A striking image of a young boy held aloft on the razor sharp points of several swords and spears has scooped the 2007 Commonwealth Photographic Awards.

The theme of the 2007 Awards is 'Achievement' and the photographs were judged on both interpretation of the theme and technical quality.

The Commonwealth Photographic Awards are an open competition for all Commonwealth residents, and include both colour and black and white photographs, from professionals and amateurs alike.

Brenton Edwards, from Australia, is the winner of the annual competition organised by the Commonwealth Press Union.

He started as a professional photographer in November 1988 as a cadet at The Advertiser in Adelaide and since then – apart from a short stint at The Times in London – has stayed with the Advertiser, also covering assignments in Europe, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.

The regional winners are: Africa – Abel Mwambe Chibu (Zambia); Europe – Caroline Irby (UK); South Asia – Suresh Narayanan (India); and South East Asia – Lee Ee Cheng (Malaysia).

Masi Losi, a young South African photographer with the community newspaper 'The Daily Dispatch' has been awarded The Canberra Times/CPU Young Photographer Prize.

The 'Three Pictures – One Story' Prize was awarded to Sam Lim Kien Hock of Malaysia. Sam's photos show an old lady with her grandson to whom she is telling the story of independence in Malaysia, at the same time making the finishing touches to the national flag and then planting it.

An exhibition of all the winning photographs will be taking place in London at The Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, from September 10 to October 31.

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