A candid shot of Royal Marines engaging the enemy on Exercise Tarassis was one of the images that earned Petty Officer Alex Ceolin photographer of the year
A candid shot of Royal Marines engaging the enemy on Exercise Tarassis was one of the shots that earned Petty Officer Alex Ceolin photographer of the year (Picture: PO Ceolin)
Navy

Royal Navy photography awards: Showcasing the very best of the service in action

Joe Hearn
A candid shot of Royal Marines engaging the enemy on Exercise Tarassis was one of the images that earned Petty Officer Alex Ceolin photographer of the year
A candid shot of Royal Marines engaging the enemy on Exercise Tarassis was one of the shots that earned Petty Officer Alex Ceolin photographer of the year (Picture: PO Ceolin)

Wherever the British Armed Forces deploy, a highly trained team of photographers is always on hand, around the clock, to capture and showcase the extraordinary work of its personnel.

From Royal Marines launching night raids deep inside the Arctic Circle, commando boat teams surging across Sydney Harbour under the setting sun, to the rarely captured hunter-killer HMS Astute slicing through the waves, these images have depicted the extraordinary yet routine work of the naval service. 

After poring over 486 images and 13 video submissions, a team of judges – a combination of leading picture editors from national media outlets and agencies – selected the winning entries across a range of categories, and they are revealed below.

The Peregrine Trophy 

Royal Marines cross a frozen lake on snowmobiles during a deployment to Norway
Royal Marines cross a frozen lake on snowmobiles during a deployment to Norway (Picture: Royal Navy)
It formed part of a long-standing cold-weather training program, carried out consistently for the past 50 years
It formed part of a long-standing cold-weather training program, which has been carried out for more than 50 years (Picture: Royal Navy)
A Royal Marine from 40 Commando prepares to disembark from a Viking
A Royal Marine from 40 Commando prepares to disembark from a Viking (Picture: Royal Navy)
It formed part of a land base raid exercise with the Norwegian Army
It formed part of a land base raid exercise with the Norwegian Army (Picture: Royal Navy)
Royal Marines from 40 Commando conduct a tactical insertion at night via an inflatable raiding craft
Royal Marines from 40 Commando conduct a tactical insertion at night via an inflatable raiding craft (Picture: Royal Navy)
Royal Marines cross a frozen lake on snowmobiles during a deployment to Norway
It formed part of a long-standing cold-weather training program, carried out consistently for the past 50 years
A Royal Marine from 40 Commando prepares to disembark from a Viking
It formed part of a land base raid exercise with the Norwegian Army
Royal Marines from 40 Commando conduct a tactical insertion at night via an inflatable raiding craft

Known as the 'Oscars' of the Royal Naval Service, the Peregrine Trophy is awarded to the unit demonstrating the best overall photographic output.

It celebrates and showcases the exceptional work of sailors and Royal Marines, capturing everything from ceremonial duties to frontline operations.

This year's winners, and recipients of the coveted Peregrine Trophy, are 30 Commando, Royal Marines, based at Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth.

Photographer of the year 

For her canon of work covering the UK Commando Forces over the past year, Petty Officer Alexandra 'Alex' Ceolin from Plymouth scooped up photographer of the year. 

Hailing from Newcastle, she has served in the Royal Navy for the past 12 years, first as a communications specialist aboard the frigate HMS Somerset, then as a photographer. 

She said she felt "deeply humbled" when she found out she'd won the award. 

earned PO Ceolin the Photographer of the Year award
Stunning images of Royal Marines in action during Exercise Tarassis earned PO Ceolin the Photographer of the Year award (Picture: PO Ceolin)
From the shores of the Arctic Circle...
From the shores of the Arctic Circle... (Picture: PO Ceolin)
To the Baltic states, it showcased the very best of the Armed Forces
... to the Baltic states, it showcased the very best of HM Naval Service (Picture: PO Ceolin)
Hailing from Newcastle, PO Ceolin said she was "very humbled" to have won the award
Hailing from Newcastle, PO Ceolin said she was "very humbled" to have won the award (Picture: PO Ceolin)
earned PO Ceolin the Photographer of the Year award
From the shores of the Arctic Circle...
To the Baltic states, it showcased the very best of the Armed Forces
Hailing from Newcastle, PO Ceolin said she was "very humbled" to have won the award

"The Photographic Branch is filled with exceptionally talented photographers, all producing imagery of the highest calibre," she said.

