Nuts about young talent - YPA 2011 winners revealed
Image of rare species named top of the snaps
16.12.11
A photo of a quizzical red squirrel peeking out of the woodland dusk has beaten off stiff competition to be named overall winner of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards (YPA) 2011.
Will Nicholls, 16, from Hexham, took the picture of the rare animal in Keilder Forest, Northumberland, and was presented with his prize at a ceremony at the Tower of London today (Friday, 16 December).
He also won the 16-18 category for the same snapshot of the squirrel pausing for thought as a ray of evening sunlight casts across its face.
'A truly deserving winner'
Award-winning photographer Danny Green was one of the judges of the awards, and will provide the specialist three-day wildlife photography break which makes up part of Will's prize.
He said:
This is a very intimate portrait of an elusive creature – a truly deserving winner.
The way the light is shining on the squirrel in this picture makes you feel as if it is you, the viewer, who has happened across it. It is very personal, giving you the impression that you are actually there.
This is all the more powerful because the red squirrel is not doing too great at the moment – there has been a massive decline and it is now a very rare species.
Just some of the other amazing winning photos
Portfolio category
Sam Rowley, 17, from Richmond, topped the Portfolio category with a selection of images of deer – including stags locking antlers, another bellowing into the dawn mist and a mother cleaning her fawn's ear.
Pet Personalities category
Two excited whippets skipping along a beach won 16-year-old Amy Wilton from Fareham the Pet Personalities category.
12-15 category
A synchronised caterpillar-eating team at the end of the garden meant that Georgia Harding, 12, of Bristol, topped the 12-15 group.
Under 12s category
A misty portrait of a black-tailed godwit standing one-legged on a post won 10-year-old Sophie Bramall from Stafford the under-12s category.
'It is a privilege to be involved in this competition'
The awards were presented by wildlife filmmaker and TV presenter Simon King, who also helped judge the awards.
He said:
The standard of the entries this year has been just incredible and it is a privilege to be involved in this competition.
It is fantastic to see such young talent pour so much imagination and originality into capturing the spirit of an animal and our relationship with them.
I was particularly impressed with how young some of the entrants were - the under 12 category was just phenomenal.
You can find out more about the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards at our dedicated YPA website:
YPA 2011 is supported by Warners Midlands www.warners.co.uk, Natures Images www.natures-images.co.uk, Wildlife Whisperer www.wildlifewhisperer.tv, Hamleys www.hamleys.com and Olympus www.olympus.co.uk.
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