Every Ash Cloud Has Silver Lining.

Rossendale Photographer snaps up worldwide recognition

Published: 8th December 2010 21:41

Rossendale Photographer snaps up worldwide recognition

A wedding photographer from the Rossendale Valley is in the frame for a top industry award.

A picture tells a thousand words: the relief as Jennifer reveals
her wedding dress to her bridesmaids

David Barry, who is based in Rawtenstall, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Professional Photographer of the Year Award.

The esteemed awards recognise the crème de la crème of worldwide photographic talent and David has made the shortlist for his entry in the wedding category.

Entries to the awards are open to all photographers worldwide.

David, whose studio is on Haslingden Old Road, says: "It's so exciting.

"I'm competing against photographers from all over the world, so for my photograph to be shortlisted is such an amazing honour.

"I'm very passionate about what I do but when I entered I never thought I'd get this far so I'm thrilled!"

They say that every picture tells a story and that was certainly true of the image David put forward for the awards.

He was contacted just one month before the wedding by a panicked couple whose plans for a dream day were turning into a nightmare.

The couple, Jennifer Small and Lee Sharples, of Sudden Rochdale, had seen their plans for a beach wedding in Mexico ruined by the volcanic ash cloud that caused havoc across the skies last year.

Still determined to tie the knot, the devastated pair then set about planning a speedy UK wedding, calling in favours to try to make their big day special.

David said: "The photograph I chose to enter into the competition shows the bride finally revealing her dress to her bridesmaids after all those weeks of constant worry and uncertainty.

"It perfectly shows that magic moment that Jennie thought would never come.

"I wanted to capture the relief, after all of the emotion and tension leading up to the day, that everything was going to be okay!"

The wedding of Jennifer and Lee took place on 7 May 2010 at The Royal Toby Hotel in Castleton.

David now faces an anxious wait to discover the results of the 2010 Professional Photographer of the Year Awards, which will be announced in the January issue of Professional Photographer magazine.