A PHOTOGRAPHER based in Cleckheaton has won a prestigious award for Image of the Year from the Guild of Photographers for his moody black and white portrait of a bearded man.

Lee Jones, of MacDonald Jones Photography, won the Judge's Choice award, after his portrait was chosen as the overall Image of the Year for 2015 from a shortlist created from 10,000 images entered throughout the year.

Mr Jones, 32, who still works full time as a quantity surveyor, but has set up his own studio in Woodroyd Mills in Cleckheaton.

He is a relative newcomer to the industry having first taken up photography as a hobby, developing a passion for it through his volunteering with the Scouts and when his first child was born.

He specialises in weddings and family portraits and has been in business for almost four years now, working all over Yorkshire as well as having travelled around the country to shoot weddings.

Mr Jones, who lives in Liversedge with fiancee Jill and their children, seven-year-old Summer and Riley, two, said: "I couldn't have been more shocked to win - I actually deleted the original email telling me I'd been shortlisted as I thought it was a mistake.

"Being sat in the room with so many other fantastic photographers whose work I admire was very humbling, and to win the award over so many other stunning images was unbelievable.

"I'm really proud of it now even though it hasn't fully sunk in yet.

"My daughter messaged me on her iPad at 10pm when I'd won saying 'Well done Daddy for winning the trophies', that made me feel great that I'd done something to make my family, friends and clients proud as they've supported me all the way through my development."

The Guild of Photographers director Steve Thirsk said: ‘The Guild organises what is potentially the most demanding of annual photographic competitions and this is an incredible achievement!

"With nearly 10,000 images assessed from throughout the UK, Europe and further afield for Lee to receive the Image of The Year Award is clear evidence of his high standard of photographic skills. Lee should be very proud of his outstanding achievement - I am not surprised his services are sought after as I can only applaud him!’

The winning image features model Pip Atkins from Huddersfield. Having taken over a new studio Mr Jones wanted to experiment with a different style of portraiture, using his love for black and white images and the use of natural light.

He created an area for his naturally lit, low key images by painting one of the studio walls grey to complement the dark carpet and soft window light.

More of Mr Jones' images can be seen at macdonaldjones.co.uk.