shared, the conversations had and the friendships made along the way.

Photography has lost a remarkable talent, a true original and one of the great creative minds of Irish photography.

And many of us have lost a friend.

Thank you and rest easy, Vinnie.

You will be greatly missed.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Career Highlights & Achievements

2008

  • Appointed Qualifications and Judge of the Master Photographers Association
  • Invited as member of the XXV Society in America.
  • Invited speaker to the XXV Society of America in San Diego. 
  • Appointed Qualifications and Judging Chairperson with the IPPA.
  • Winner ILLUSTRATIVE Category in the Orvieto Fotografia Photographer of the Year Awards with a series of images titled ‘Venetian Masquerade’.
  • Invited speaker for Ireland to the First European Congress of Professional Photography in Valencia, Spain

2007

  • Introduced on-line Electronic Judging with the IPPA
  • Appointed Qualifications and Judging Chairperson with the IPPA.
  • Achieved 4 DIAMONDS in the IPPA Photographer of the Year Awards with images titled, ‘Emancipation’, ‘Trilateral’, ‘Fairytale Oyster’ and ‘Divine Inspiration’.
  • Winner ILLUSTRATIVE Category in the Orvieto Fotografia Photographer of the Year Awards, with a series of images titled ‘Demons and Angels’.
  • Appointed Chairperson of the BPPA AWARDS.
  • Winner Best Avant Garde Portfolio and Best Avant Garde Image in the same competition. (Trilateral).
  • Winner of the Royal and Sun Alliance Irish Professional Photographer of the Year. (3rd win).

2006

  • Conferred with Honorary Life Membership with the Irish Professional Photographers Association for his outstanding contribution to Professional Photography in Ireland.
  • Winner ILLUSTRATIVE Category in the Orvieto Fotografia Photographer of the Year Awards.
  • Invited Judge at the BPPA Awards.

2005

  • Achieved Master Qualified European Photographer (MQEP), The highest accolade in Professional Photographer in Europe, and one of only three awarded.
  • Exhibition of ‘Post Photography’ in Orvieto, Italy

2004

  • Kodak Commercial Photographer of the Year
  • Invited as guest speaker for Ireland at Orvieto Fotografia 2004 Convention in Italy.

2003

  • Appointed JUDGE at the MASTER PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION (MPA) Photographer of the Year Awards.
  • Appointed QUALIFICATIONS JUDGE with the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA)
  • Heat WINNER of the Commercial category in the Kodak ‘Photographer of the Year Awards’
  • Exhibition ‘Elemental’ at the Metatron Gallery

2002

  • Kodak ‘Photographer of the Year’ WINNER (open category)

2001

  • Heat WINNER of the OPEN category in the Kodak ‘Photographer of the Year Awards'(SEIZA)
  • Appointed QUALIFICATIONS JUDGE with the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA).
  • Appointed QUALIFICATIONS JUDGE with the FEDERATION of EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • Second Runner up in the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards Final. (CHILDREN of LIR).
  • Awarded GOLD in the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards.

2000

  • Achieved QEP (Qualified European Photographer) with the FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHERS (FEP) in Advertising Photography. (QEP).
  • Achieved ‘OVERSEAS PICTORIAL & ILLUSTRATIVE MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR in the MPA ‘Photographer of the Year Awards
  • Achieved FIVE AWARDS of EXCELLENCE with the MPA.
  • Awarded two GOLDS and two commendations in the Kodak European Gold Awards.
  • WINNER of the Fujifilm ‘CREATIVE DIGITAL AWARD’ (BOREAS).

1999

  • Achieved OVERSEAS ‘ MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR’ in the MPA ‘Photographer of the Year’ Awards. This was the FIRST time the Award went To Ireland.
  • Achieved FOUR AWARDS of EXCELLENCE with the MPA in the MPA ‘Photographer of the Year’ Awards in the UK.
  • Guest speaker at the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards in the UK.
  • Guest speaker at the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards in the UK.

1998

  • Exhibition at the opening of VISAGE at the Lafayette Studio in Dublin.
  • WINNER of the ‘KILKENNY CREAM OF IRISH Awards’ which recognises Irish Talent and its contribution to the ARTS.
  • Appointed JUDGE at the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards.
  • Guest speaker at the MPA “Photographer of the Year’ Awards in the UK.
  • Exhibition at the opening of VISAGE at the Lafayette Studio in Dublin.
  • Appointed JUDGE at the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards.
  • WINNER of the ‘KILKENNY CREAM OF IRISH Awards’ which recognises Irish Talent and its contribution to the ARTS.

1997

  • One man exhibition ‘EXPOSED’ at the DCC Gallery in Dublin.
  • Appointed Qualifications JUDGE with the MPA.
  • WINNER for IRELAND of the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards. This is the FIRST and Only time this Award was won THREE times by an individual for his Country. (DEMON).
  • Nominated for the ‘KILKENNY CREAM OF IRISH Award’ which recognises Irish Talent and its contribution to the Arts.
  • Achieved FELLOWSHIP distinction in Professional Advertising and Illustrative Photography with the Master Photographers Association of Great Britain. (MPA). This was the first Irish achieved FELLOWSHIP distinction with the Association and One of only six in the WORLD outside the UK. (FMPA). 
  • Awarded GOLD in the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards.

1996

  • WINNER for IRELAND of the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards. This was my second overall win for Ireland. (ASCENSION) 

1995

  • Invited to speak for IRELAND at the World Congress of Professional Photographers
  • Awarded two GOLD and commendation in the Kodak European Gold Awards.
  • Achieved FELLOWSHIP distinction in Professional Advertising Photography with the IPPA. This is the only FELLOWSHIP in Advertising Photography in Ireland. (FIPPA). and the highest accolade achievable within the profession.

1994

  • WINNER of the OPEN Category in the IPPA Photographer of the Year Awards.
  • Awarded GOLD in the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards.
  • WINNER of the Kodak Gold Circle Challenge Competition in the UK.
  • Appointed JUDGE at the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards Final in Berlin.

1993

  • Achieved ‘THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR’ in the IPPA Photographer of the Year Awards.

1992

  • Awarded BELL CRAFT AWARD for Photography with the ‘Institute of Creative Advertising and Design’.
  • Achieved ‘THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR’ in the IPPA Photographer of the Year Awards.
  • WINNER for IRELAND of the Kodak European Gold Portrait Awards. Awarded COMMENDATION for separate image in same competition. (AQUARIUS)
  • Achieved ASSOCIATESHIP distinction in Professional Advertising Photography with the IPPA (AIPPA).

1991

  • WINNER Commercial Category, Open Category and Single Best Commercial image in the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) ‘Photographer of the Year Awards 1990’ (The Awards work a year behind).

1988

  • Turned Professional and opened up Photographic Studio in Dublin. Exhibition at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and thereafter worldwide.

1986

  • WINNER of the Prix Air France Ville De Paris Competition.

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