The year 2017 will always be a memorable one for Beccles-based photographer Joe Brady.

%image(14569703, type="article-full", alt="Astralis CS:GO Team: "This photo was taken during my first esports shoot at a UK arena. I was lucky enough to get Astralis, one of the best CS:GO teams in the world, alone for a short while to shoot something different under the famous Wembley arches." Picture: Joe Brady")

This is because it was the year he was named the top photographer in his chosen industry.

%image(14569704, type="article-full", alt="OpTic Gaming in Las Vegas: "This year I became the first UK photographer to shoot an esports event in the USA, which is an achievement I am hugely proud of. It was an amazing experience" Picture: Joe Brady")

Mr Brady, 28, specialises in capturing video gamers in the heat of battle and in November, was named Photographer of the Year at the Esports Industry Awards.

%image(14569705, type="article-full", alt="Team EnVyUs at Gfinity Elite Series: "This is a new esports league which launched in the UK this year and kept me busy across two seasons for 18 weeks. This team were great fun to shoot and gave me plenty of excellent photo opportunities. Picture: Joe Brady")

Esports is a fast-growing and highly-competitive industry, which sees video game players compete against one another for large cash prizes.

%image(14569706, type="article-full", alt="F1 series: "This year included the launch of a new F1 Esports Series. The first event was held in London and I was lucky enough to shoot the whole thing." Picture: Joe Brady")

Reflecting on his award-winning year, Mr Brady has selected five of his proudest works and spoken of what they mean to him.

%image(14569707, type="article-full", alt="Airbourne music video shoot: "Over the last three years I've been working on a documentary project for an Australian rock band called Airbourne. It's been a long and gruelling process, but this year it was finally released." Picture: Joe Brady")

He said: “I feel these are the five that sum up my year the best.

“It was an incredible feeling to find out I had won the award - I was just delighted to have been nominated, so to actually win was amazing.

“I’m now looking forward to carrying on in 2018.”