This striking portrait of a young camouflaged solder has scooped a top prize in a prestigious competition which captures the unseen scenes of British Army life.
The incredible photo of a soldier’s piercing stare was taken by Sgt Jonathan van Zyl, 35, an infantry soldier turned professional Army snapper.
It won the ‘best overall image’ out of the 780 photos entered into the annual prestigious British Army Photographic Competition.
Father-of-two Jonathan, who lives in Andover, said: “It was one of those moments; you just saw it and you took it.
“It wasn’t planned or anything, but it works. I think it’s the soldier’s eyes, looking into his eyes, it draws you into it.”
The portrait was taken during Exercise Northern Strike in America.
Jonathan, previously in the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, was an infantry soldier for 11 years, based in Germany until two years ago.
Other winners included a revealing series of photos showing the highs and lows of life as a Sandhurst cadet, during a grueling year of initial training.
Taken by Bombardier Murray Kerr, 45, from Glasgow, they scooped the Best Amateur Portfolio category.
One shows cadets with shields and batons in what appears to be a simulated conflict – a sharp contrast to his snap of them sleeping in their bunks.
An aerial shot of Chelsea Pensioners paying their respects at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday got first prize in the ‘open to the public’ category.
It was taken by Royal Navy photographer Petty Officer Owen Cooban, 39, from Crawley.
The annual competition is open to all regular and reserve personnel, staff and cadets, and contractors who work directly with the Army.
The aim of the competition is to capture snapshots of Army life not usually seen by the general public.
Photography is a recognised trade in the Royal Logistic Corps and there are 38 professional photographers in the British Army.
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