Team GB
When you’ve been photographing cars for more than two decades, chasing the perfect reflection, the perfect line, the perfect mood, you don’t ever get used to amazing news like this. It still makes you pause when it lands. Today I am thrilled to share that I’ve been selected as a finalist in the 2026 World Photographic Cup for my ‘Commercial’ automotive work, specifically a photograph from a recent shoot series of the Ferrari 812 Competizione, shot in the UK at Junction 11 Studios.
This isn’t just any competition, the World Photographic Cup is a truly international event that brings together photographers from nations all over the globe, each representing their homeland and competing as part of their national team. It’s one of the only photographic competitions that functions in a kind of Olympic style for our industry, where Teams, not just individuals, battle it out for top honours across multiple categories and styles.
Being named a finalist and having the Ferrari 812 Competizione work recognised on this stage, is really well received. The WPC celebrates not only outstanding technical skill, but also vision, creativity, and excellence across genres. Images are judged by panels of international experts, and each nation’s team nominates a limited number of submissions in categories ranging from portraiture to reportage to commercial photography, the category in which my work has been chosen for the finals.
This feels especially meaningful because I’ve been part of Team GB now for three years running. In 2024 I was honoured with a Gold Medal, and also took home the WPC’s Best in Nation award, given to the highest-scoring image representing Great Britain, for my automotive photograph of the Ferrari Monza SP1. That recognition was a real milestone for me and my team, and it’s an absolute joy to have another chance at that stage with this new work of the 812 Competizione.
Shooting cars in studio, especially something as breathtaking as the Ferrari 812 Competizione, is one of the things I live for as a commercial photographer. Many people think of automotive photography as simply taking pictures of beautiful objects, but for me it’s really about bringing design to life with light. When I walk into the studio, I see every surface and curve not just as a shape, but as a story waiting to be told. It’s that interplay between light and form, where shadows become drama, where specular highlights shape mood, where texture and colour come alive, that I work so hard to master for my clients.
Using lighting not just practically, but creatively, is something I’ve spent years refining: sculpting reflections, isolating details, balancing contrast so that every line, every vent, every surface tells a part of the Ferrari’s character. That approach has become part of my signature, it’s not just about capturing an image, it’s about evoking emotion and presence. And to have that skill recognised on an international jury’s stage? That’s always humbling.
Looking ahead, the next big dates in this global competition are coming fast.
On January 1st 2026, the awards for Best in Nation will be announced, celebrating the single highest-scoring image from each national team.
On the 24th to 26th April 2026, the finals of the World Photographic Cup will take place in Reykjavik, Iceland — where final winners and team placements will be revealed.
I’ll be counting down the days, of course, but for now I’m just taking a moment to enjoy it with the team. It’s an incredible honour to represent Great Britain, to be judged alongside some of the most inspiring photographers around the world, and to do so for a body of work that truly showcases what I do best: lighting, craft, and storytelling through commercial photography.
Thank you to Team GB, to everyone who’s supported me, and to all the photographers who continue to push the art forward, it’s a privilege to be in such company. If you want to explore the work I’m most proud of, including studio car projects, lighting experiments, and commercial campaigns, you can find more at Car Photography | AmbientLife
Here’s to the next chapter, and to what’s coming from Reykjavik in 2026.
Tim