Man hopes to make photography a career after being shortlisted for award

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Chris Gurton has recently been shortlisted for the British Photography Awards, with a photo from Stanstead near Sudbury.

After being interested in photography for a number of years, Mr Gurton's passion grew when he won first prize at a local competition, which allowed him to buy his first DSLR camera.

"Unloading the Wheat" has been shortlisted for this years British Photography Awards.(Image: Chris Gurton Photography)

Although he mainly photographs farming and agricultural scenes, Mr Gurton has also done work for a motorsport website, shooting the British Touring Car Championship, the British GT championship and the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

He said: "I've always wanted to be able to take my photography full-time, but have never quite managed it. So, it is really just been a hobby that I am passionate about, which has made me a bit of extra income along the way."

Five years ago, Mr Gurton bought a drone, which opened up a range of new possibilities, with him starting to focus on farming more.

Chris Gurton got his first drone five years ago.(Image: Chris Gurton Photography)

He said: "I have worked with a large local farm, Rix Farms, who has been a great supporter of my work and enabled me opportunities to really hone my farming photography. I feel this is a subject I am very good at, and one I enjoy capturing all year round."

Then, in 2024, he was shortlisted for the international Siena Awards Drone Photography Award for his Harvesting at Night photograph.

This year, his shortlisted photograph is Unloading the Wheat, which was taken in Stanstead, and shows a Claas combine unloading its hopper into a trailer being towed by a John Deere on a sunny summer day.

He said: "To be shortlisted has been such an honour and something I am very proud of. To have the work considered amongst the very best photographers, both nationally and internationally, is quite an incredible achievement, considering I am not a full-time professional photographer.

"I hope from gaining this recognition, I might be able to finally achieve my dream of being able to turn my photography into a full-time career, whether this be as a freelance photographer or working for one of the large agricultural machinery companies.

He hopes to turn his passion into a full-time career.(Image: Chris Gurton Photography)

"I've also had an ambition to have my work displayed somewhere, such as a gallery or public space, so maybe this will help towards achieving that too.

"It's really satisfying to have a panel of industry experts select my work, from the thousands of entries as some of the best and has really helped alleviate the self-doubt in myself.

"I also hope that the subject of my photography really helps raise awareness of British Farming and aids discussion about how vital the industry is to all of us. I'm able to talk to farmers about the challenges they face in putting food on our tables and they often get shown in a negative way through the media. So if I can help promote British Farming in my own little way, then that's a positive thing."