Entertainment

Image of McFly’s Tom Fletcher mid performance wins photography award

Concert photographer Neil Lupin was announced as the first recipient of the music photographer of the year award
Concert photographer Neil Lupin was announced as the first recipient of the music photographer of the year award Concert photographer Neil Lupin was announced as the first recipient of the music photographer of the year award

A photographer who snapped McFly singer Tom Fletcher mid-concert has been awarded a top gong at the inaugural So.Co Music Photographer of the Year Awards.

The picture by Belinda Enthoven, in which the musician arches backwards on stage, stretching out his hand to the audience while performing at the O2 in London, won the image of the year prize.

Neil Lupin was announced as the first recipient of the music photographer of the year award at the ceremony in central London on Monday.

Image of Sam Ryder performing taken by Neil Lupin (Neil Lupin/neillupin.com/PA)

Lupin specialises in rock bands and has photographed many global superstars including AC/DC, ZZ Top, Rihanna and Madonna.

After thousands of votes were cast online for the prize, he was selected from a shortlist of ten by an expert panel.

Lupin was presented with an A7 IV camera and lens kit by Sony.

The venue of the year award went to The Horn in St Albans, Hertfordshire which hosts about 80 live shows per month.

Over the years, the grassroots venue has helped kick start careers and hosted bands and artists including U2, Newton Faulkner, Enter Shikari and The Subways.

In the must-see artist of the year category, indie-pop band Lottery Winners topped the vote.

Hogie’s Heroes Exhibition and Charity Auction
Hogie’s Heroes Exhibition and Charity Auction Dave Hogan was previously awarded the legend of the year award for his long-standing career in the music industry (Ian West/PA)

It was previously announced that David Hogan had been awarded the legend of the year award for his long-standing career in the music industry.

The awards were created by music storytelling platform So.Co, “championing the unsung heroes behind the lens”.

Vince Bannon, So.Co chief executive and co-founder, said: “The music photography community is thriving more than ever, it’s been fantastic to see it come together for this celebration of the art form.

“We’ve had a blast honouring some of the best in the game with our first year and can’t wait to build the event in the years to come.”