John Lehmann of Vancouver, has won the first prize of £2000 in the fourth year of the Commonwealth Photographic Awards for a photograph that, according to Tony Freeman, one of the judges, "could not get closer to life".

He, like fellow judges, Justin Williams and Ray Lowe was attracted by the spontaneous expressions of sheer joy on the faces of the parents as they celebrated the life of their new baby.

» Read the press release.

Click any of the images in the gallery below to view a larger version and a brief description of the photograph.

First Prize and Regional Winner for Canada & West Indies John Lehmann (Canada)		Regional Winner Africa Siphiwe Sibeko (South Africa)		Regional Winner Asia & SE Asia Chi Yin Sim (Singapore)		Regional Winner Australasia & Pacific Tony McDonough (Australia)
Regional Winner - Europe & Atlantic Paul Howell (UK)		Highly Commended - Africa Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi (Zimbabwe)		Highly Commended - Africa Michael Nsubuga (Uganda)		Highly Commended - Africa Karin Retief (South Africa)
Highly Commended - Africa Debbie Yazbek (South Africa)		Highly Commended - Asia ML Barai (India)		Highly Commended - Asia Binode Kumar Das (India)		Highly Commended - Asia Rajib De (India)
Highly Commended - Asia Ashok Nath Dey (India)		Highly Commended - Asia Pang Piow Kan (Malaysia)		Highly Commended - Asia Swapan Mahapatra (India)		Highly Commended - Asia Dines Mukherjee (India)
Highly Commended - Asia Indranil Sarkar (India)		Highly Commended - Asia Debashis Sawoo (India)		Highly Commended - Australasia & Pacific Liz Cadogan (New Zealand)		Highly Commended - Australasia & Pacific Stewart Chambers (Australia)
Highly Commended - Australasia & Pacific Steve Ferrier (Australia)		Highly Commended - Australasia & Pacific Dave Hunt (Australia)		Highly Commended - Australasia & Pacific John Kirk-Anderson (New Zealand)		Highly Commended - Australasia & Pacific Olga Nebot (Australia)
Highly Commended - Canada & Caribbean Chris Schwarz (Canada)		Highly Commended - Canada & Caribbean Carlington Wilmot (Jamaica)		Highly Commended - Europe & Atlantic John Angerson (UK)		Highly Commended - Europe & Atlantic Doug Moody (UK)
Highly Commended - Europe & Atlantic Royston E. Naylor (UK)		A high resolution CD-ROM copy of the photos are available for the press. Email the CBA at cba@cba.org.uk or phone the CBA Secretariat in London: +44 (0)20 7583 5550 for more information.