Chief photographer Ed Nix takes his pick of the week's best photographs and tells us why he reckons they make the grade

By far the most interesting shot of the week is this one by Jon Lewis. Steve Mills has just opened up Lenny’s Lizards in Wantage and Jon took this photograph of him with Albert the Green Iguana. This shot has so much going on. I love Steve’s expression of being licked on the nose.

Oxford Mail:

A brilliant shot here by Andrew Walmsley. Andrew likes beer as much as me and clearly thinks it should be worshipped. George Harwood-Dallyn at the Chester Arms is also a big fan and was happy to do the ‘holy grail’ pose ahead of The Chester beer festival at the bank holiday weekend. Put it in your diary!

Oxford Mail:

This looks like a scene from Predator or Platoon. These peering through the undergrowth shots are always nice, but you will end up lying in something you wish you hadn’t. Jon Lewis took this shot of Tom Burchall and Pia Forrestal at the Ultimate Survival Camp at the beautiful Hill End Outdoor Centre near Farmoor.

Oxford Mail:

Simon Williams was a very lucky man last Saturday and got to photograph (what looks like) a brilliant little festival. I’m jealous because I love Thai food and all the amazing culture. I’ve been there just once and it blew my mind. Another reason was hearing about all the lovely food and Chang beer on offer down there. Next year we must all go. It’s held in the park behind the West Oxford Community Centre off Botley Road.

Oxford Mail:

I apologise for picking my own picture here. But it has been a while since I’ve been out there shooting jobs for the paper and this was the first picture I took on GCSE results day. I was VERY lucky to grab this shot. One of those ‘right place, right time’ kind of moments. Congratulations on your results to Elizabeth Dorey from The Cherwell School, and thanks for the picture.

Oxford Mail:

Now we’ve all eaten a chilli at one point in our lives. And most of us have regretted it. But Tony Ainsworth eats them for fun. Look at his moustache – I don’t reckon it has been waxed but is the result o eating coutless chillies! Damian Halliwell took this shot at the annual chilli festival held in Abingdon.