I decided to pay a visit to the West Somerset Steam Railway Gala last weekend. Although I wanted a few train shots I was really hoping for some good portraits of drivers, firemen and train staff. I didn't quite manage a firemans face smeared with coal but I was pleased with a couple of the shots I came away with.

Thanks to Chris Perkins for actng as my guide and chauffeur throughout the day. Despite the continuous rain he made sure we were always at the best viewpoints and his hints and tips were invaluable. I'll visit again in the summer, especially Crowcombe and there's another Gala in September.

Back in November last year I entered our local papers Amateur Photographer of the Year competition for the North Somerset area. The picture I submitted made the top ten and tonight i was invited along to the award presentation evening at Clevedon. I was chuffed to bits when my shot, of Black Nore Lighthouse, was selected as overall winner and I picked up the top prize, a £600 Pentax SLR.

Following on from my entry in the 'Amateur Photographer of the Year' competition the short listed entries for the 'This is Britain' category were published in The Sun newspaper last week. The couple sat on the chairs in the rain on Weston beach is my effort.

I was invited up to London today, with three guests, for the finalists prize giving in the Great British Summer Photo Competition. I didn't win my category but it was a great day out all the same. Thanks to sponsors Curry’s for putting on a great evening and Panasonic for the camera they gave me for making the final fifteen. As an added bonus we met guest judge Jodie Kidd, who couldn’t have been nicer, and posed with us a few shots before we left for home.