Poppy photo is pick of the crop for lensman

His portfolio of six photographs landed him the Photographer of the Year trophy for Johnston Press, publishers of the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post.

His favourite image from the award-winning portfolio shows his daughter Fleur, six, holding a ladybird umbrella in a field of poppies close to the Ferrybridge power station at Knottingley, West Yorkshire.

The colourful poppy field image was used as a Picture Post image in the Yorkshire Post.

Hulme, 44, who has been a photographer on the newspaper since 2001, said: “I was runner-up last year so it was great to win it this year.”

He particularly enjoyed taking the photo of his daughter among the poppies, saying: “I borrowed her for the photo and gave her the ladybird umbrella. The day was overcast, which helped as there wasn’t any bright sunshine. It turned out to be a great picture.”

He also submitted a photo of an exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near Wakefield, and the silhouetted image of a diver from Leeds Diving Club.

The Leeds-based photographer is no stranger to winning awards for his work for the newspaper.

Hulme, who lives in Oulton, near Leeds, has been nominated for awards 32 times and has scooped 10 photography awards in total.

Nicola Furbisher, managing editor of the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post, said the photographs were worthy winners.

“Simon is a hugely talented photographer who provides the Yorkshire Post with stunning images, time and again, regardless of the assignment he is working on.

“These award-winning photographs would be worthy of gracing the pages of any newspaper or magazine in the country.

“He’s a credit to his profession and a big asset for the Yorkshire Post.”