The six judges selected the winners from over 1500 images and 50 videos submissions, across seven categories. All photographs were taken within the last year and had no digital enhancements other than cropping and exposure/contrast adjustment.
Images also captured themes to promote our people, the Next Generation, success delivering operations, and growth on the front-line; and when possible showed a positive story that enhances the good reputation of the Services.
Below is the full list of the winner and runners-up, with some of their spectacular images.
Personnel
The Mallett Student Trophy
- 1st - Senior Aircraftwoman Amelia Turnbull, RAF Waddington
Her submissions include the snowy Winter Wonderland of RAF Leeming; the Humber Bridge during sunset; and The Deep, a public aquarium at Sammy's Point, which is home to 3500 species and is a landmark centre for marine research.
- 2nd - Senior Aircraftman Tom Barnard, RAF Cosford
His images explored a theme around light and shadows, with a World War II Hawker Hurricane R4118 looping round and another landing on the runway; ice dropping into a glass of whiskey whilst working from home during the COVID-19 Pandemic; and personnel during exercise.
- 3rd - Senior Aircraftman Craig Williams, RAF Marham.
His submission feature Aircraftman Kirwan-Taylor about to take a basketball shot; the actor Matthew Richardson outside the Blists Hill Victorian Town Museum; and a Hawker Hurricane World War II fighter aircraft doing a flypast, and another landing.
Section Portfolio
- 1st - Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit Photo Section, RAF Brize Norton
The teams images include an aerial shot of 84 Squadron Griffin Helicopter on Operation SHADER; a Voyager in flight; two Typhoons and a Hercules departing the runway of RAF Akrotiri; a refuelling sortie conducting at night to refuel a pair of Typhoons over the Middle East; a pair of modified British Army Wildcats AH Mk1s used in test and trial work; personnel on various roping tasks and abseils; and a Parachutist hanging out of an aircraft door just before jumping out over Elsinore.
- 2nd - RAF Odiham
Their portfolio includes the Ground Extraction Force practicing their skills during a Joint Personnel Recovery with the Joint Helicopter Force; a Chinook painted with the new commemorative colour scheme, in celebration of 40 years since the helicopter entered RAF service; additional Chinook's departing from RAF Odiham to conduct dust landings training.
- 3rd - RAF Akrotiri
The portfolio depicted a swimmer racing in the Commander British Forces sports cup swimming event; an Aircraft Mechanic walking past a Typhoon; British Army soldiers working with 84 Squadron on Search and Rescue in Cyprus; RAF Police Military Working Dogs; personnel securing the drop zone for a medical evacuation, with a Griffin HAR2 helicopter; looking into the fan of an aircraft; and a Major Accident Crash Rescue drill.
Peoples’ Choice
Current RAF Equipment
RAF Operations & Exercises
Video
- 1st - Corporal Lee Matthews, RAF Brize Norton
'To Infinity and Beyond' features a Flight Lieutenant ‘Bobby’ Manson discussing his experiences as a pilot on the iconic Lockheed Martin, C-130J Hercules.
- 2nd - Corporal Will Drummee and Corporal Amy Lupton, RAF Halton
'Fuel your Fire' features the RAF Motor Sports Association on the racing track at Brands Hatch.
- 3rd - Corporal Lee Matthew, RAF Brize Norton
'Go Ahead Make My Day' features Wing Commander Baker, Officer Commanding Number 1 Fighter Squadron, talking about his time as the Typhoon Commander during Operation SHADER.
The Competition was kindly sponsored by the RAF Association, Fujifilm, Canon UK, WEX Photo/Video, and Colour Confidence, who funded and provided awards.
The first three categories focussed on our personnel within a working, sporting, recreational or social environment. While the ‘Mallett Student Trophy,’ was awarded for images taken by Phase 2 students during training at RAF Cosford, Defence School of Photography.
The general public were invited to vote for the winner of the Peoples’ Choice, from nine of the best images on the RAF’s official Facebook page. An Awards Ceremony was held at Bentley Priory Museum to announce the winner for the category, with Air Commodore Males as the Presenting Officer.
Other categories focussed on building our Next Generation of RAF, with images featuring specialist RAF equipment such as aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, uniforms and accessories.
The final two categories spotlighted success on Operations and could only be entered by professional Photographers. One explored the diverse capabilities of the RAF on exercises and training to public duties and military assistance to civilians; while the other judged submissions in a video format for social media channels and could be no longer than two minutes.