Royal Navy photographers in the frame

The Commandant General Royal Marines’ Prize went to Leading Airman Si Ethell, a Royal Navy professional photographer

Picture: Crown Copyright

Royal Navy chiefs honoured their top photographers at an awards ceremony in central London last night.

The annual Peregrine Trophy Royal Navy Photographic Awards aim to focus on the life and operational activities of the Navy, as captured by its amateur and professional photographers.

Petty Officer Sean Clee, a professional photographer with the Royal Navy, scooped the Photographer of the Year 2011 title for a portfolio of four images depicting ?Service-related subjects?.

Clee said: ‘I felt I had a winning photo [Maritime air prize – see below] even before I took it, all the elements of a good photograph just presented themselves.

‘I have won the Royal Navy Video Production Award before and I was on a mission to prove I could win again and that it wasn’t a fluke first time.

‘Winning photographer of the year was the cherry on the cake – I worked really hard this year, both in Afghanistan and off the coast of Libya and feel this is a just reward.’

Meanwhile, triumphing in the Amateur category, was Brian Aitkenhead who is a leading airman in the Navy?s Survival Equipment division, based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.

This year?s entries ranged from the warzones of Afghanistan to warships patrolling the world?s oceans, and covered people, places and events.

A spokesman for the competition said: ?The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are routinely deployed on operations all around the world and the stunning images highlight the diversity of these naval operations.?

The 50-year-old contest is named after HMS Peregrine Royal Naval Air Station in Sussex.

Last night?s presentation ceremony was held at Trinity House in The City.

royal navy Leading Airman (Survival Equipment) Brian Aitkenhead scooped the Amateur Photographer of the Year crown