BUDDING Photographer Stephen Thomas has snapped top prize in a competition run by the Down’s Syndrome Association.

Former Isambard School pupil Stephen, 17, was crowned the winner of My Perspective at an awards event which took place at Kew Gardens in London.

Stephen has been taking pictures since he was eight and he captured his entry Moraine Lake, on his Canon 1000D, while on holiday in Canada.

Stephen said he was delighted that his work was picked by the competition’s judging panel.

He said: “I like taking pictures close up and seeing all the details in things.

“I like taking landscapes. I would like to do more photography, especially landscapes and flower close ups.

“I would like to take photos as my job.”

As the competition’s winner, Stephen received a Canon ES1100D camera and a bag to store it in as well as a canvas print of his winning image and a certificate.

He will also be on the judging panel of next year’s competition.

His brother Paul, 20, and parents David and Julie attended Thursday’s awards ceremony to cheer Stephen on.

David, who lives in Peatmoor, said: “It is fantastic that Stephen has been honoured. He’s so delighted and as a family we are all so incredibly proud of him.

“He loves doing photography so much and it is something he has worked very hard at. I think his winning image is really great.

“We were so happy to go the event and see Stephen succeed.”

My Perspective, now in its fifth year, is for people with Down’s syndrome, with entrants needing to have taken the photograph themselves.

Submissions came from people who had taken photographs in countries including England, Greece, Indonesia, America and New Zealand, among others.

The photography competition sees the charity work with The Shifting Perspectives project, to give people with Down’s syndrome the chance to show their view of the world.

The Down’s Syndrome Association aims to raise awareness of and support those with the condition. For more information visit www.downs-syndrome.org.uk.