A SOLDIER has snapped up an award for his photographic skills in a national competition.

Corporal Danny Houghton is an Army photographer based at Merville Barracks, in Colchester, and his role involves covering the activities of the town’s troop, including on training exercises both in the UK and abroad.

The 30-year-old’s picture of a soldier parachuting from an aircraft won the Best Online category in the Army Film and Photographic Competition, which was chosen by public vote.

The image was taken from a Hercules transport aircraft as soldiers from Pathfinders – the advance force for Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade – jumped into Ukraine on Exercise Joint Endeavour.

Cpl Houghton and his cameras followed the troops from taking off from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, to jumping into Ukraine to train alongside Ukrainian airborne forces.

The father-of-two said his photography quickly became an “obsession” and an “outlet” for his creative personality.

His portfolio entitled Airborne, made up of five images taken during 2020, also took second place in the competition’s Professional Portfolio category.

Cpl Houghton attended the Gilberd School in Colchester before joining the Army in 2012 as a combat medical technician.

He said: “I’m quite a creative person, so when I took up photography as a hobby, it quickly became more of an obsession and an outlet for my creativity.

“I feel extremely lucky to now be able to do this for a living, not only to continue my passion for photography, but the amazing opportunities it has given me.

“It was an absolute privilege to be stood at the back of the plane capturing the Pathfinders as they exited, just an amazing experience.”

The Army Film and Photographic Competition is an annual competition which is open to the public, cadets, civil servants and serving personnel to showcase the best video and imagery of the Army.