A LOCAL student is celebrating after snapping the winning shot for Churchill Retirement Living’s Penzance photography competition.

18-year old Harry Simmonds, who is currently studying IT at Truro and Penwith College in Penzance, was awarded the top prize of £250 for his scenic photograph of Churchill’s Mount’s Bay Lodge development on New Town Lane.

Both professional and keen amateur photographers were invited to take part by capturing the Lodge and its seafront location, but it was Harry’s entry that won over the judges.

Harry said: “I was really pleased when Churchill called me to say that I was the winner. I’ve been interested in photography since I was at secondary school, and even took a GCSE in it. It’s a great hobby and it was a lot of fun trying to get the perfect shot of Mount’s Bay Lodge.

"It’s in a really nice location on the harbour front so I wanted to capture this with the water and boats in full view. I made sure I picked a nice sunny day as well, to show what a fantastic location this is.

"I’m going to use my prize money to buy a brand new lens so that I can take even more photos to show off Penzance at its best.”

Jo Ridehalgh, marketing executive at Churchill Retirement Living, said: “Our photography competition was a fantastic way to encourage local photographers to get out and about on the harbour front. Mount’s Bay Lodge is in such a picturesque location with the bay and St Michael’s Mount right on the doorstep.

"We were overwhelmed with entries but we thought that Harry’s photograph really captured the magic that this seaside Lodge has to offer, and he certainly has a real talent for capturing a stunning image.”