HMS Queen Elizabeth: Images win Royal Navy photographic award

6 October 2020

Kyle Heller has been named the Royal Navy's photographer of the year for his portfolio of imagery from HMS Queen Elizabeth's deployment to the east coast of the USA.

A Lightning jet and pilot silhouetted against a sunset — Image caption,
An F-35B Lightning jet sits on HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck during the aircraft carrier's deployment to the east coast of the USA, an annual mission known as Westlant 19

Heller was selected from the pool of the Royal Navy's own dedicated photographers, all of them serving sailors or Royal Marines, to be awarded the Peregrine Trophy in the annual competition.

The photographer's images show a behind-the-scenes look at life in the Royal Navy, from emotional homecomings to frontline ops.

"This is a job like no other - it sounds clichéd, but it's true. I'm still trying to get my head round winning the award, in all honesty," said Heller.

"I'm not one for the plaudits at all and for me it's about the opportunities, experience and variation that you get with this job.

"Life is never dull and you're there, part of history in those big moments."

Heller became a Royal Navy photographer in late 2009, having joined the Royal Navy in 1998 aged 17 and serving on HMS Beaver, HMS Sheffield and HMS Cornwall.

Here is a selection of winning photos by Heller.

A view of frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, HMS Queen Elizabeth, submarine hunter HMS Northumberland and tanker RFA Tideforce — Image caption,
Norwegian anti-submarine frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl joins the UK's Carrier Strike Group as it sails across the Atlantic

A Royal Marine dangles from a helicopter from a rope — Image caption,
A Royal Marine begins his descent from a Merlin helicopter during exercises on HMS Queen Elizabeth

A pilot is winched onto a helicopter from the sea — Image caption,
845 Naval Air Squadron conducts a search-and-rescue training mission from HMS Queen Elizabeth

An F-35B Lightning jet landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth — Image caption,
The view of HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck during operational testing with the UK's F-35B Lightning jets

A view of HMS Queen Elizabeth, tanker RFA Tideforce and Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland in the sea — Image caption,
An F-35B Lightning jet lands on HMS Queen Elizabeth as she sails closely with tanker RFA Tideforce and Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland

A sailor looks to the crowd — Image caption,
Royal Navy sailor Phillip Hulbert searches the crowd for his family as HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth

Here are other striking photos entered in this year's competition, including winning images in different categories.

A sailor greets his family — Image caption,
A member of HMS Cattistock's crew returns home to his family after 10 months away on a Nato deployment. Winner of the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity Family and Friends Award

A portrait of two Royal Marines at night — Image caption,
Two Royal Marines from 40 Commando Recce Troop pose for a photograph whilst on a military training exercise in California. This image was part of the winning selection by Amateur Photographer of the Year, Marine James Clarke

A Royal Marine works in the Arctic Circle — Image caption,
A Royal Marines assault engineer prepares a charge during ice demolition training in the Arctic Circle. This image won the Global Operations Prize

A pilot walks across HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck — Image caption,
A British F-35B Lightning jet pilot walks across HMS Queen Elizabeth's flight deck with his fighter jet in the background

A view through the cockpit window of a helicopter — Image caption,
HMS Queen Elizabeth as seen through the cockpit of a Merlin helicopter

The silhouette of Royal Marines with a helicopter — Image caption,
Royal Marines board a Merlin helicopter during exercises on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth

Photos from the Royal Navy photographic awards will be on public display at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire from December 2020 until March 2021.