Through the year 2018, I have been fortunate enough to photograph some quite spectacular, special and historic moments across the United Kingdom — as well as experiencing cultural wonders within Europe.
Highlights for me span from documenting the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle to photographing the Order of the Garter in the grounds of Windsor Castle. However, more humble moments have grounded me back to my roots of smaller events; I found particular joy in joining the Chinese community of Manchester to mark the Chinese New Year, a particularly colourful and vibrant event, and I thoroughly enjoyed photographing a variety of Royal Air Force events up and down the country.
Despite the many positive events I have documented through 2018, there have been a number of events that have touched my heart — most notably marking the one year anniversary of the horrific Manchester Arena terror attack. It was observing the resilience of the city of Manchester, a city indescribably close to my heart, that gave me hope and warmth in an otherwise saddening time.
Below are some of my favourite photographs I have taken through 2018. I do hope they bring you as much joy to look at as they did for me to create them.
Photographing the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (HRH Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle) was an experience quite unlike anything else. 19 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The evening before the Royal Wedding, I photographed the Royal Walkabout of HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry outside the front of Windsor Castle. 18 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Prime Minister Theresa May during her Conservative Party Conference speech in Birmingham. 3 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Whilst walking on-stage to deliver her Party Conference speech, Prime Minister Theresa May danced to Queen’s ‘Dancing Queen’. 3 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
On International Women’s Day, I photographed Ms. Meghan Markle and HRH Prince Harry as they carried out a number of Royal engagements across Birmingham. Here, Ms. Markle hugs a school girl who had told her she wanted to become an actress. 8 March 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Another photograph from International Women’s Day in Birmingham, HRH Prince Harry gives two thumbs up to school children. 8 March 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
With HRH Prince Harry in the background, Ms. Meghan Markle chats with school children in Birmingham on International Women’s Day. 8 March 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
In Congleton, HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, enjoyed meeting the hundreds of people that had lined the streets to meet him. 24 January 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
HRH the Prince of Wales plays with a young boy and compliments his monkey gloves in Congleton. 24 January 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson delivers a speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. The turnout rivalled that of the Prime Minister’s. 2 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party Conference speech in Birmingham was said to be a platforming speech for a potential future leadership bid. He was billed at the time to be Theresa May’s number one rival to become Prime Minister, behind Jeremy Corbyn of the Labour Party. 2 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
In Chester, less than a month after the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle, HM The Queen joined the Duchess of Sussex for their first joint engagement together. It was reported that The Queen wore green that day to mark the one year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. 14 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
In Chester, the Duchess of Sussex took part in one of the first royal engagements since becoming a member of the Royal Family. The crowds adored HRH, offering countless bundles of flowers and other gifts. 14 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The Chester engagement was the first day HRH the Duchess of Sussex spent with HM The Queen for Royal engagements — a landmark moment for any new member of the British Royal Family. 14 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
To mark the Centenary of the end of the First World War, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. After the poignant event, the Royal couple spent time speaking with military families. 11 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
HRH the Duke of Gloucester looks up at the names etched into the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. 11 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson talks with Conservative Party Conference organisers in their office during the Party Conference in Birmingham. He could be seen laughing through the doors circular window. 1 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson looks to the camera during his Conservative Party Conference speech in Birmingham. 30 September 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
For the Order of the Garter, HM The Queen shared a carriage with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales (out of the frame to the right). 18 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
HM The Queen arrived to the Order of the Garter ceremony by car, but still left in a carriage at the conclusion. It was a boiling hot day in Windsor. 18 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry leans over a candy market stall in Staffordshire to pick a sweet to eat. 16 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry joined Stoke MP Jack Brereton for a tour of Longton’s regeneration projects. 16 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Alastair Campbell watches Green Party’s Caroline Lucas give a media interview prior to #PeoplesVote March in London. 20 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
On stage, Labour MP Chuka Umunna watches Caroline Lucas deliver her speech to the #PeoplesVote March in Westminster. 20 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Servicemen stand guard as members of the public attend the Centenary commemorations of the First World War at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Remembrance Sunday. 11 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
