Belfast photographer Paul Killeen has been crowned the winner of the 2022 World Landscape Photographer competition with his entry, Souls Tied.
The image has a poignant meaning behind it as it was taken on the morning of the funeral of a good friend who died from a brain tumour.
Lynsey Trimble was diagnosed with the disease in October 2015 and was told that she would be lucky to see Christmas that year. She bravely battled for five-and-a-half years, but sadly passed away on 11th April 2021.
Paul’s shot was judged the best out of 8,655 entries from photographers in 67 countries.
He said: “As soon as I saw the two birds flying into my frame I was immediately reminded of Lynsey and her husband Simon. This is a very poignant and personal image.”
Last year, Paul raffled off a large print of his now award-winning photograph asking for donations for Brain Tumour Research. He raised more than £2,000 in Lynsey’s memory.
He added: “Winning World Landscape Photographer 2022 is such an unbelievable feeling. The competition is full of absolutely stunning work each year, and I am very much aware that on another day the judges could have chosen another image as overall winner. I have received other awards in the past but this is my greatest achievement to date.”
To see more of Paul’s work, visit his website www.paulkilleenphotography.com or follow him on Instagram @paulkilleenphotography
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