'˜Off-chance' snap makes national photograph finals

Alan Thomassen, whose photographs have featured in the Observer, fought off competition from thousands of fellow enthusiasts to make the finals of the Lloyds TSB Insurance Weather Photographer of the Year.

The overall winner will be announced at a ceremony in London today (Friday), with the winner taking home a cool £10,000.

Alan made the final 12 of the competition for his picture of Bexhill’s beach front, where holiday makers are enjoying the sunlit coast, which was actually taken way back in 1981.

The image was selected by competition judges earlier this month from more than 10,000 entries, with one judge praising the snap for ‘typifying the British Seaside Holiday’ and another likening the image to a Lowry painting in its layout.

Alan said: “I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that I’ve made the final, especially with so many other people entering. I’m looking forward to the announcement and regardless of the result I’m very pleased to have made it this far, as are my friends who have all congratulated me.

“It’s funny that I took the picture on the off-chance and it’s turned out to be one of my very favourites.”

All 12 finalists’ entries can viewed at www.lloydstsb.com/weathercompetition The competition was open to amateurs only, with the key criteria being flair, technique and originality used in capturing British weather and its impact.