Airfix joins RAF Photographic Awards as Sponsor

Photo:  Dale Luckhurst (left) and winner James Penberthy

Airfix has joined the Royal Air Force Photographic Competition as official sponsor of the Amateur Category, awarded this week at Bentley Priory Museum.

Head of Brand Dale Luckhurst commended the winner of the sponsored category, James Penberthy, on his sensational shot of the Chinook in action. James was also granted several of the latest Airfix kit releases as a special token.

“It is clear the competition was fierce across all categories”, Dale Luckhurst said, adding: “with outstanding contributions from RAF Operations and Exercises to RAF Technical, RAF Sports and the new addition of the Engineering and Equipment categories.

We are thrilled to have joined the Royal Air Force Photographic Competition as sponsor of the Amateur Category and send once more our warmest congratulations to the winner of 1^st place, James Penberthy, as well as the winners of 2^nd place, Ben Murphy, 3^rd place, Martyn Foss, and both highly commended winners, Flt Lt. Andy Donovan, and Jared Barnes.”

Photographs can be found here. 

‘My biggest achievement’

James Penberthy by profession is a digital cinema field engineer but states “photography is my escape.”

He said: “For the past couple of years, aviation (mainly helos), has become my passion. I live and mostly shoot in the South West, but will travel further afield when time allows. Including the human element in my aviation photography and trying to tell a story is at the top of my list when composing an image.

He added: “coming first in the Amateur Category for the RAF 2022 Photographic Competition is my biggest achievement in the photography world.”

With over a thousand images and 35 videos submitted, the 11 judges found themselves spending 7 days trying to narrow down their final choices, before selecting a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and highly commended across the competition’s various categories.

From those selected, the best 9 images were then chosen to go head-to-head in the now annual Peoples’ Choice category where the general public can vote over the next 2 weeks via the Royal Air Force’s official Facebook page for their favourite image. With the result announced at the RAF Photographic Competition Awards in RAF Bentley Prior on November 24th.

Chinook in action 

1^st Place, ‘Chinook’, by James Penberthy

Amongst the winners, Cpl Tim Laurence of RAF Odiham walked away as RAF Photographer of the Year with his portfolio of six images; the 2022 Photographic Section portfolio going to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.

Times Picture Editor Ben Jones and judge of the 2022 RAF Photographic Competition said: “I would like to say a big thanks for giving me the opportunity to Judge this year’s competition and offer my congratulations to the winners and highly commended. Well done all. You deserve to be very proud, there were a lot of superb images in this contest.”

He added: “The technical quality of images submitted were of a high standard and the huge variety of subject matter served to intensify the competition. The ability to spot and execute an image under huge pressure is rare talent. I have nothing but respect for their skill as photographers and bravery as people to get in the right place at the right time.”

Photo: Winners and Sponsors of the RAF Photographic Competition 2022