AN AWARD-winning photographer from Weymouth has been chosen to officially record a groundbreaking journey - as a '21st-century Mayflower' takes to the sea.

Oli Dickinson, 35, who runs Different View Photography, has been chosen to record drone footage of the performance of a new autonomous ship, as it goes through sea trials just off the coast of Plymouth.

Mayflower was an English ship that transported a group of English families known today as the Pilgrims from England to the New World in 1620.

The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS), built by marine research organization ProMare and powered by IBM's artificial intelligence technology, will cross oceans to help scientists collect vital environmental data.

Once testing is complete, MAS will set sail in the footsteps of its famous namesake, crossing from Plymouth in England to Plymouth in Massachusetts, in spring 2021.

The work follows Oli’s involvement in the launch of the ship in September this year, when he was asked to use his drones to film the launch of MAS – a job which required complex piloting and camera manoeuvring.

He said: "I’m over the moon and delighted by this opportunity. IBM was so thrilled with my previous work that they asked me to document the sea trial of the MAS. I’m so excited to have been invited to be a part of this important piece of ground-breaking work. I didn’t think anything could top winning an international award last February, but this does.

“It’s a huge compliment for a company as large as IBM to request the services of someone who is just starting out on their business journey.”

Oli is a sports-mad photographer who originally pursued a career in football playing for Weymouth, though not under contract. He went on to attend Camp America in Texas working in a special needs camp and it was this experience that prompted him to take degree in sports science and teaching in primary schools. Photography was a part of his early career.

“Photography started at university where a friend showed me what could be achieved and it inspired me. Since then I’ve really studied the art and I keep learning. I never thought anything could come close to my passion for sport and teaching but it does.

“I can’t believe my journey over the last 18 months. It has spurred me on to believe that with tenacity and hard work anything is achievable.”

In his first year of business, Oli won The People’s Choice Award in the architecture category of the British Photography Awards 2020 for his image at Rame Head Cornwall.

For more information about Different View Photography visit www.differentviewphotography.co.uk