Photography Competition Winner Revealed

• 21st Aug 2024

In 2007, visitors to the Royal International Air Tattoo will have enjoyed USAF Thunderbirds, a Brazilian R-99 and a Greek A-7 to name a few. However, that year also marked the start of a lifelong passion for Ben Smith, who attended the show when he was two years old and has recently been crowned the winner of our RIAT24 photography competition with his shot of a Hellenic Air Force F-4 at this year’s show.

Edging out over 2,500 entrants, the 20-year-old, who is studying Forensics at Bournemouth University, claimed a prize worth £1,000 including a complimentary FRIAT pass to next year’s show, merchandise and other prizes from our friends at COAP.

After being selected for the shortlist by a panel of judges, including Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Paul Atherton, Head of Air Operations Peter Reoch, the marketing department and COAP’s Head of Operations, the image was posted on social media, with the photo gaining the most positive engagements being crowned the winner.

This is the first time the event has run the competition and organisers have stated it will return for next year’s show which will take place at RAF Fairford on Friday 18^th – Sunday 20^th July. Reflecting on his win, the university student also revealed he’s only been photographing aircraft for the last two years, despite being at every instalment of the event for the last 17 years.

“I first read about the competition on the Air Tattoo Instagram page. I thought it was a great idea that added a goal for all the photographers attending,” he said.

“I was over the moon (to be shortlisted). It didn’t really sink in for a while that out of over 2,500 entries I’d made it to a top 15. And now I’ve won it, it’s all so surreal. Waking up to a message from the official Air Tattoo Facebook page announcing me as the winner was a very good feeling.

“The photo I picked was a no-brainer out of all the other photos I’d taken. It was a very special moment.

“I’ve never seen an F-4 Phantom in the air, not that I can remember anyway, so we stayed a little late on the Friday to see these things arrive and I am so glad we did.

“I got super lucky to capture this amazing blue flame in the engines, as the pilot came off the throttle right in front of us. Just breathtaking, not to mention the noise.”

Like many aviation enthusiasts, a weekend at RAF Fairford in the scenic Cotswolds is an annual highlight where they can catch a glimpse of their favourite aircraft.

This year’s show welcomed 248 aircraft from almost 30 nations with almost 170,000 people visiting the airfield, where they pitch up from Wednesday to see aircraft arrive for the show, all the way through to Monday where they can watch everything depart from Gloucestershire.

“My family and friends can probably attest that RIAT is probably my favourite weekend of the entire year. It means a tonne to me. And I know it means so much to so many others,” added the university student

“This year my girlfriend, Emily, attended for the first time ever and she cannot wait for next year. I could tell from the look on her face as we walked around the showground that RIAT was going to be special to another person.”  

Tickets for RIAT25 are available now, with next year’s theme still to be announced.