David Hedges BA (Hons) Photography graduate

"I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember, but everyone in Plymouth was hugely supportive in helping me to pursue my dream. To win two national prizes when I am still developing my skills as a photographer is incredible, and my job with South West News is offering me some fantastic opportunities and subjects. It is now great to be able to give something back to the University, and try to make others realise that if you are willing to put in the hard work, you can realise your ambitions."

It was the three month Exchange Project in Year 2 of the BA Photography programme that inspired David’s wish to become an editorial and press photographer. Since graduating David has been with the South West News Service (SWNS) where he has worked on assignments and produced images that have been published in all the major national UK papers, such as The Times, Independent, Daily Mail, Guardian and Telegraph.

David has won two major awards: he was named as Nikon Videographer of the year 2013 and took the Fixation Young Photographer Bursary award at the 2013 UK Picture Editors' Guild Awards. Among the photographs David was judged on was a picture taken at the Stone Circle at Glastonbury Festival (above), a photograph of a member of the international Handlebar Club and a shot of a man skiing into a snowman. Britain's Longest-serving Blacksmith, Fred Harriss, is the characterful subject of David's winning video.