This atmospheric photograph of gun brandishing soldiers scaling Pen y Fan has won a Brecon photographer a top prize.

Ian Griffiths, a civil service photographer based at the Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines, has taken top spot in the the Professional Soldiering category of the Army Photographic Competition.

Former Brecon High School pupil Ian, who is married to Shelly, has been a photographer at the training camp since 1995.

It’s given him the opportunity to work with infantry soldiers in some of the most dramatic Welsh landscapes.

And it was on one of the Army’s frequent training missions to the top of the highest peak in southern Britain that the dad of four got to take his prize winning snap.

"“I’ve been up Pen-y-Fan too many times to count now for work and pleasure. I’ve gone up and sat around waiting for soldiers in great weather and also the really bad stuff too.

“On a few occasions my camera hasn’t even been taken out of the bag as the weather’s been too horrendous - usually rain, wind, visibility issues, as anyone who’s been up the Fan will know. You still have to make the effort though as you just can’t predict what’s going to happen. It can be glorious sunshine when you leave Brecon, get up the Fan then it all changes.

“It’s nice when you do manage to capture what soldiering is all about for the guys in an image, and it gets recognised in this way. Infantry soldiering is an arduous, unique job and I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to capture what a soldier does day to day for so many years, and work with this great community.”

“I’m delighted to win the Pro Soldiering category as it really captures what the Infantry Battle School is all about.

“The news has been well received here at all levels. I keep seeing friends, family and colleagues who tell me they’ve been on Facebook and liked the image.”

As well as Pen y Fan, Ian has been able to photograph soldiers from Dering Lines, which runs 62 courses a year, at the Sennybridge Training Area on Mynydd Epynt.

This year’s competition has seen the highest ever entries, with 780 photographs submitted throughout all the categories. Videos were double the number last year at 52.

Command Master Photographer WO1 (Conductor) Will Craig said: “I have been running the Army photographic competition for the last four years and this year has seen the highest amount of entries ever seen. The images have really captured the judges’ attention, as well as the public having a sneak preview seeing the online category.”

Ian was presented with his prize by Chief of the General Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter at a ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum, London, where a display of the winning images is being hosted.