Naas photographer snaps up top award

20-02-2012 Martha the Harris Hawk at Woodlands Falconry, Rathwood, on the Carlow/Wicklow border. Photo: Adrian Melia

Published on 19/02/2013 11:43

many will know local snapper Adrian Melia from the sidelines and dug outs across Kildare, but his work will now reach a wider audience after securing third place in the national Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) awards last weekend.

The Naas based photographer captured a stunning image of a hawk taking off from a woman’s head in Rathwood near Tullow.

Adrian was doing a feature on the falconry display and the hawk happened to land on this lady’s head instead of the glove on her hand.

Not slow, when it comes to getting the shot, Adrian captured the moment with precision.

His work will now feature in the PPAI exhibition with the best photographers in the country in sponsor, AIB’s banks across Ireland. The exhbition will also be on display in Paris for St. Patrick’s Day. Not only that, Adrian’s shot will be blown up on to a massive billboard outside the Paris venue to advertise the event.

“The standard was very high. They get a couple of thousand pictures in, you are against the best in the country. I knew it was a good shot but you just never know,” said a delighted Adrian.

The Coolree native’s awards cabinet will also get another boost next week.

Adrian’s picture of a Laois dancer in action has won him second in the national HSE Community Games Media Awards.

Several years ago, his sports work was heralded as the standard to adhere to by courses run

by the Royal Photography Society in the UK. When Adrian first started taking pictures at his first match at the Junior

A final between Robertstown and Rheban back in 1989, little did he realise that one day one of his pictures would hang larger than life over the Paris streetscape.

- Niamh O’Donoghue

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Naas photographer snaps up top award

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