A STUNNING image of a snowy Durdle Door taken by an amateur photographer has won a picture competition celebrating the south coast.

Jonny Royale’s image of the archway at sunrise has beaten hundreds of entrants to be announced the winning photograph in the South West Coast Path’s annual competition.

The 37-year-old logistics worker drove from his home in Bournemouth to the iconic landmark in the early hours to capture the winning snapshot.

He said: "The drive to the location in the snow as very hairy, but it was worth it. It was fantastic to be there, it was a very overwhelming moment.

"When I’m going out to take a shot it takes a lot of planning, I look at the tides, the weather conditions and research the area; nature really dictates what the shot will look like.

"The Durdle Door shot was a spontaneous one as the snow wasn’t forecast. I was woken up by a photographer friend who saw the snow outside, so I owe him a lot."

For self-taught Jonny, who started out as an urban street photographer in Bristol ten years ago, Durdle Door has been a particularly influential destination in his work.

"I came down to Dorset for a holiday and a friend took me to Durdle Door and I just thought ‘wow’. It completely changed my photography. Before I was taking a lot of urban shots, but after that I moved here and my focus changed to landscape shots.

"Durdle Door is a special for a lot of people, but it is particularly special to me as it has change my photography.Dorset is the most beautiful county in the country."

For first prize Jonny received at £250 reward and a workshop with celebrated landscape photographer Adam Burton. The winning picture will also feature alongside 11 others in the official South West Coast Path 2018 calendar.

Limited edition prints of the photograph are available on www.jonnyroyalephotogrpahy.co.uk.