News story

Army photographic competition 2013 winners announced

Corporal Jamie Peters from the Royal Logistic Corps has been given the top prize at this year's Army photographic competition.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 9 October 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Best Overall Image: 'Celtic Warrior'

Corporal Peters received the accolade for his portfolio of images from 6 months in Afghanistan. He also scooped the Best Overall Image and the Professional Operational Image Awards.

His portfolio of images shows how much has changed in Afghanistan, from friendly sporting fixtures with Afghan Army counterparts to relaxed interactions with local Afghans.

Best Professional Operational Image: 'Sunset Soldiers' – as the sun sets, sappers from 21 Engineer Regiment work to deconstruct a building [Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters RLC, Crown copyright]

Corporal Peters said:

Our tour was all about transition and redeployment. We covered a large number of base closures and handovers to the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) as well as partnered operations with them.

Being on the combat camera team I was able to see so much of the work that British troops do in Afghanistan, from patrols and operations in Helmand to the Officer Academy in Kabul.

Everywhere we went there was a story to tell, from the experiences of the private soldiers right up to the HQ level of planning and executing the missions.

Best Professional Sport Image: 'Paddle Power' – Major Chis Elesmore practising for the World Surf Kayak Association Championships [Picture: Graeme Main, Crown copyright]

Runner-up in the portfolio category was Sergeant Adrian Harlen. Covering the iconic ceremonial role of London’s troops, Sergeant Harlen’s portfolio is in stark contrast to the other category winners, but also demonstrates an important part of Army life.

From Baroness Thatcher’s funeral guard to the first Sikh guardsman to wear a turban on royal guard duty, the images capture the contrast of tradition in a modern world.

Runner Up Professional Portfolio image: 'Proud' – Guardsman Jatenderpal Singh Bhullar on ceremonial guard duty at Buckingham Palace [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown copyright]

Sergeant Harlen said:

The opportunities in London are different from the rest of the Army, but the challenge and the skills are the same.

I learnt on operations that you can’t photograph a bullet but you can capture the human reactions; to try to tell the whole story in one image.

In my current job there’s just as much pressure to capture that split-second moment, whether it’s the ceremony of official engagements or capturing the bond between a cavalryman and his horse.

Amateur Portfolio winning image: 'Quad Bike' – Sergeant Evans from the Unmanned Aerial System Battery at the driver training area in Afghanistan [Picture: Captain Dave Scammell, Crown copyright]

This year, for the first time, the public are able to see all the winning images from the competition at the National Army Museum in London.

As well as startling images from operations in Afghanistan the winning photographs include posed portraits, sporting images, training scenarios and ceremonial duties.

Opening the display at the National Army Museum was Dan Snow, broadcaster and Honorary Colonel of the Army’s Media Operations Group.

Best Professional Portrait: 'The Powder Room' – Private Craig Leaman clears part of a trench system during Exercise Askari Thunder 6 in Kenya [Picture: Corporal Wes Calder RLC, Crown copyright]

He said:

These professional and amateur pictures capture elements of Army life that we just don’t see otherwise.

It’s a reminder that excellence on operations is not only about the front line, but also about the individual, the bond between soldiers, the training and hard work, and also the lighter side of life.

It’s great that the Army this year are able to put these images on display for the public for the first time.

Runner Up Amateur Portfolio image: 'Steaming' – steam rises from candidates looking to become members of the Parachute Regiment [Picture: Lance Corporal Ian Chapman, Crown copyright]

Winning images and runners-up will be on display at the National Army Museum from 10 to 22 October 2013.

The full list of winners:

Category	Winner	Runner Up
Multimedia	Sergeant Nolan – Exercise Lion Star	Corporal Si Longworth – Patrol Base Sparta
Video	Sergeant Lloyd – Close Quarters Battle	Sergeant Lloyd – ‘Long Walk’
Amateur Portrait	Sergeant Van Zyl – ‘Rocky Slumber’	Captain Dave Scammell – ‘Watching’
Amateur Sport /Adventure Training	Lance Corporal of Horse Short – ‘Waterhorse’	Sergeant Van Zyl – ‘Smash’
Amateur Operational Image	Trooper Wade – ‘Snap VCP’	Sergeant Van Zyl – ‘Silence Before the Storm’
Amateur Portfolio (4 photographs)	Captain Dave Scammell	Lance Corporal Ian Chapman
Professional Portrait	Corporal Wes Calder – ‘The Powder Room’	Sergeant Rupert Frere – ‘Carl’
Professional Sport /Adventure Training	Mr Graeme Main (Soldier Magazine) – ‘Paddle Power’	Staff Sergeant Dan Harmer – ‘Big Air’
Professional Operational Image	Corporal Jamie Peters – ‘Sunset Soldiers’	Corporal Mike O’Neill – ‘Dawn Patrol’
Professional Portfolio (6 photographs)	Corporal Jamie Peters	Sergeant Adrian Harlen
Commended	Sergeant Rupert Frere	N/A
Best Overall Image	Corporal Jamie Peters – ‘Celtic Warrior’	N/A
National Army Museum Christmas Card	Staff Sergeant Mark Nesbit – ‘Discrete Patriotism’	N/A

Runner Up Professional Portrait Image: 'Carl' – Corporal Carl Hines provides covering fire for colleagues in Afghanistan [Picture: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC, Crown copyright]

Runner Up Professional Operational Image: 'Dawn Patrol' – members of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment on patrol in Afghanistan [Picture: Corporal Mike O'Neill RLC, Crown copyright]

Runner Up Professional Sport Image: 'Big Air' – a member of the Army Downhill Mountain Bike Team [Picture: Staff Sergeant Dan Harmer RLC, Crown copyright]

Published 9 October 2013