Princess Charlotte Image Wins NMA Royal Photography Competition

A spontaneous picture of Princess Charlotte sticking her tongue out has been named as the overall winning photograph in the News Media Assocation’s annual competition to celebrate news media photography. 

The image taken by PA Media’s Andrew Matthews was selected by a panel of expert judges following an online public vote in which thousands of votes were cast. Winners of the individual competition categories are as follows:  

Winners

The panel of judges is:

  • Alan Sparrow, chairman of the UK Picture Editors Guild;
  • Lindsey Parnaby, The British Press Photographers’ Association chairman;
  • Lynne Anderson, NMA deputy chief executive;
  • Martin Keene, Press Association group picture editor;
  • Dr Michael Pritchard, director, education and public affairs, The Royal Photographic Society.

Speaking about the overall winner image, Alan Sparrow said: “I like the cheeky picture of The Duchess and Princess Charlotte and it goes to show no matter how well orchestrated an event is, a chance for the off the cuff picture still exists. I believe that this is the best picture overall due to its spontaneity.”

Lynne Anderson, NMA deputy chief executive, said: “Photography remains an important part of news media industry’s journalism and, through this competition, the NMA is pleased to shine a spotlight upon this work.” 

Speaking about the regional winner, Martin Keene said:  “On a visit to a tyre factory the photographer has used real imagination to frame the picture using a tyre – and that can be really hard amidst the security and management of a royal visit. It’s lifted a visit from the routine to the rather special.”

The competition has been covered by titles including The SunMailOnlineBlackpool GazetteNews and StarForbes and the Maidenhead Advertiser.

The competition was launched by the NMA to promote the outstanding work of photographers in the local, regional and national news media and the NMA’s media facilities services for members which includes managing the Royal Rota – a system for covering Royal engagements and pooling material.