A PHOTOGRAPH taken by a Colchester-based soldier serving in Afghanistan has been picked as the best operational image in this year’s Army Photographic Competition.

It shows Ranger Pete Mawhinney, B Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, returning fire with a general purpose machine gun after a Taleban ambush in the Nad Ali area of Helmand province in September.

It was taken by Sergeant Rupert Frere, 16 Air Assault Brigade’s photographer.

Sgt Frere, 29, originally from Guildford, said: “I’ve been able to travel round, see how the different units operate in varying conditions and taken pictures of them at work.

“To see my photographs used in the media and to get professional recognition through this award is fantastic.”

Sgt Frere was also runner-up in the best non-operational image and best media image category.

His entries showed a soldier praying at a pre-deployment church service in Colchester and a soldier saying goodbye to his family before leaving on tour.

Sgt Frere is on his second tour of Helmand as a military photographer.

The pictures he took on his first deployment in 2009 earned him the runner-up spot as Army photographer of the year in last year’s competition.

The awards were announced at the Imperial War Museum in London.

General Sir Peter Wall, head of the British Army, said: “These photographs show the breadth of British Army activity, not only in Afghanistan but across the full range of operations, tasks and commitments.”