Wow, 2013 was a huge year for my photography as I feel that I really progressed in my ability, but when I started to enter images into The Guild Of Photographers Image Of the Month competition I never expected to do so well. Over the course of the 9 months that I entered I was awarded 57 Bronze Bar awards, 16 silver Bar awards and in December I was awarded a rare Gold Bar award, one of only 22 given out to people during the whole year! But at an awards night on 31st January 2014 I was was actually awarded with the acclaimed Photographer Of The Year title in the Open category for 2013, I just couldn't believe it! And was also runner up in the 'all round Photographer Of The Year'  where awards from two categories are added together.

Here i am being presented with my award by the owners of The Guild, Steve and Lesley Thirsk. (and bloody lovely people they are too!)

Below are the images that won the awards throughout the year in the Open Category, and as you can see they are quite varied. Most of the animal  shots are taken at Whipsnade Zoo which is a place that i just love to visit.

The following are images that won awards in the People category.