TRIBUTES have been paid to a talented teenage photographer who has been found dead.
The 19-year-old, who has been named locally as Lewis Thelwall, was found close to Afan Way, Port Talbot, on Monday afternoon.
Mr Thelwall was a member of the Port Talbot Camera Club and had earlier this year won an award at the group's annual competition.
Darren Boxer, chairman of the group, said: "Everyone at the club is devastated, our thoughts are with his family. Lewis was a very much loved member who was involved with everything at the club.
"He was a very talented photographer with a promising future. Lewis was specially gifted in portrait photography and won the Best Digital Portrait in this year's finals.
"He was a beautiful and talented young man who will be missed by all."
Friends of Lewis were quick to pay tribute to him on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
More than 100 people have signed up to a page in memory of him on Facebook.
One member, Matthew Trick, wrote: "This tragedy is beyond words, Lewis was a compassionate and talented person who was always ready to lend his support to people.
"We celebrate his life and give thanks to God for the time we had with him."
Another friend, Andrew Waters, posted: "He is a good friend. He will be missed deeply and not just for his photography work, but for his brightness when he walked into a room."
A spokesman for South Wales Police confirmed they were investigating the death, which was not being treated as suspicious.
He said next of kin had been informed.
