Stunning images capture top industry honour for amateur

Mark Lynham has been named as Photographer Of The Year for 2016 by The Guild Of Photographers, winning the title in a competition entered by professionals in the field.

A selection of images which helped him gain the coveted accolade are featured.

Mark said: “I’m an avid entrant in the Guild’s monthly Image Of The Month competition and their annual Photographer Of The Year competition and have been very close to winning it over the last couple of years.”

He also took the prize in the ‘Open’ category and achieved the level of Craftsman status, having submitted a panel of 12 printed images and 36 digital images.

His photographs, which include a wide variety of subjects including wildlife, architecture and aviation, were among around 10,000 entered across the awards.

Describing himself as a hobbyist photographer, he enjoys time away from work to pursue his pastime. His passion for photography began in 2011 with a course at the Open University and he has been hooked since, with aviation and wildlife his top subjects.

Mark runs a letting agency in MK - Ryan Daniel Property Management - which he has done for 25 years and intends to continue with photography as a hobby.

Steve and Lesley Thirsk, directors of The Guild of Photographers, presented Mark with his award at a presentation event.