The Army Photographic Competition winners have been announced with Army Photographer Sgt Rupert Frere taking the ‘Photographer of the Year’ crown with his professional portfolio of images portraying military life during the past 12 months.
Winners were announced on Weds 25 Oct at a ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum in London, where Chief of the General Staff General, Sir Nicholas Carter, handed out prizes to winners and runners-up in 16 categories.
Command Master Photographer WO1 (Conductor) Will Craig, said: “I have been running the Army Photographic Competition for the last four years and this year has seen the highest amount of entries ever. The images have really captured the judges’ attention, as well as the public having a sneak preview seeing the online category.â€
“I’m also delighted with the video categories this year, we have doubled the entries making life extremely hard for the judge BBC cameraman Stu McKenzie to choose. I hope everyone will enjoy the images and if you haven’t won, there is an opportunity to enter next year.â€
Photographer of the Year
As well as winning the Professional Portfolio, Sgt Frere based at Army HQ in Andover, also came first in the Professional Story, Social Media Video and Multimedia Video categories as well, proving there is more than one string to the former bomb disposal operator’s bow.
Sgt Frere said: “It’s a great honour again to win the Army Photographic Competition, especially for the Portfolio. It’s an opportunity to show the versatility of my work throughout the year. And, I think this year I had everything from ceremonial through to operational in each category, which was nice.â€
Sgt Frere, who has undertaken three operational tours of Afghanistan, finished his stint as the London District photographer, documenting the ceremonial activities and training exercises around the Household Division earlier in the autumn. He has since settled back into Army HQ life, at the ready to photograph major events for the wider Army at home and overseas.
“I’m in my tenth year this year as an Army Photographer,†he says. “The best thing about it is the jobs I’ve done, the places I go and people I work with and the opportunity to see the Army as a whole.â€
WINNERS
Professional Portfolio: Sgt Rupert Frere (Pics below)
Overall Professional Army PR Image: Sgt Jonathan van Zyl
Professional Portrait: Sgt Jonathan van Zyl
Professional Sport/Adventure Training: Mr Guy Butler
Professional Category Soldiering: Mr Ian Griffiths
Professional Story: Sgt Rupert Frere
Best Online Image (voted by the public): Mr Paul Clark
Cadet Life: CSGT Jess Tappenden-Rowell
Operation Camera (public): PO Owen Cooban, RN
Amateur Portfolio: Bdr Murray Kerr
Amateur Portrait: WO2 Ben Houston
Amateur Sport/Adventure Training: Mr Richie Willis
Amateur Category Soldiering: Cpl Mark Larner
Professional Video: Cpl Tom Evans
Professional Social Media Video: Sgt Rupert Frere ‘Beating Retreat’
Multimedia: Sgt Rupert Frere ‘Pride’
RUNNERS UP
Professional Portfolio: Sgt Rupert Frere
Professional Portrait: Mr Guy Butler
Professional Sport/Adventure Training: Sgt Mr Guy Butler
Professional Category Soldiering: Sgt Jonathan van Zyl
Professional Story: Cpl Darren Legg
Cadet Life: CSM Lucy Waller
Operation Camera (public): Mr Jason Bryant
Amateur Portfolio: LCpl Joe Taylor
Amateur Portrait: LCoH Adam Blackmore-Heal
Amateur Sport/Adventure Training: Mr Norman Brown
Amateur Category Soldiering: Cpl Ian Chapman
Professional Video: Sgt Gary Kendall ‘Ice Maidens’
Multimedia: Sgt Jamie Peters ‘Blessing Before Ops’
See What We Have Been Up To
The Royal Logistic Corps
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The Royal Logistic Corps