A PADDLING pool and a garden hose helped a talented photography team to pick up a prestigious accolade.

Models braved an indoor downpour to help create powerful images which impressed the judges sufficiently to see GWS Photography gain a Fellowship with the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

Grahame Smith, who runs the business at East Links Family Park, near Dunbar, with wife Allison, said the idea came about thanks to a photoshoot with a local band called Sintide.

He said: “They are young lads from Edinburgh and Dunbar.

“I do band photography quite a lot and wanted to try something edgy. I was throwing water at them and as soon as we started doing it I thought we had something.”

That created the idea of doing a series of portraits as a ‘wet shoot’ – all within the confines of the studio.

Subjects stood in a paddling pool while Allison climbed a ladder and hosed them down with cold water.

Grahame said: “It was surprisingly easy finding people to do it. I thought that would be the hard part but we have still got a waiting list.”

About 15 minutes are spent explaining to each subject how the photographs are taken and what will happen to capture the reaction.

Then, Grahame has about 90 seconds to two minutes to get snapping.

MPA qualifications are very highly regarded as they must include an assessment of the photographer’s professional practices in the form of a ‘Working Profile’ document.

The portraits for the ‘wet shoot’ were particularly unique as they were all captured in the Smiths’ East Lothian studio but made to look as if the subjects were in dark and moody rainstorm sets.

Grahame told the Courier that the emotions and expressions photographed were genuine throughout.

Judges were won over by the striking series of 20 images, with the majority of the models coming from East Lothian.

Feedback from one judge praised the choice of using black and white for the images.

The judge said: “Sorry but I am still overwhelmed to know how to comment. This is one of those panels you love to face when displayed as prints; you just stand there and say ‘wow!’. It’s powerful, gripping with atmosphere and expressions.”

Posters of the photoshoot have also been created, with the money raised going to SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).