Student's jet photo wins photography competition

Ben Smith took this photo of the Hellenic Air Force F-4

An amateur photographer has won a photo competition at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo.

The shot, by Ben Smith, 20, from Pattishall, Northamptonshire, was chosen from the more than 2,500 entries.

The event in the Cotswolds is the largest military air show in the world and more than 250 aircraft featured in the three-day event.

Mr Smith said he started photography in 2022 "on a point-and-shoot camera and then it just went from there".

Ben Smith (right) said he and his girlfriend, Emily Turner, who is also an aircraft photographer, "nerded out" over the photo

The student, who is studying forensics at Bournemouth University, managed to capture the rare Hellenic Air Force F-4.

The jet is predominantly used for interception and reconnaissance missions by the Greek air force.

He said: "It's a fighter jet you don't see much anymore and it pulled away from the crowd and I got a shot right into the flames coming out of the engine and they went this rich blue colour.

"It was a very special moment."

Mr Smith said aircraft was "one of many" subjects he liked to photograph "but it's the thing that I do the most".

He said he was a frequent visitor to the Royal International Air Tattoo and his parents had been taking him to air shows "since I was two years old".

The student claimed a prize worth £1,000 including a complimentary pass to next year’s show.