A CONSULTANT at The Grange University Hospital has received a prestigious award for his photography, detailing life on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nick Mason has been named the winner of Amateur Photography's Power of Photography Awards.

The award is one of the most coveted in photography, and the judges said that when it came to deciding "there was a clear winner". 

South Wales Argus: Clapping a patient leaving ICU. Images of staff clapping patients as they left ICU or hospital were frequently seen during the pandemic but tell only half of the story.

Clapping a patient leaving ICU. Images of staff clapping patients as they left ICU or hospital were frequently seen during the pandemic but tell only half of the story

South Wales Argus: The temporary mortuary constructed at Llanfrechfa Grange to accommodate 480 bodies and photographed just after the last body had left brings home the terrifying leathality of the COVID-19 virus.

The temporary mortuary constructed at Llanfrechfa Grange to accommodate 480 bodies and photographed just after the last body had left brings home the terrifying leathality of the Covid-19 virus

South Wales Argus: Mortuary technicians Vince Lovell and Molly Murphy had never previously experienced anything like the increase in deaths from COVID-19 that they were required to deal with. By April deaths had tripled compared to normal and without the national lockdown w

Mortuary technicians Vince Lovell and Molly Murphy had never previously experienced anything like the increase in deaths from Covid-19 that they were required to deal with

They described Mr Mason's work - depicting the pandemic at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital - as "a truly impressive individual and image maker who was working right at the front line of one of the biggest emergencies this country has ever seen."

They added: "With unique access – and a special viewpoint from which to capture their shots – medical staff have provided an at-times unflinching look behind the scenes of an all-encompassing global tragedy.

"There really could only be one choice of subject matter for our Power of Photography award this year, and it is with great gratitude that we give it to Nick Mason for his incredible work both behind the lens and in his day job."

South Wales Argus: Two doctors handover patients at the start of a new shift. PPE made even the simplest of tasks onerous and difficult.

Two doctors handover patients at the start of a new shift. PPE made even the simplest of tasks onerous and difficult

South Wales Argus: Clinical Psychologist Sarah Flowers. The care for patients in intensive care is delivered by a large multi-disciplinary team in which psychologists play an important part supporting patients and their families. During the pandemic the support that they al

Clinical psychologist Sarah Flowers

Mr Mason was working as a consultant in intensive care at the Gwent throughout the first wave of the pandemic, and has since moved to The Grange.

A keen documentary photographer, with experience working with mountain porters in Nepal, Mr Mason knew that what was happening was historic and needed to be documented.

He said: "I was very attuned to the fact that this was an unprecedented moment, and I wanted to create a historic archive of images.

"It became apparent that there were really important stories that needed to be told.

South Wales Argus: Supsended between life and death a patient with severe respiratory failure from COVID-19 is ventilated in the prone position.

Suspended between life and death a patient with severe respiratory failure from Covid-19 is ventilated in the prone position

South Wales Argus: PPE marks on the face of staff nurse Dave Rees

PPE marks on the face of staff nurse Dave Rees

South Wales Argus: Ffion Wilkins was a final year student nurse at the start of the pandemic and completed her training early to work in ITU

Ffion Wilkins was a final year student nurse at the start of the pandemic and completed her training early to work in ITU

"The only way we got through the first wave of the pandemic in ICU was because of the help we received from people coming in from other areas of the hospital. None of them had any idea what it was like to work in ICU.

"If you are working in an operating theatre for example, you largely experience elective surgeries where you expect patients to get better and go home after the operation.

"They were then being thrust into this environment with very little or no experience of it and I think many found it incredible traumatic and stressful.

"And I felt it was really important to document there really heroic and courageous efforts that they were making to Prevent ICU and the wider NHS becoming overwhelmed."

South Wales Argus: Recovery nurse Alex Smith who normally works in orthopaedic theatres and who volunteered to work in ICU, at the end of a long shift in PPE.

Recovery nurse Alex Smith who normally works in orthopaedic theatres and who volunteered to work in ICU, at the end of a long shift in PPE

South Wales Argus: Staff Nurse Clare Greenstreet and Physiotherapist Bryony Hatchley discuss the results of a blood gas test which gives crucial information about the oxygen levels in a patient’s blood and whether they are responding to treatment

Staff nurse Clare Greenstreet and physiotherapist Bryony Hatchley discuss the results of a blood gas test which gives crucial information about the oxygen levels in a patient’s blood and whether they are responding to treatment

South Wales Argus: A kidney dialysis machine purifies the blood of a proned patient with kidney failure. Mortality in ICU patients with kidney failure complicating COVID-19 is over 70%

A kidney dialysis machine purifies the blood of a proned patient with kidney failure. Mortality in ICU patients with kidney failure complicating Covid-19 is over 70 per cent

READ MORE:

Asked if being so close to the situation and the subjects he was photographing made the process more difficult, Mr Mason said the reverse was true.

"It felt like a privilege to be able to document what my colleagues, my friends, were going through," he said.

"I have always wanted to document the life in our ICU because it was something I felt very passionate about and I think the best photographs come when there is a connection."

When he found out that he had won the prestigious Amateur Photography award, Mr Mason was stunned.

South Wales Argus: A proning team prepares to prone a patient with severe respiratory failure. Proned patients are left lying on their front for at least 16 hours a day

A proning team prepares to prone a patient with severe respiratory failure. Proned patients are left lying on their front for at least 16 hours a day

South Wales Argus: Removing PPE, particularly at the end of a long shift required as much care and attention as donning it. Like many former ICU nurses, Paul Taylor returned to ICU to offer his experience and support to his colleagues

Removing PPE, particularly at the end of a long shift required as much care and attention as donning it. Like many former ICU nurses, Paul Taylor returned to ICU to offer his experience and support to his colleagues

South Wales Argus: Beds between beds. At one point the Royal Gwent ICU was operating at around 300% of its normal capacity necessitating placing beds in between the normal bed spaces to create room for ventilated patients.

Beds between beds. At one point the Royal Gwent ICU was operating at around 300 per cent of its normal capacity necessitating placing beds in between the normal bed spaces to create room for ventilated patients

He said: "It was a combination of amazement and I felt incredible humbled as well, because when you look back at all of the past winners it a real who's who of the very best documentary photographers around.

"I was pleased as well, because it meant I had achieved what I set out to: I had done justice to the people I work with.

"For all the interest in my photographs on national television, and in the press, plus all the talk of exhibitions and books, the greatest compliments of all have been to hear those colleagues say, 'You have told our story'."

You can view more of Nick Mason's photography here.

All pictures: Nick Mason