Malahide man snaps up photography prize

A NORTH county
Dublin man has won third prize in a prestigious international photography
competition to raise awareness about epilepsy.

James Leahy
(20), a native of Malahide and a student at Dublin Institute of Technology
(DIT), claimed the prize for his photo entitled

‘Fear of it all’.

His entry
finished ahead of over 300 others from all corners of the world in the
International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) photo competition

‘Epilepsy Without
Words’.

“I have always
been interested in design and photography,

? said James.

“Since I was
diagnosed with epilepsy at 13, it has helped me to express my feelings when I
am angry or upset about having epilepsy.

“When I found
out about the photo competition through Brainwave – The Irish Epilepsy
Association, I knew that I had to enter.

“I had just
finished a project for my course at DIT and my mum recommended that I enter one
of the photos I did for that called

‘Fear of it all’

?.

The photo
expresses the feeling of anger and fear of having to go back to hospital
because of epilepsy.

It includes
James’s MRI scan and some of his hospital identification wristbands. It also
includes a photo of James himself laid over the brain scan.

“I didn’t expect
to win of course, so when I heard that I had finished third, I was overjoyed,

?
added James.

Peter Murphy,
from Brainwave, was one of seven judges in the competition.

“We’re delighted
to have an Irish winner in the competition,

? said Mr Murphy.

“We hope that
James’s photo, as well as many of the others submitted, will be useful in
helping to raise awareness of epilepsy, which is an often misunderstood
condition.

?

James’s photo
was recently displayed at the International Epilepsy Congress in Rome, an event
attended by over 4,500 doctors and epilepsy advocates from around the world.

His artistic
skills with the camera have earned James a well-deserved e500 prize. Having
just returned from working in the US for the summer, he now plans to continue with
his studies in visual communications at DIT and hopes to become seizure free.

All the
photographs submitted to the competition, including the prize winners are
available to view on the IBE website, www.ibe-epilepsy.org