A GREENOCK police officer was stunned when his photograph was featured in a new calendar raising money for a charity.

Pete Stevens beat hundreds of other entries to win CEWE Photoworld’s My Inspiring Moments competition.

His stunning landscape photo forms part of their 2019 calendar, which is raising money for mental health charity Mind.

The 39-year-old, a dad-of three, says he was taken aback to have his photo of Cuillin Ridge, in the Isle of Skye, recognised at a national level.

Pete said: "I first starting taking photographs about 10 years ago and I only got serious about five years ago.

"For me it's all about getting outside.

"I enjoy getting away outdoors and the photography is an added extra.

"To have my photo chosen for the calendar was quite a surprise more than anything."

Pete’s winning picture was selected as one of the final 12 by judge photographer Julian Calverley, who was impressed by the poignant moment Pete managed to capture on camera.

Pete added: “I had driven from my home to Skye, about 200 miles, and it had poured for almost all of the day.

"My two day trip was looking like it would be cut short as I couldn't even see the mountains I had gone to photograph.

"When I reached Sligachan Bridge I walked up the river while I decided if I should persevere with the weather or give up.

"Just as I reached the River junction at Alt Dearg Mor the cloud lifted, the Cuillins cleared and the late afternoon sun hit the top of Marsco in the distance.

"It was enough to convince me to camp in the rain overnight and spend another day on the island.”

Clare Moreton, of CEWE Photoworld, said Pete's photo encapsulates their competition.

She said: "Our research found that while people are taking more photos than at any other time in history, the pressure to post our lives on social media has taken away the joy of photography for photography’s sake.

"The CEWE My Inspiring Moments competition aimed to bring the joy back into photography as an art form, asking people to share the photos that make them feel inspired and optimistic about the world we live in, and Pete’s photo was a perfect example of this."

Pete, who has won a string of national photography awards including being named Digital Splash Photographer of the year in 2017, says people can order the calendar online at www.cewe-photoworld.com/mind-calendar and see more of his work at www.petestevens.smugmug.com