Sweet moment photographer surprises his mother as she realises his work is hanging in the Royal Academy

• Joshua Paul Akers, 35, from London, surprised his mum in a sweet video
• His picture got selected for the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy
• Instead of telling his mum, Sally, he decided to wait until their annual visit
• The heart-warming video has racked up over 6,000 views, on his Twitter page

A photographer surprised his mum after his picture was selected for the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. 

Joshua Paul Akers, 35, from London, goes to the exhibition with his mum, Sally Grenville, 61, every year- however this year was a little different because he managed to give her the ultimate surprise.   

The portrait and travel photographer’s picture entitled Urban Jungle – Downtown Yangon was selected for this years exhibition and was displayed in the gallery for sale.

Instead of telling his mum he decided to wait until their annual visit to see if she would spot his piece. 

Joshua Paul Akers, 35, from London, surprised his mum in a heart-warming video after his picture got selected for the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London

In a video, which has racked up over 6,000 views, on his Twitter page @joshuapaulakers his fiancé Alex Outhwaite captured the precious moment. 

He captioned the post: ‘I didn’t tell my Mum my picture got into the @royalacademy #SummerExhibition- we go together every year!’

Comedian Joe Lycett, who has been filming a programme about the Summer Exhibition for Channel 4, was also photographed with Joshua and pointed at his work and said ‘Wow I have something in my eye.’   

Speaking to the MailOnline Joshua said: ‘I was so excited to be selected as I go every year but this was the first time I’ve ever tried to enter my work.

During a trip to Downtown Yangon, Myanmar, Joshua decided to angle his camera from the fifth floor of ChanMyae Guest House to capture the snap. The photograph is available as a limited edition on acrylic at the Royal Academy

Joshua goes to the exhibition with his mum, Sally Grenville, 61, (pictured) every year- however this year was a little different as he managed to give her the ultimate surprise

Joshua said his mum always loved his photo from Yangon so when she spotted it hanging in the gallery she said she’s ‘going to remember this day forever’

‘It was hard to keep it from my mum, especially walking around the RA on the day with her I couldn’t stop smiling, but it was so worth it to see her face!

‘I’m so passionate about my travel photography and my mum always loved this photo from Yangon, so being able to surprise her in the Royal Academy was amazing. 

‘She said she’s going to remember this day forever!’ 

The popular picture was also a finalist in the National Geographic Traveller Photo of the Year 2021. 

During a trip to Downtown Yangon, Myanmar, Joshua decided to angle his camera from the fifth floor of ChanMyae Guest House. 

Comedian Joe Lycett, who has been filming a programme about the Summer Exhibition for Channel 4, was also photographed with Joshua and pointed at his work and said ‘Wow I have something in my eye’

He explained: ‘There is so much happening at ground level in Yangon that you could be forgiven for not looking up. 

Having chosen a budget guesthouse on the upper levels of a hectic downtown street, I found myself with an even more emotive view five stories above street level.’

Akers, who works as an event photographer by day, added: ‘The formerly grand facades of the buildings opposite had turned into a sort of unintentional vertical urban jungle, with trees and plants growing out of the cracks in the green and faded yellow walls’  

The photograph is available as a limited edition on acrylic at the Royal Academy. 

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