A LOCAL amateur photographer is having his panoramic views of Malvern and the surrounding area shown as part of an international exhibition in Portugal.

Robert Bilsland, of Malvern, was invited by the International VR Photography Association to contribute work to an exhibition entitled "Masters of Contemporary Panoramic Photography".

The exhibition in Palmela showcases the work of 27 photographers, both amateur and professional, from all round the world, including Brazil, Slovenia, Germany and the USA. Of these photographers, five, including Robert, were singled out as true masters of their craft and given additional space allowing them to share more of their work.

"It was very much an honour just to be asked to contribute to this exhibition, but then to find out I was one of the five who were going to have their work highlighted was just fantastic. This really is a high point to what I have been creating over the years. It's truly unbelievable that I can see my name being listed along with other amateur and professional photographers who's work I look up and aspire to."

While Robert shared his views of bluebells in West Malvern, the Worcestershire Beacon at sunset and Sir Edward Elgar's grave others were showing Tibetan Monks clearing snow, sunsets over the Ganges River in India, the great wall of China and the space shuttle Discovery as it lifted off from the launch pad.

Robert has been creating his panoramic views for over 10 years and has mainly focused on Malvern and the surrounding area. Most of the views he creates he uploads to his website and others on the Internet to share. He has also contributed, since it started more than six years ago, to the World Wide Panorama project, an online collection of interactive panoramic views from all over the world. Again a lot of these submissions are of Malvern and the surrounding area.

"Malvern to me, is a wonderful place to live. It's one of those places where it's all too easy to forget what you have right on your very own doorstep, there's a reason that the hills are listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.

The exhibition is open to the public throughout the summer in the historic São Tiago Church, Palmela Castle, Palmela, Portugal.