A father and his young son look at the names on the Armed Forces Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on the night before the Centenary Remembrance Sunday. 10 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
On the night before the Remembrance Sunday event at the National Memorial Arboretum, a candlelit vigil was held. 10 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, hangs a hand-written message to a Tree of Hope outside Manchester Cathedral on the one year anniversary of the Manchester terror attack. 22 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Prime Minister Theresa May meets Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham outside Manchester Cathedral on the one year anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack. 22 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Prime Minister Theresa May looks at a Tree of Hope outside Manchester Cathedral, ready to hang a hand-written message on the one year anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack. 22 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Football fans gather to watch England play in the World Cup in Castlefield Bowl, Manchester. 11 July 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Football fans erupt into cheer, throwing beer and cups in the air, as England score a goal in the World Cup. 11 July 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
A football fan, with the England flag painted on his face, appears sad after England were knocked out of the World Cup. 11 JUly 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Performers dance in the centre of Manchester during the Chinese New Year. 18 February 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Beacons point to the sky from the National Memorial Arboretum during the Illuminated Arboretum display. 11 December 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
A forest is illuminated by LED lights during the Illuminated Arboretum display at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. 11 December 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Peoples Vote demonstrators attach stickers to the Foreign Office door during the Peoples Vote March in London. 20 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
A woman takes a photograph of the Foreign Office door covered in anti-Brexit stickers during the Peoples Vote March. Police officers keep people away from the door. 20 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows fly over the Blackpool Tower during Blackpool Airshow. 12 August 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The Red Arrows fly in formation during the Cosford Airshow at RAF Cosford. 10 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, including the historic Lancaster Bomber, fly over RAF Cosford during the Cosford Airshow. 10 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Full moon over Lancashire on a clear night. 29 June 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
A snow wolf howls in Berlin Zoo, Germany. It had just been fed. 15 March 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Atop the Bell Tower overlooking Firenze (Florence, Italy) and the Duomo. 5 February 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Detective Inspector Dan Ison outside Stafford Crown Court speaking to media following the sentencing of Michael Stirling for the murder of midwife Samantha Eastwood. 3 December 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The French Alps from above (taken from a commercial plane) whilst flying to Florence, Italy. 3 February 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Prime Minister Theresa May looks to her side during the opening of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. 30 September 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks to the media under a giant ‘OPPORTUNITY’ banner at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. 1 Ocotber 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Liz Truss walks past Jacob Rees-Mogg whilst he speaks to media at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. 1 October 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Senior police figures dance to the YMCA as they parade through Manchester streets for the annual Manchester Pride Parade. 25 August 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
NHS paramedics dance together during Manchester Pride Parade. 25 August 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
I photographed my first wedding this year, too! I gave it my style of photography — perhaps unconventional for a wedding. 13 July 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The first wedding I photographed was in my home city, a nice touch to return to. 13 July 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
I also photographed my second ever wedding, coincidentally in Windsor too — almost like the Royal Wedding. This was at Windsor Racecourse on the hottest day of the year. 23 July 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Crowds make heart signs with their hands during a choir ceremony on the one year anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack. Tens of thousands of people turned out to show support. 22 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
After the choir ceremony, armed police pose with a performer in Manchester on the one year anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack. 22 May 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
I captured exclusive photographs of the cast and crew of new ITVBe show ‘Absolutely Ascot’ at Windsor Racecourse. 23 July 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Germany. 15 March 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
This year I photographed the charity golf match of the Offside Trust. It is the second year I have supported the Offside Trust with my photography. 30 August 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden speaks during the People’s Vote March in London. 20 Ocotber 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
I supported my university coursemate by photographing his first American Football play of the academic year. Sadly they lost by only a few points. 18 November 2018. Copyright: Benjamin Wareing
