Capturing a natural moment on film is one of the most difficult tasks involved in photography. Knowing when the time is right and being quick enough to capture it forever is an art in itself.

It is for this finely balanced skill that Llandwrog photographer Joe Griffiths won a recent Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers competition. The photograph featured a bride on the beach near Llandwrog who had unexpectedly turned to face the camera and was thus caught in a natural pose.

"For me that is the beauty of taking photographs - to be able to capture that natural moment," said Joe, after tasting success in the first competition he entered. "I often go to various seminars on photography to pick up on the latest techniques. While at the last one in Leeds the photographer giving the seminar asked why I hadn't entered the particular photograph in a competition. So I entered it and won. I will now be sending more photos", said the professional who specializes in wedding and portrait photography.

"At every wedding I've always tried to take photos which wouldn't look out of place in a competition", revealed Joe, who covers every wedding with his wife, Helen. "I feel having the feminine touch at a wedding makes quite a difference to the photos that are taken. Helen often-spots something that I haven't and so helps to create a better end-product."

One prospective bride was so impressed with Joe's work at a recent exhibition that she changed the date of the whole wedding so that he could take the photographs.

An exhibition of Joe's work has been displayed at the Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon.