An amateur photographer from Somerset was shocked to hear he had triumphed in the RNLI’s annual photo contest after a colleague entered pictures on his behalf.

Howard Evans, an RNLI fundraiser from Western-super-Mare, won the Photographer of the Year crown.

Howard said afterwards: ‘I was surprised when I was told I’d been shortlisted as I didn?t know I’d been entered into the competition in the first place, but I was very pleased to win.’

Howard captured the pictures on an Open Day at the RNLI’s Weston-super-Mare station.

‘The crew were launching the boat in difficult conditions and I just caught them at the right moment. They did all the work really,’ he added.

Eleanor Driscoll, the RNLI’s Film and Image manager who helped judge the entries said: ‘The standard was very high this year, but Howard’s picture stood out because it illustrates perfectly the challenging conditions our volunteer crews have to deal with, as well as the teamwork that is needed, not only to launch a lifeboat but to save lives at sea on a daily basis.’

Picture credit: Howard Evans

RNLI winner