PRESS RELEASE – The winning from the 2012 Royal Air Force Photographic Competition are on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London’s Colindale .The Royal Air Force Museum is celebrating the superb achievements of Royal Air Force Photographers following the judging of the Royal Air Force’s annual Photographic Competition which is now in its 24th year. The Museum is displaying the winning entries in a unique exhibition which opened to the public on 14th January.Subject categories range from ‘The Operational Experience’, a category that reflects the Royal Air Force conducting vital work on operations or training in support of operations, through to the ‘Equipment’ category which gives photographers the exciting opportunity to display their skill photographing the Service’s world-class equipment.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford presented the winners with their awards. He said:‘The competition entries this year are once again of the highest quality and showcase not only the abilities of our Royal Air Force Photographers but also the tremendous span of operations our people and equipment conduct. These dynamic images reflect the extensive breadth of Royal Air Force life, the critical contribution that our personnel are making to UK Defence and operations around the world’.
Image entered the photcompetition in Category D Equipment under the title Lancaster.
Image shows: The nine Red Arrows jets in Lancaster formation flying above the cliff of RAF Akrotiri.
Image by SAC Craig Marshall (RAF)
15 Apr 2013
Crown Copyright
In excess of 1,200 images were entered in the competition which made the selection of winners extremely difficult. Judging this year was conducted by Martin Keene, Shruti Patel, and David Spurden who between them have over 90 years pictorial experience. All were unanimous in their appreciation of the very high standard, quality and diversity of work produced by both Service and civilian photographers and wrestled long and hard with their decision to appoint the RAF’s Photographer of the Year for 2013. Martin Keene, speaking on behalf of the panel stated:‘I am delighted to have been involved in this year’s competition. The quality of the submissions has been fantastic and it has been a real privilege to see the breadth of the work carried out by the RAF through its’ photographers.’
After much deliberation Senior Aircraftman Graham Taylor of RAF Coningsby was awarded RAF Photographer of the year for 2013. His portfolio included stunning shots of the RAF’s Typhoon aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert at sunset and by starlight, showing the aircraft ready to launch in defence of the UK 24 hours a day. He said of his win : ‘It was a massive shock, but I’m very honoured to have won. I’m delighted to be recognised and to be able to showcase my work and the role of the Typhoon Force and RAF Coningsby in defending the UK.’
The Photograph of the Year, entitled, ‘Shard’, shows a Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham on patrol over London, with the iconic building in the background. The Tornado was used as part of the air security plan over the Olympics last year and has also seen action over Libya and Afghanistan recently.
The winning photographs from the competition will be on display at the RAF Museum’s London site until 28th April.
For further details please visit www.rafmuseum.org/whatson or dial 020 8205 2266.
