A budding photographer who has lived in Watford for 35 years has scooped an award for a photograph that captured change.

Bill Cooper, 62, was recognised for his adaptation of the theme, change, at the Royal Photographic Society’s 155th International 2012 Print Exhibition.

The winning piece called ‘Urban Renewal, Hoxton’ aimed to portray the adaptions people make when living in a busy city in Allen & Overy Award category of change.

The International print exhibition is the longest, continuously running, photography exhibition in the world.

Mr Cooper has now retired but works as a photographer in his spare time.

Bills interest in photography grew after he was moved by a print exhibition that took place close to home in 2001.

He went along to an exhibition by the XRR Photographic Society in Watford, which persuaded him to develop his skills and interests in photography.

He said: "I was really lucky, because I entered the competition on a chance.

"My two other friends were entering and I thought I would give it a go.

"I enjoy capturing what is going on around us in everyday life however the beauty and pictorial quality of the photography is most important."

Bill, who now lives in Oxhey, found his love for taking photographs back in university where he studied Electoronic Engineering in Hull University in 1968.

He said: "My Father-in-law to be kindly gave me a Russian Cosmic 35 camera and I produced my first black and white prints with the help of a student friend who had set up a darkroom in his student flat"It instilled a love and respect for photography that has lasted all my life."

He was awarded £1,000 cheque at the opening reception held in London at the head quarters of Allen & Overy.