Trenches, tassels and truth: Striking images from the Army's 2025 Photo Competition

The Army Photographic Competition 2025 has marked the British Army's return to celebrating its visual storytellers after a pause since 2019 due to the pandemic. 

This year's competition attracted hundreds of entries from across the service, capturing the variations within military life - from ceremonial grandeur to the gritty realities of operational duties.

Both Image of the Year and Professional Portfolio went to Sergeant Donald Todd of the Royal Logistic Corps, who stunned the panels with a captivating behind-the-scenes photograph of a young soldier from the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery washing down her horse.

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Close behind with runner-up Image of the Year and Professional Portfolio was Corporal Aaron Stone, also of the Royal Logistic Corps, who was recognised for his dynamic image capturing a paratrooper in action with his GPMG during a live-fire exercise. 

The smartphone's 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 red skyscape as a background – it won Warrant Officer Kayley Butler of the Royal Logistic Corps the Smartphone Shot category.

Explaining the background to her winning photograph she said: "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 04:00 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."

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."

The pictures below are the combination of Sgt Donald Todd's and Cpl Aaron Stone's impressive portfolios.