"With such strong competition across the branch – the standard is truly second to none – it makes recognition like this all the more meaningful.

"Above all, this isn't a personal accolade, but a reflection of the extraordinary people, operations, and moments I've had the privilege to document through my lens."

Commandant General Royal Marines portfolio prize

Leading Photographer (LPhot) Finn Stainer-Hutchins takes home the Commandant General Royal Marines Portfolio Prize (CGRM).

A three-time winner of the Photographer of the Year, the former Royal Marine, based at 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, has built an impressive body of work.

Following commandos on operations across the world, his images have strikingly lifted the veil on their work. 

Lphot Stainer-Hutchins was awarded the CGRM award for his striking images depicting the Royal Marines in action
LPhot Stainer-Hutchins was awarded the CGRM award for his striking images depicting the Royal Marines in action (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
In Norway, a Royal Marine from 40 Commando uses his night vision capabilities to navigate to shore
Including this image of a Royal Marine from 40 Commando, who is using his night vision capabilities to navigate to shore (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
And Mortar Troop of 45 Commando launching an array of ordinance from Royal Marine Commando Vikings
And Mortar Troop of 45 Commando launching an array of ordinance from Royal Marine Commando Vikings (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
High up in the mountains of California, a Royal Marine surveys the land
And here, high up in the mountains of California, where a Royal Marine surveys the land (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
Lphot Stainer-Hutchins was awarded the CGRM award for his striking images depicting the Royal Marines in action
In Norway, a Royal Marine from 40 Commando uses his night vision capabilities to navigate to shore
And Mortar Troop of 45 Commando launching an array of ordinance from Royal Marine Commando Vikings
High up in the mountains of California, a Royal Marine surveys the land

Global Operations portfolio award

His remarkable images depicting Royal Marines trudging through the snow on deployment to Norway, 42 Commando ripping through the waves against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, and a lone commando from Air Defence Troop surveying California's unforgiving terrain on Exercise Green Dagger, earned Finn his second prize in this year's competition. 

Lphot Stainer-Hutchins picks up his second award for his impressive images portraying the Royal Marines on global operations
Lphot Stainer-Hutchins picks up his second award for his impressive images portraying the Royal Marines on global operations (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
Here, 42 Commando rip through the waves against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour
Here, 42 Commando rip through the waves against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
And a lone commando from Air Defence Troop surveys California’s unforgiving terrain on Exercise Green Dagger
And a lone commando from Air Defence Troop surveys California’s unforgiving terrain on Exercise Green Dagger (Picture: LPhot Stainer-Hutchins)
Lphot Stainer-Hutchins picks up his second award for his impressive images portraying the Royal Marines on global operations
Here, 42 Commando rip through the waves against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour
And a lone commando from Air Defence Troop surveys California’s unforgiving terrain on Exercise Green Dagger

Royal Navy open award

For his image depicting a Wildcat helicopter from the Black Cat display team based at RNAS Yeovilton, LPhot Lee Blease was awarded the Royal Navy Open award. 

The Wildcats, as part of the Black Cat display team, have been thrilling audiences at air shows for years
The Wildcats, as part of the Black Cat display team, have been thrilling audiences at air shows for years (Picture: Lphot Blease)

Surface Fleet award

HMS Dragon, currently en route to Cyprus to support defensive operations, was magnificently captured at sunset last year during the Sea Viper live-firing exercise alongside other Nato ships. 

