The first Picture of the Year award has been handed out in a contest for the picture desks of the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press.

Evening Post snapper Steve Lewis (right) scooped the top prize with his creative picture from a story about a website for the deaf.

His photograph (below) was chosen after colleagues in the photo departments of the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press each voted for their favourite images from 99 that been selected throughout 2003.

Steve’s win was announced during a well-attended ceremony at The Gin Palace in Bristol, where he collected prizes including champagne, chocolates, a meal for two and a host of Nikon goodies.

Bristol Evening Post darkroom technician and sports photographer John Kelland (left) was awarded the runner-up prize for his celebration picture taken at Bristol City football match (below).

The Picture of the Year award was the culmination of a scheme which has been running at the two Bristol-based newspapers for the past year, after being set up by Evening Post photographer Ben Birchall.

Each month picture desk staff are asked to submit the best photographs that they have taken, and the best of the bunch receive prizes.

Ben said: “Each photographer may submit one picture from each job they cover during the current month, from the first day to the last. At the end of the month each photographer votes for their favourite image and two runners-up.

“We have an award night each month for the previous month entered and give away various prizes, whatever I can blag.

“It’s been a very good year for our department and morale is high.

“We have found it a very good way to motivate photographers while out on the daily grind of regional photojournalism and quite a few of the excellent pictures we see each month come from some of the more mundane jobs. I think more photo departments should operate this way!”

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