What better way for an insight into the British Army than through the eyes of its soldiers. Arm them with a camera; whether in the hands of one of our professional photographers, a more modest point and shoot belonging to an enthusiast, or simply a smartphone whipped out at just the right moment, and what you get is a unique vision of life among the ranks. That is precisely what the Army Photographic Competition 2025 has revealed in truly remarkable set of images.
Image of the Year Winner: Sergeant Donald Todd, The Royal Logistic Corps.
Image of the Year Runner-up: Corporal Aaron Stone, The Royal Logistic Corps.
Smartphone shot Winner: Warrant Officer Class Two Kayley Butler, The Royal Logistic Corps.
Professional Portfolio, Highly Commended: Corporal Becky Brown, The Royal Logistic Corps.
Professional Portfolio, Highly Commended: Sergeant Andy Grayson, The Royal Logistic Corps.
Amateur Portfolio, Highly Commended: Lance Corporal Taza Salamut, The Royal Yeomanry.
The winning portfolios in both professional and amateur categories blended the pomp and ceremony of the Army showcasing Britain at its majestic best with the more familiar visions of grit and determination on the faces of those pushed to their limits.
"Being asked to judge this year’s competition is an honour as my father and grandfathers all served in the British Army. Picking a winner was hugely challenging, and there could only be one in each category, so my congratulations to everyone who entered."
Canadian hit singer and song-writer Bryan Adams, himself a highly accomplished photographer, was among the select panel of judges with the unenviable task of selecting the winners and runners up. He was joined by the Army’s Assistant Chief of the General Staff, Major General Paul Griffiths, Corps Colonel of The Royal Logistic Corps Colonel Jacqueline Powell, the Army’s Command Master Photographer, Warrant Officer Class One Baz Lloyd, conflict curator and archivist, Hilary Roberts and Graeme Main, long-standing Chief Photographer at Soldier Magazine.
Bryan Adams has a proud family history of service in the British Army; both his grandfathers served in the Royal Engineers, and his father served, having graduated from the Royal Military Academy before moving to Canada.
Speaking of the competition he said, “Being asked to judge this year’s competition is an honour as my father and grandfathers all served in the British Army. Picking a winner was hugely challenging, and there could only be one in each category, so my congratulations to everyone who entered.”
Showing the full range and variety of military activity the competition captured, the image of this year's winner could not have been more different from the runner-up’s photo. Sergeant Donald Todd’s behind the scenes sensitive portrayal of a young soldier of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery washing down her charger invites the viewer to share what appears to be an intimate yet humorous moment.
Compare that to Runner Up, Corporal Aaron Stone’s adrenaline fuelled shot of a paratrooper screaming as he lets rip with his general-purpose machine gun is so stark. If a picture can paint a thousand words – then a facial expression paints a million and this image certainly embodies that.
"I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve had a very busy Army career with the Grenadier Guards – there has been a lot going on and I’ve been around the world. It’s amazing to be recognised in this competition – I’ve had some pictures published in Soldier magazine before and the trade really interests me."
Professional Portfolio, and Image of the Year winner Sergeant Donald Todd said, “I was surprised that my entry was chosen as the winning professional portfolio. Having worked with the majority of Army photographers, I have seen some outstanding work throughout the year.”
Winner of the Amateur Portfolio Lance Sergeant Alisdair Szyszko’s selection of images provided a strong depiction of life in the Grenadier Guards. He started taking pictures as a student whilst studying in Surrey before joining the Army in 2018.
“I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve had a very busy Army career with the Grenadier Guards – there has been a lot going on and I’ve been around the world. It’s amazing to be recognised in this competition – I’ve had some pictures published in Soldier magazine before and the trade really interests me.”
The ever-present smartphone had its own category. Its immediacy and ease of use allows moments to be captured that would once have otherwise been lost. One such moment was of a soldier kneeling during a training exercise with a beautiful red skyscape as a background – it won Warrant Officer Class Two Kayley Butler of the Royal Logistic Corps, the Smartphone Shot category.
Explaining the background to her winning photograph she said, “It’s great to have won and I’m proud that it showcases the Royal Logistic Corps. The image was taken during an individual training requirement camp that 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment ran at Longmoor. We’d been up since 0400 and as we got to the top of a hill, blowing, there was the most beautiful sunrise. I’d recently taken up photography but my expensive camera was in my bag because I didn’t want it getting wet. I pulled out my smartphone and got one of the troop commanders to pose.”
The Army Photographic Competition 2025 full list of winners and runners up is as follows:
Professional Portfolio
Winner: Sergeant Donald Todd, The Royal Logistic Corps
Runner-up: Corporal Aaron Stone, The Royal Logistic Corps
Highly Commended:
Corporal Becky Brown, The Royal Logistic Corps
Sergeant Andy Grayson, The Royal Logistic Corps
Amateur Portfolio
Winner: Lance Seargeant Alisdair Szyszko, Grenadier Guards
Runner-up: Rifleman Dominic House, The Rifles
Highly Commended:
Lance Corporal Taza Salamut, The Royal Yeomanry
Signaller Tanbir Hasan, The Royal Corps of Signals
Corporal Ross Gourlay, Corps of Royal Engineers
Image of the Year
Winner: Sergeant Donald Todd, The Royal Logistic Corps
Runner-up: Corporal Aaron Stone, The Royal Logistic Corps
Highly Commended:
Lance Bombardier Warren Mills, Royal Horse Artillery
Lance Corporal Taza Salamut, The Royal Yeomanry
Corporal Ross Gourlay, Corps of Royal Engineers
Smartphone Shot
Winner: Warrant Officer Class Two Kayley Butler, The Royal Logistic Corps
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