This image of her earned LPhot Ollie Leach the surface fleet award.

The Type 45 destroyer successfully intercepted a supersonic target using a Sea Viper missile during the Exercise Formidable Shield
The Type 45 destroyer successfully intercepted a supersonic target using a Sea Viper missile during the Exercise Formidable Shield (Picture: Lphot Leach)

Submarine Service and Fleet Air Arm award 

PO Clarke impressively earned three awards this year. 

A rare sight of HMS Astute cutting through crashing waves during its deployment with the UK Carrier Strike Group earned him the Submarine Service award. Meanwhile, an image of Merlin's at RNAS Culdrose won him the Fleet Air Arm award.

HMS Astute was strikingly pictured off the coast of Portugal as part of the Carrier Strike Group
HMS Astute was strikingly pictured off the coast of Portugal as part of the Carrier Strike Group (Picture: PO Clarke)
This image of Merlin helicopters won Lphot Clarke the Fleet Air Arm award
This image of Merlin helicopters won PO Clarke the Fleet Air Arm award (Picture: PO Clarke)
HMS Astute was strikingly pictured off the coast of Portugal as part of the Carrier Strike Group
This image of Merlin helicopters won Lphot Clarke the Fleet Air Arm award

He also won videographer of the year for his evocative Christmas video, Silent Night – inspired by the actions of HMS Diamond defending shipping in the Red Sea.

"The competition is a great reminder of what the photographic branch can do and its importance, especially at a time when imagery and digital media play such a big role in how stories are told," he said.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary award

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Award went to LPhot Spurr, who captured a breathtaking shot of RFA Tidespring from aboard a Merlin helicopter.

RFA Tidespring was a key part of last years Carrier Strike Group deployment, providing vital fuel, water, and support to the HMS Prince of Wales and allied vessels
RFA Tidespring was a key part of last year's Carrier Strike Group deployment, providing vital fuel, water, and support to HMS Prince of Wales and allied vessels (Picture: Lphot Spurr)

All the winners will receive trophies at the awards ceremony in September, while the public will be able to see an exhibition of this year's winners' entries when the new Royal Marines museum opens in Portsmouth Naval Base in the Autumn. 

Full list of winners

The Peregrine Trophy 

30 Commando Information Exploitation Group Combat Camera Team (PO(Phot) Alex Ceolin/LPhot Finn Stainer-Hutchins).

Royal Navy Photographer of the Year 

PO Phot Alex Ceolin

Royal Navy Videographer of the Year

PO Phot James Clarke

Commandant General Royal Marines’ (Stills)

LPhot Finn Stainer-Hutchins

Commandant General Royal Marines’ (Video)

LPhot Gaz Smith

Global Operations (Stills)

LPhot Finn Stainer-Hutchins

Global Operations (Video) 

LPhot Gaz Smith

Royal Navy Open 

PO(Phot) Lee Blease

Surface Fleet

LPhot Ollie Leach

Submarine Service

PO(Phot) James Clarke

Fleet Air Arm: 

PO(Phot) James Clarke

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

LPhot Bill Spurr

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Amateur

Matthew White

Royal Navy Amateur Photographer of the Year

Mne Sajan Rai

Royal Navy Amateur Videographer of the Year

Mne Sajan Rai

Royal Navy Amateur Open

ET(WE) Simon Evans

Royal Naval Association Veteran

Chris North

Royal Naval Association Amateur

ET(WE) Simon Evans.

Royal Naval Association Professional 

LPhot Ollie Leach

Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity Family and Friends Professional

PO Phot Lee Blease

Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity Family and Friends U18s

Raef Dolly

Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity Family and Friends Over 18s

David Cronin

Cadet Amateur Photographer of the Year 2025 U18

Cadet Aiden Forry, Tamworth Sea Cadets.

Cadet Instructor Amateur Photographer of the Year 2025 Over 18

PO Lauren Swann, Borough of Poole Sea Cadets

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