Frozen river picture earns Shropshire's Claire first prize in National Geographic contest

The 57-year-old Cleobury Mortimer-based photographer

has bagged the top prize in the Rivers category for her shot of the Río de las Vueltas in Argentina.

She said: "I'm absolutely delighted and excited to have won the rivers category. I won an eight day trip down the Danube," she said. "It is always good to have recognition."

Claire said the picture, of the frozen river beneath the Fitz Roy mountain in Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, came from a trip she took in 2013.

"A Canadian friend and I went out there, hired a car and just drove around taking photos," she said.

"It's something I've done for many years."

Claire has been taking pictures for about 15 years. Also a painter, she started simply to give her material to inspire her artworks – but the photography became a passion in its own right.

Since she has taken pictures for BBC magazines, Lonely Planet travel guides and, closer to home, Shropshire Hills AONB, among others.

She also runs wildlife photography workshops with birds of prey around Clee Hill, working with Hawkeye UK falconry team.

Her work has bagged her a wealth of awards dating back to 2006, but the National Geographic win is her most prestigious to date, and had come at just the right time, she said.

"I've won competitions before, but the timing of this is excellent, because I'm just about to go self-employed this Easter."

Claire's day job is as a teacher for children with communication difficulties in Kidderminster, but it was time to take the step into being a full time photographer.

The 18 images in this year's National Geographic Traveller competitionwill be on display at theprintspace gallery in Shoreditch, London from February 20 to March 4.

Don't forget is you are out and about and take any pictures, you can send them to our Star Witness galleries and be in with a chance of winning £100.