A photo competition to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the completion of St Paul’s Cathedral has been scooped by a photographer who stumbled upon the winning angle by chance.

The captivating photograph shows the Sir Christopher Wren masterpiece on a dark, snowy night with a dome that had been specially lit up in red for World AIDS Day.

Michael Murphy had heard about the competition and decided to take some shots with the unique red lighting.

He had already packed up his gear for the day and was heading home when he happened to see a beam of red light projecting onto the cathedral’s dome and lighting up the falling snow in its path.

"St Paul's Cathedral has long been one of my favourite buildings in London, and after reading their announcement about lighting the dome red to raise awareness for World AIDS Day I knew I didn't want to miss the opportunity to shoot this iconic building in a unique way,” he said.

“I spent a couple of hours shooting the cathedral from various locations and perspectives on this cold night at the start of December but it was this, my final shot of the night, that I was happiest with.

“I had packed up my camera gear at the south end of the Millennium Bridge and was simply walking past this spot on my way back home.

“The snow had just started to fall, the coldness crept in and the streets were deserted. The movement of snow in the strong solitary beam of light is what most caught my eye, and so I just had to unpack my equipment and set up for one last shot."

Runners-up included Bob Fancy, with a black and white shot of the cathedral framed by a giant spider sculpture that resembled something out of a horror movie.

Kurt Roberts submitted another unusual picture showing the cross on the top of the dome set against a full moon.

A quintessentially London view was captured by Gerry Molumby whose picture showed St Paul’s on a grey, rainy day as passers-by carried their different coloured umbrellas.

All 10 winning images will be displayed in the crypt of the cathedral as part of the digital timeline outside film experience, Oculus: an eye into St Paul’s.

Murphy will receive one of 25 exclusive glass vases made by the Venice-based firm, Salviati, to celebrate the cathedral’s 300th anniversary.

The Rev Canon Mark Oakley, Treasurer of St Paul’s and one of the judges, praised his winning image.

“Amongst so many poignant photographs of the cathedral this one stood out,” he said.

“It captures the cathedral by night as it responds to an urgent situation in the world. The darkness and snow seem to retreat from a warmer light than the streets can give and which is centred on the dome.

"It is almost as if the dome is on fire, not in a Blitz this time, but in solidarity with those who live with HIV/AIDS. Michael’s photograph beautifully structures a meditation.”