Photographer wins '˜Best in Sussex' award

The shot by Hastings-based photographer Dave Wares was picked over hundreds of others to be named Sussex Photographic Federation’s best image of 2010.

Mr Wares, who is a member of the Ore and St Helens Camera Club, first picked up a camera back in 2003 – keen to take some memorable shots of his family.

Since then though he built a reputation as a talented photographer, and was determined to put up a good showing in the recent county-wide competition.

Mr Wares, 36, told the Observer: “I use a Nikon D50 DSLR, and the picture was taken in an old derelict manor house.

“It is comprised of 10 photos which were then put together in Photoshop.

“The idea behind the shot was to create something surreal and slightly sinister, a kind of dystopian future feel.”

It was clearly a feel which captured the imagination of the judge, Bob Webzell, who picked Mr Wares’s photograph over images from more than 100 local snappers from more than 20 Sussex camera clubs.

The photo, called We Are One, is the first taken by a member of the Ore and St Helens Camera Club to win the top prize.

“As you can imagine I was delighted,” said Mr Wares, “not only for myself but for our club too.”

To see more of Mr Wares’s images, visit his website at www.davewares.co.uk.