The first annual Eurofighter Typhoon Amateur Photography Competition concluded last week when a panel of experts met in Eurofighter headquarters in Munich to choose the winners.

The judges, who included Eurofighter photographer Geoffrey Lee from Planefocus; Neil Bury, author of the front cover image on the 2011 Eurofighter Calendar; professional photographer Alvise Predieri and representatives from the Eurofighter Communications team, deliberated for hours reviewing the images sent in by aviation enthusiasts from all over the world.

The entries, all of which were of an impressively high standard, provided a challenge for the judges. In the end, after whittling the favourites down to a handful, it was several breathtaking photographs that caused a heated debate.

The eventual winner was Ian Ramsbottom, whose stunning shot of a 17 Sqn Typhoon in the Mach Loop in Wales, UK, left the judges with little to disagree on. In second place was Alvaro Muñoz-Aycuens who took an image of Typhoon in the stormy skies at Duxford Air Show worthy of a renaissance era painting, and in third place was the iconic photo of Typhoon taken at Aero India 2011 in Bangalore by Rajesh Kumar Elumalai, who captured the stark contrast between the white display smoke and the clear blue Indian sky.

A special mention also goes to 16 year old Paddy Fidling who the judges felt has a bright future in aviation photography.

Congratulatons to Ian and all those mentioned, and thank you to everyone who entered. Ian’s picture will be featured in the 2012 Eurofighter Typhoon calendar and he will sit on next years judging panel.

Source: EADS
Photo: competition winner Ian Ramsbottom