Byron Dilkes has been named as the winner of the UK National Award, part of the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards. His image “Tantalizingly Tropical” was chosen as the single best photograph taken by a British photographer entered into any of the ten Open categories of the awards. Dilkes has won a Sony RX100 III camera and his image will be shown as part of the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House, London from 24 April – 10 May. Runner-up positions for the UK National Award were given to Simon Morris and Antony Crossfield.

Sony Press Release

UK National Award winner revealed for 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

Single best photograph taken by a British photographer discovered by world’s biggest photography competition
Photograph will be exhibited at Somerset House, London, 24 April – 10 May

17 March: British photographer Byron Dilkes is today named as the winner of the UK National Award, part of the prestigious 2015 Sony World Photography Awards.

Dilkes’ winning image “Tantalizingly Tropical” was chosen as the single best photograph taken by a British photographer entered into any of the ten Open categories of the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s biggest photography competition.

Dilkes, a diver and keen photographer who is currently based in the Seychelles, has won a Sony RX100 III camera and his image will be shown as part of the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House, London from 24 April – 10 May.

Talking about his win Dilkes comments: “Being an aspiring nature photographer, this is a massive achievement for me. As a kid I would clamber along the mountainside, taking photos with an old, hand-me-down film camera. The most exciting part was getting back the developed film, so that I could share the unseen images with friends and family. This feeling has perpetuated throughout my life, and being able to share the beauty of nature with such a wide audience is something I’ve always dreamed of. I’d just like to thank my friends and family for their constant support, in particular my parents, who always believed.”

Describing the image he continues: “A blacktip reef shark patrols the edge of a recovering coral reef in search of a meal. With this image I wanted to portray as many elements of the idealistic 'tropical island' as possible. The image was particularly difficult to get, as it required the right combination of tide, good underwater visibility and calm surface conditions. At low tide I waded out with my underwater housing and perched on a large rock as I waited for the tide. On this particular day I perched on the rock for about four hours until the incoming tide threatened to sweep me off my feet.”

Runner up positions for the UK National Award were given to:

2nd place - Simon Morris

3rd place – Antony Crossfield

The winners of all 54 National Awards were announced today by the Sony World Photography Awards. The National Awards programme honours and rewards the best single image taken by a local photographer and runs across the world from Argentina to Australia. It is open to photographers of all abilities. To see all the winning images please go to www.worldphoto.org

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