Jerry Ghionis Honored at Annual IPC Awards Luncheon

May 16, 2014

By Laura Brauer

Every year the International Photographic Council (IPC) honors professional photographers from around the globe. This year one of WPPI’s own, Jerry Ghionis, was among the nine recipients who were honored on May 15 at the IPC’s 16th annual IPC Pro Award Luncheon at the United Nations in Manhattan. The ceremony also marked the organization’s 40th Anniversary as well as celebrated May International Professional Photography Month.

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Pro Award Luncheon Chair Andy Marcus and IPC President JamesChung with award recipient Jerry Ghionis. Photo © Jason Groupp

Said Ghionis, who was in Manhattan to receive the IPC award with his wife and business partner, Melissa, “I am proud! Huge thanks to the team at WPPI, Nikon [Ghionis is also a Nikon Ambassador] and Melissa for being there to support me. It was quite sentimental yesterday as I thought of how a young Australian/Greek guy started his career over 20 years ago, and ended up at the United Nations receiving a Photography leadership award. It’s a huge honor for me. Here’s to the next 20 years!”

Last year, WPPI speaker Cliff Mautner was honored, and the year before that was Jennifer Hudson—we’re on a roll!

“The honorees, nominated by professional photography organizations, are selected because they best represent the groups’ criteria and ideals,” said IPC president James Chung. Also on hand was Andy Marcus, President of Fred Marcus Photography and Pro Award Luncheon Chair; Manny Almeida, FUJIFILM’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, North America (who also delivered the keynote address on “The World of Professional Photographers”), IPC Vice President Kathy Schneider and Board member Alice Miller.

An extra special touch was when Miller read aloud the proclamation that New York City Mayor DeBlasio issued declaring May 15th as International Photographic Council Day in honor of its 40th Anniversary.

Founded in 1974, the IPC is a multinational, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, composed of representatives from every major sector of the photographic industry. IPC is dedicated to increasing worldwide recognition of photography as a universal means of communication.

In addition to Ghionis, the award recipients were as follows:

  • Theresa Raffetto, American Photographic Artists (APA)
  • Ed McDonald, American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)
  • Andy J.J. Hens, Federation of European Photographers (FEP)
  • Ali Bin Thalith, Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA)
  • Greg Smith, National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
  • Timothy Walden, Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
  • Bill Freeman, Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA)
  • William Collins Auth, White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA)
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All nine honorees take a moment to pose for the camera. Photo © Jason Groupp

Congratulations to all the honorees!