A PHOTOGRAPHER has been shortlisted for a prestigious award for the second year running.

Nikki Goodeve, from Haywards Heath, is one of the finalists with for The Founders Cup, with her images depicting three generations of aviators.

The competition is run by The Guild of Photographers and was created to acknowledge Roy Doorbar and Ian Gee, who founded the guild in 1988.

Entrants had to submit three pictures which were connected or themed in some way.

A panel of respected judges has reviewed all the entries and narrowed them down to just ten finalists.

Nikki said her piece, called “flying through the generations”, took a lot of planning and preparation to make sure it told a story.

The 46-year-old said: “I am overjoyed and excited to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

“There is a lot of work in coming up with the idea and there is also a lot of preparation in the styling.

“The pictures need to tell a story and I wanted to come up with something topical, like the 75th anniversary VE Day celebrations and the Battle of Britain.

“My husband is in aviation and I can see how he is gripped by it.

“It was just about coming up with this concept that I could plan by using actual pilots who were bitten by the bug.

“It’s not a case of just taking a snap.”

Nikki’s theme was inspired by the 75th VE Day celebrations and the Battle of Britain 80th anniversary this year.

The individual portraits depict a proud grandfather reminiscing about his Second World War days as a Flight Lieutenant.

The second portrait shows his son, dressed in his Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander uniform.

The third picture is his grandson, also in flying gear.

Each pilot holds a book whose title connects with the generation before them and a photograph of them each flying during their careers.

Guild director Lesley Thirsk said: ”To have been selected to reach the final is a great achievement, and shows how talented Nikki Goodeve is.”

The overall winner will be announced at an awards night held at a Jacobean mansion in Cheshire in February.

You can find out more about Nikki’s work at www.nikkigoodevephotography.co.uk.