IN PICTURES: Standards soar at RAF Photographic Awards 2007

The aim of the competition is to encourage high professional standards within the Services photographic specialisation and to enhance the positive profile of the RAF.

See Related Links >>> for more award winning entries from the RAF Photographic Competition 2007.

The three judges presiding over this year's competition are all at the top of their trade: David Viggers is the Chief Photographer in charge of UK operations at Reuters News Agency; Eric Jenkins of the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP); and Andy Robinson of Nikon Pro Magazine.

Mr Viggers said of today’s competition entries:

"I don't think there was a single image that was not worth looking at. They were all worthy contenders, all worthy of consideration and it was very, very difficult reaching the conclusions we reached."

Comparing the entries with the professional images he deals with on a daily basis, Mr Viggers said:

"They are on a par in most of the respects I can think of. They are glossy, well-presented, beautifully framed. They are imaginative, the technical quality is superb, the presentation was great – I can't think that, other than the fact that what we do is incredibly time-critical and moves very quickly, that there is any difference with the quality of the photography - It's superb!"

Mr Jenkins said:

"We were particulary impressed with the air-to-air photography, but I think what really stuck out for us was do the decision-makers, do the politicians, do the management team realise what quality they have within their ranks? This is a professional standard – a very high standard – and I just hope that people appreciate that. They should do – it's a wonderful asset!"

Both judges were concerned that there was a lack of entries that showed the more sensitive side of the RAF. Eric Jenkins commented:

"The only thing that's missing is some of the more sensitive images, which have a very important role to play within information communication, but don't necessarily make wonderful display images."

David Viggers echoed his sentiments, saying that the RAF must not be afraid to explore the sorts of images that can provoke strong emotions from viewers:

"Things like memorial services – you see the press side of those things; you see the television and news pictures of these things, but it would, I think, be incredibly powerful to see the RAF side of it – see the service man and woman's view of those things," he said. "I can understand there would be sensitivity about it, but I don't think it's anything to shy away from now. I think everybody accepts these things and I don't think people would be horrified – I think it would actually be a very useful voice to, certainly the RAF's photographic community, and maybe to the armed Services in general."

Winner of the The RAF Public Relations Image of the Year, SAC Dixon, who has been an RAF photographer for four-and-a-half of his five-and-a-half years in the Service, explained that being a phot at RAF Coningsby is a full-time job:

"Coningsby generates so much work for photographers," he said. "There's six squadrons, 3,000 people and the PR aspect of Coningsby is in abundance. Obviously there has been a lot of interest since the Typhoons arrived, and I'm sure that will carry on for a long time.

"I view Coningsby as a showpiece base – It's got all of the things that the public are interested in: The Battle of Britain [Memorial Flight] next to the Typhoon - It's historical isn't it!"

Speaking of his winning image he said:

"At Coningsby we're basically in a very privileged position – we go flying quite a bit! I just asked the pilot to bank 90 degrees and then to just turn his head so I could just make a little bit of eye contact, 'cause I wanted the viewer to be in the position that I was, because obviously it's a very privileged seat!"

The youngest recipient of an award today was 16-year-old Cadet Corporal Robert Cygar who had travelled down to London from Coventry with his parents especially to be at the ceremony.  Robert, who attends 8F(1st City of Coventry) Sqn Air Training Corps (ATC), has already clocked up one-and-a-half hours of flying time with the ATC and hopes to join the RAF as a Movements operator when he finishes his studies.  He described his winning picture:

"It's me doing a loop-the-loop on my second go at flying in a Grob Tutor. After that one I took the controls myself and did a loop-the-loop!"

After presenting their awards, Sir Glenn Torpy had taken time to talk with each of the finalists about their pictures. Robert said:

"He asked how I took the picture, and said that it was a good picture!"

The only woman to win 1st place in a category this year was SAC Dolina Day from RAF Aldergrove, whose picture 'Bubble and screw' took top spot in the Technical Category:

"Basically, it's just a screw…" she said. "The idea behind it was that I wanted to do something a little bit different, and I wanted some texture in there. My original idea was that I wanted to see the different colours that you get through the bubbles, but when I actually got it into the studio and I got the lights on it, it had a nice 'warm' feel to it – so I've kind of mixed a technical shot with trying to get some texture and water, and it's ended up being a bit of a mix of a photograph. I certainly didn't expect it to come first!"

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy praised the high standards displayed at this year's competition:

"This is the second time that I have presented the prizes for this competition, and the quality this year is better than it was last year - and last year it was fantastic!"

"We should be very proud of the standards, both of the training we obviously give our photographers, and actually the imagination and skill that they demonstrate in putting the portfolios and individual photographs together.

"Nobody should underestimate the importance of photography, because it really does get that visual image - it captures the whole essence of what the RAF is about. It's about aviation, but more importantly than that, it's actually about people. The equipment is great and we have a fantastic front line now."

WO Andy Whittle from the Photo Role Office at HQ Air Command was one of the organisers of this year's competition. He said:

"The standard of entries has increased dramatically since last year," he said. "Also the actual standard of presentation has been increased this year. We got all of the images actually produced at the regional printing centre at RAF Marham and they done a wonderful job this year!"

