Demonstrators calling for the end of the Hosni Mubarak regime lift a demonstrator during a march on Tahrir Square. Yuri Kozyrev for Time.

photographer of the year

Yuri Kozyrev has been named the "2011 Agency/Freelance Photographer of the Year" at the 69th annual Pictures of the Year International competition.

The "Photographer of the Year" in the freelance/agency category of the POYi competition is the premiere portfolio honor. Judges said Yuri's portfolio (click here to access) "presented a stunning report on the revolution, they felt the portfolio exhibited strong content displayed with a personal artistry."

Yuri won two first place POYi awards last week, during the first round of judging, read David Walker's article on the POYi on pdnonline by clicking here.

Yuri continued to document the revolution for Time late last year when thousands of Egyptians took to Tahrir Square once again in what many called Egypt's second revolution - or even the “real” revolution.

The Agency/Freelance Photographer of the Year honor comes with a cash award and a Tiffany engraved trophy. This year's POYi Education & Awards Program is planned to be held in Chicago in late April. The two-day event will include presentations and the awards ceremony. The event also will include a digital exhibition of the winning images, which will include your work.

Rick Shaw, POYi's Director directors said: "by being recognized in POYi, your works has set the gold-standard for excellence in photojournalism."