ITV Photographer of the year 2006

Back in January this year the This Morning show on ITV launched their biggest competition to date, to find ITV's photographer of the year 2006. The brief was 'A Picture of Happiness'. Over 8,600 people entered from across the country. The entires were narrowed down to five finalists chosen by Arthur Edwards (Royal Photographer) and put to a public phone vote. Thousands of people phoned in to vote and live on air, Lucinda was pronounced the winner . Her photo was of a little African boy called Vali. Lucinda met Vali whilst working in an Orphanage for Blind and deaf children last summer. Being blind no one had ever given him a ball to play with before. However, Lucinda's mum had bought some balls with elastic attached to take with her to Africa so the blind children could play with them too. Lucinda said "I have never seen a child so happy. His face lit up when I gave hime the ball to hold. Initially he was too scared to throw it but as soon as he realised it was on elastic he was throwing and kicking like any little boy would. He laughed so much with happiness he had tears running down his face. It was a wonderful moment to capture on my camera".