Royal Navy names service photographer of the year with striking HMS Queen Elizabeth image

THIS striking image of a F35-B Lightning jet undergoing operational testing with HMS Queen Elizabeth has been named one of the best pictures snapped by Royal Navy photographers.
By Ben Fishwick
Published 3rd Oct 2020, 07:00 BST
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Leading Photographer Kyle Heller’s image won Best in Show in the annual Peregrine Trophy competition – where he also secured photographer of the year.

The huge £3.1bn aircraft carrier was the overall winner of the Peregrine Trophy for her crew’s collection of images, with LPhot Heller playing a crucial role.

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Skilled photographers, all serving in the navy and Royal Marines, were honoured in the competition.

The view of HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck during operational testing with the UKs F-35B Lightning jets. This image was part of the Peregrine Trophy winning selection from HMS Queen Elizabeth. The image also won the Best in Show Prize. Picture by Leading Photographer Kyle HellerThe view of HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck during operational testing with the UKs F-35B Lightning jets. This image was part of the Peregrine Trophy winning selection from HMS Queen Elizabeth. The image also won the Best in Show Prize. Picture by Leading Photographer Kyle Heller
The view of HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck during operational testing with the UKs F-35B Lightning jets. This image was part of the Peregrine Trophy winning selection from HMS Queen Elizabeth. The image also won the Best in Show Prize. Picture by Leading Photographer Kyle Heller

Between them they capture the variety of service life – from homecomings to operational tours of duty.

LPhot Heller, who joined up in 1998 aged 17 and became a photographer in 2009, said: ‘This is a job like no other – it sounds cliched, but it’s true.

‘I’m still trying to get my head round winning the award, in all honesty.

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‘I’m not one for the plaudits at all and for me it’s about the opportunities, experience and variation that you get with this job.

‘There really is nothing like it.

‘Life is never dull and you’re there as part of history in those big moments.

‘Seeing the Lightning jets land for the first time is that part of history you’re there for and won’t forget. I’ve seen so much around the world as a photographer and I’m very thankful for those opportunities.

‘This is a proud moment for me.’

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LPhot Heller has covered operations in Antarctica, the South Atlantic, South America and the disaster relief work in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean.

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He served on HMS Beaver, Sheffield and Cornwall. He is now based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall.

More than 250 images and videos were submitted for this year’s awards, which were judged by Richard Pohle of The Times, Steve Parsons of the Press Association, Jane Sherwood of Getty Images, Lee Durrant of the BBC, Jack Ashdown of Great State and director of photography and cinematography Vince Knight.

There is no awards ceremony this year. The images will be on display at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire from December to March next year.

Related topics:Royal NavyHMS Queen Elizabeth