Kissing war horse caught on camera by sergeant for army photography contest

The photo, taken in London by Sergeant Adrian Harlen, was one of the runners-up in the Army Photographic Competition 2013.

Despite the formality of ceremonial duties, the horse would give his handler a kiss in exchange for a mint. 

Talent: Sergeant Adrian Harlen enjoys the challenge of photographing high profile national events (Picture: Cpl Jon Bevan/Crown copyright)



Sgt Harlen said he sifted through thousands of pictures before he could decide which ones to enter for the competition.

He started his career in the Royal Artillery, but for the last eight years he has worked as a full-time professional Army photographer.

He said: “Each photograph in the portfolio category has to fit to a category – sports, operations, portrait, equipment and so on. It’s harder to find images that fit the brief in the London job, but the flip side is that the portfolio all hangs together well as it’s centred around the ceremonial theme.”

He added: “Being the London District photographer is completely different from any other area of the Army. The challenges of capturing the moment are still the same, but rather the operations and training you get to document high profile royal events and see behind the scenes at national events.”

Sgt Halen’s pictures and the other winners and runners-up are on display at the National Army Museum from October 10-22.

Beach Gallop: one of Sgt Halen’s entries to the competition (Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen/British Army)




A first for inclusivity: Guardsman Jatenderpal Singh Bhullar, 25, from West Bromwich, is a practising Sikh and became the first to perform the Queen’s Guard without the traditional bearskin cap (Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen/British Army)




Toughing it out: despite severe winter weather conditions, for the men and horses of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment it’s business as usual (Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen/British Army)




Solemn shot: Brigade Major Lt Col Simon Soskin stands between the pillars at St Paul’s during the funeral of Baroness Thatcher (Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen/British Army)

Kissing war horse caught on camera by sergeant for army photography contest