SOMETIMES, the best ideas come in unusual places.

For keen photographer Mehul Ruparel, inspiration struck as sunshine burst through the windows of a Glasgow church.

Irregular opening times had previously prevented the architect from visiting Charles Rennie Mackintosh's famous Queen's Cross Church.

He struck lucky on Doors Open Day and a photograph taken inside the art nouveau church has now won him first prize in a competition that was part of this year's Creative Mackintosh Festival.

Originally from India, 35-year-old Mehul completed his postgraduate studies at Glasgow School of Art.

He said: "Mackintosh's work blends in so well with the general fabric of Glasgow. It doesn't stand out but the more you look at it, the more it grows on you.

"The picture was taken in a lovely little room at the back of the church. The light was fantastic, it was falling in exactly the right place. I was fortunate to be there at the right time."

Mehul said he won the prize thanks to his wife Nikita, who is also an architect in Glasgow.

She first heard about the Inspired by Mackintosh photography competition and entered herself, but only got as far as a shortlisted placing.

The competition, now in its second year, invited amateur snappers to take a picture of a Mackintosh building or Mackintosh-inspired building during Glasgow Doors Open Day.

Evening Times photographer Martin Shields was one of the judges.

Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, organisers of Doors Open Day, teamed up with the Mackintosh festival for the competition, which was sponsored by Glasgow Airport and Glasgow City Heritage Trust.

All the winning photographs will be included in the Inspired Mackintosh exhibition in The Lighthouse until the end of Creative Mackintosh festival, before going on to be exhibited at Glasgow Airport.

Ruth Morris, events and development co-ordinator at Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, said: "Congratulations to Mehul on his entry which we felt captured the brief perfectly.

"Glasgow is a creative city and all the entries have shown this, in addition to highlighting Glasgow's architecture."

Mehul's win was announced on Friday at the official opening of this year's Creative Mackintosh Festival at The Lighthouse.

As his prize, Rupel and his wife will now be flying off to Barcelona, courtesy of Jet2.com

The festival runs until October Sunday 27 and will feature more than 30 events in Mackintosh venues throughout the city.

angela.mcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk