Edinburgh-based soldier takes top prize for photographs in annual Army Film and Photographic Competition

An Edinburgh-based soldier has taken a top award for his photographic skills

Currently based in Edinburgh, Corporal Tanuku has embraced his new career as a photographer after serving 12 years with The Parachute Regiment in Colchester, Essex.

Corporal Nacanieli Tanuku, originally from Fiji u has been awarded first place for his outstanding work in the Professional Portfolio category.

Taken during his new role as a British Army Photographer, the 37-year-old submitted a portfolio entitled Dark Places, which featured a series of five black and white images of soldiers during a training exercise.

Currently based in the Capital, Corporal Tanuku has embraced his new career as a photographer after serving 12 years with The Parachute Regiment in Colchester.

Cpl Tanuku's stark images of comrades in training

He said: “I have always loved the outdoors so I picked Scotland as my first post. Covid-19 has restricted a lot of opportunity to hone my new skills, to walk away with the British Army Professional Portfolio Award during the pandemic is very humbling.”

Nacanieli joined the British Army in 2007 and has previously worked as a section commander while serving with The third Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA). During his time with 3 PARA, he was deployed on Operation Herrick 13 in Afghanistan.

Operation Herrick was the codename for all British military operations in Afghanistan in support of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom.

After 12 years, he decided to pursue his love for photography.

Deadly series: image of soldiers training

During his training at the Defence School of Photography located at RAF Cosford, he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award for his efforts on the nine-month course.

Corporal Tanuku said that ‘pictures are memories of a lifetime’.

The Army Film and Photographic Competition is an annual competition open to the General Public, Cadets, Civil Servants and serving personnel.

This year was the first in the competition’s history where physical prints were missing and all judging and submissions were done electronically due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Photographer and judge, Glyn Dewis said: “I'm extremely happy with those we selected; each demonstrated not just technical expertise and creativity on behalf of the photographer but actually put me as a judge right there in the moment.”

Ex-serving British Army Photographer and judge, Russ Nolan said: “We were really pleased to be part of the photographic competition, and it was great to step back into the world we came from.”

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