Military snapper’s Guardian Angel photo scoops top prize
AMILITARY snapper has won a top prize in this year’s Army Photographic Competition with a stunning set of images capturing soldiers at work over a 12-month period.
Corporal Tom Evans, of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), not only scooped photographer of the year for his portfolio of images that portray military life, but also best overall image.
The 33-year-old professional photographer, from Newbury, Berkshire, who is currently on deployment in Norway, said it has been an “amazing and very busy year” for him.
“Being a photographer is the best job in the Army,” the father-of-two, who is based in Brecon, said.
“I get to see the whole Army, every trade and every cap badge and see them at work in so many exciting and varied places across the world.
“That gives us a unique perspective on it all.”
Having visited Canada, Afghanistan, Kenya, Estonia and Poland with his work, Cpl Evans said he is inspired by looking back at the history of Army photographers.
“The Army Film and Photographic Unit filmed and photographed the major battles of World War Two. They even won two Oscars. It’s humbling to be part of that tradition,” he added.
Cpl Evans won the best overall image for his photo entitled Guardian Angel, which shows a soldier from the “Welsh Cavalry” sat behind a large weapon with an Apache helicopter looming in the background.
Corporal Becky Brown, from Beverley, Yorkshire, also of the RLC, won both the professional story and professional portrait categories.
The 27-year-old said winning is “really quite special”, and that she took her winning portrait during a deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, on Operation Toral with the combat camera team.
“Our job was to film and photograph different roles out there, and explain to the general public what our guys were doing out there,” she said.
“While my colleagues were interviewing one of the Welsh Guards, I was setting up my portrait shot, so I borrowed one of the lads to set up my shot, while I was setting up and he was not aware I was taking his photo, I managed to catch a nice smile.
“I think a lot of people can relate to his expression. Our guys do genuinely enjoy their jobs when they’re away from home and out on the ground.”
Cpl Brown, who works at Army headquarters in Andover, Hampshire, said she joined as a medic but always knew she wanted to be a photographer.
“It was a case of working hard and promoting to Lance Corporal to then be able to apply,” she said.
“I attended a one-week selection and luckily for me I was successful and since then it’s really taken off and I’ve not really stopped.”