WO Whittle said the organisers had also been impressed by the diversity of images on display this year:

"It's not just the airplane shots, it's the people shots, the sports shorts. It's across the whole photographic spectrum. As organisers for this year's event we're very pleased!" he said.

The list of winners and their categories are:

A: Section Portfolio

• 1st Place - Photographic Section RAF Shawbury
• 2nd Place - RAF Valley
• 3rd Place - RAF Coningsby
• Highly Commended - RAF Aldergrove

B: Technical Category

• 1st Place - 'Bubble and Screw' by SAC Dolina Day, formerly of RAF Aldergrove, now at RAF Leuchars
• 2nd Place - 'UV to see' by SAC Kathryn Bowler, RAF Akrotiri
• 3rd Place - 'Heads Up Display' by SAC Matt Kirwan, RAF Lossiemouth
• Highly Commended - 'Salt and Pepper' by Sgt Michael Scraggs, RAF Aldergrove

C: The RAF Experience

• 1st Place - 'Behind Enemy lines' by SAC Mark Dixon, RAF Coningsby
• 2nd Place - 'Final Roar' by SAC Scott Lewis, RAF Coningsby
• 3rd Place - 'The Hand Of Fortune' by Cpl Tony Stinson, RAF St Mawgan
• Highly Commended - 'DER-DER-DER-DA-DA-DER-DER' by SAC Scott Lewis, RAF Coningsby

D: RAF Equipment

• 1st Place - 'Above The Rest' by SAC Scott Lewis, RAF Coningsby
• 2nd Place - 'Shooting Through Time' by SAC Ben Stevenson, RAF Coningsby
• 3rd Place - 'Griffin' by Mr Ian Forshaw, RAF Shawbury
• Highly Commended 1 - 'Painting With Smoke' by SAC Stewart Plant, RAF St Mawgan
• Highly Commended 2 - 'Typhoon Weather' by Cpl Heidi Cox, RAF Cottesmore

E: Sports

• 1st Place - 'Wild Water' by Mr Ian Forshaw, RAF Shawbury
• 2nd Place - 'Hurdle To Glory' by Cpl David Benovsky-Fergus, DCAE Cosford
• 3rd Place - 'Side Step' by Sgt Ray Cooper, RAF Benson
• Highly Commended - 'Per Ardua Ad Astra' by Sgt Paul Smythe, Media and Communications in British Forces Germany

F: Portrait

• 1st Place - 'Job Done' by SAC Mark Dixon, RAF Coningsby
• 2nd Place - 'Air Eng' by Cpl Matt Reid, DISC Chicksands
• 3rd Place - 'Knowing Me Knowing You' by SAC Faye Storer, RAF Aldergrove
• Highly Commended - 'Time to Display' by SAC Scott Lewis, RAF Coningsby

G: Digital Manipulation

• 1st Place - 'Rememberance' by Mr David Griffiths, 1475(Dulwich) Sqn ATC
• 2nd Place - 'Three Degrees' by Sgt Gary Morgan, RAF Coningsby
• 3rd Place - 'RAFOPOLY' by SAC Kryssy Lees, RAF Akrotiri
• Highly Commended - 'Gunner' by SAC Andrew Masson, RAF Honington

H: Individual Portfolio

• 1st Place - Cpl Ross Tilly, RAF Kinloss
• 2nd Place - Mr Ian Forshaw, RAF Shawbury
• 3rd Place - SAC Scott Lewis, RAF Coningsby
• Highly Commended - SAC Stewart Plant, RAF St Mawgan

J: The Open Category - This category is designed to portray individualism and artistic achievements in photography. Military pictures are not accepted into Cat J.

• 1st Place - SAC Matt Kirwan, RAF Lossiemouth
• 2nd Place - Cpl Ross Tilly, RAF Kinloss
• 3rd Place - Cpl Shaun Buxton, RAF Aldergrove
• Highly Commended - Sgt Ray Cooper, RAF Benson

K: Amateur Military Category - This category, to depict a military subject, is open to all in the RAF.

• 1st Place - 'Race To The Ground' by Sgt Gary Smith, JADTEU, RAF Brize Norton
• 2nd Place - 'Typhoon Echelon Right' by Officer Cadet Duncan Beckman, Southampton University Air Squadron
• 3rd Place - 'Sun Up On 19 Sqn Hawk' by Flt Lt Paul Heasman, RAF Valley

L: The Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force Category - Introduced in 2006, this category is to depict activities of the ATC OR CCF.

• 1st Place - 'Rising Above The Rest – The Next Generation' by Cadet Cpl Robert Cygan, 8F(1ST City of Coventry) Sqn ATC
• 2nd Place - 'Barkston Heath' by Flt Lt Andrew Peacock, 141(Boston) Sqn
• 3rd Place - 'Junior Leader' by Flt Lt Phillip Jones, HQ Air Cadets, RAF Cranwell
• Highly Commended - 'Recoil' by Cadet FS Christopher Blackburn, 92(Chorley) Sqn ATC

The RAF Public Relations Image of the Year

• 'Behind Enemy lines' by SAC Mark Dixon, RAF Coningsby

The RAF has more than 200 professional photographers, employed in all areas of the Service including station PR activity, technical, intelligence, reconnaissance, combat camera teams, videographers and airborne trials work.

The competition is open to uniformed, MOD civilian and contractor photographers, professional and amateur, who work for the RAF.