A Royal Navy Petty Officer from Stoke, Plymouth has won two categories in a prestigious photographic award.
Petty Officer Sean Clee has been awarded the Peregrine Trophy Video Award as well as the overall Peregrine Trophy for Best Portfolio.
Working out of Plymouth with 30 Commando IX Group Royal Marines, PO Clee spends several months of the year away on operations and exercises around the world; this constant movement has allowed him to amass a number of photos and video footage which he was able to submit.
Sean, 45, said: “In the past year I have been away for six of seven months deployed with the Royal Marines, I’ve been to Norway, Albania, the US and other countries taking photos and capturing our Marines in action.
“It has been a lot of hard work and winning these two awards has been the reward; I’m delighted to have been recognised in this way.”
The annual Peregrine Trophy awards are designed to recognise excellence among both the professional Royal Navy and Royal Marine photographers and amateurs.
This year the awards were held at the Royal College of Art in London – with the winners congratulated by the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
With just 10 professional categories, a student award and three amateur classes – the competition is very fierce and is whittled down by an expert panel of judges.
These were Matthew Fearn, Picture Editor at the Daily Telegraph, Professor Naren Barfield of the Royal College of Art, Anthony Massey and Kathy Andrews of BBC World Service and Neil Hall, MOD Picture Editor.
Petty Officer Clee won the Video Award for his footage of the Royal Marines undergoing cold weather training in Norway demonstrating the harsh conditions they train in, as well as the stamina required to become a member of this elite fighting force.
In order to win the Peregrine Trophy for Best Portfolio, PO Clee had to compile six photos that he felt summed up his work during the past 12 month.
The end result was a mixture of shots of Royal Marines working and training across a number of environments and conditions demonstrating their adaptability.
Head of the Royal Navy Photographic Branch Captain Ian Stidston said: “It has been a fantastic competition and one that has demonstrated the exceptional talent and professionalism of the men and women of the Navy’s photographic branch – and also of those amateurs who have captured some outstanding imagery.
“The standard of the images received are testament to the diversity and adaptability of our people and clearly demonstrate dedication to both their art and their Service.
“I could not be more proud of the way the photographers have managed to capture still and moving images that clearly tell the story of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and the range of operations on which we deploy.”
Sean joined the Navy 23 years ago as a rating and after 10 years moved into the Photographic Unit. He lives in Stoke, Plymouth with his wife Helen.
Crown Copyright