YPA competition winners revealed

Close-up of spider eyes named top of the snaps

17.12.12

A photograph which zooms in on four spider eyes and shows every minute detail has won first prize in a competition for young people.

Francis Prior, 18, from Liverpool was today named the overall winner of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2012 (YPA12) for ‘Through the Looking Glass’ - a striking macro image of the common household spider which are known for their particularly large eyes. Francis also won the 16-18 category for the same photo and was commended for another close-up image of a bee.

Bold, bright and unusual

Wildlife TV presenter and RSPCA vice president Chris Packham, who was on the judging panel, said:

This image just jumped out at us – it is bold, bright and very unusual. A completely different league to anything we’ve seen before.

I also like the way that it uses digital media techniques, which are becoming as important to modern day photography as the old-fashioned dark room techniques.

But for me the best thing about this picture is that it is of a jumping spider which anyone can find on their back wall. Francis has looked at something commonplace with new eyes and used technique and imagination to transform into something completely new. Quite brilliant.

Celebrating the YPA 2012 winners

The winners of each group were revealed at a ceremony at the RSPCA offices in Southwater, Horsham on Friday, December 14, which was presented by Bill Oddie, also an RSPCA vice president.

Category winners are:

• Portfolio category
  17-year-old Oscar Dewhurst from Chiswick, with a selection of images of bitterns – including one bird camouflaged in the reeds, another hunting in a marshy pool and several others being chased by some crows in the sky.
   
• Pet Personalities
  A dog sliding in fox poo captured Danielle Porter's pets personality perfectly!
   
• 12 - 15 year olds
  A serene seal sitting in the middle of a sandstorm in Norfolk meant that Alex Berryman, 15, of Fleet, Hampshire, topped this talented group.
   
• Under-12s
  A portrait of a spider scuttling along a barn floor won 9-year-old Dana Brereton the under-12s category.

Fantastic prizes for prestigous award

As the overall winner, Francis will be treated to a specialist three-day wildlife photography break courtesy of Nature’s Images. He will learn some expert tips as well as share award-winning wildlife photographer Danny Green’s inside knowledge of his trade.

Other prizes include a range of fantastic Olympus equipment.  

For more information visit www.rspca.org.uk/ypa.