The judges
Find out about the judging panel of photographic experts for the Young Photographer Awards.
Andrew Forsyth
Andrew is our Multimedia, Manager, who goes on photoshoots with our animals around England and Wales. He's been a finalist in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards twice, as well as in the British Wildlife Photography Awards, Landscape Photographer of the Year, and the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitions.
Andrew has been an RSPCA Young Photographer Awards judge since 2005 and knows a winning shot when he sees one.
Ellie Rothnie
Ellie is an internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer and Canon Ambassador, who has an enduring love of animal and bird portraiture. Focusing on species in her native UK, as well as Europe, East Africa, Japan and North/Central America, Ellie’s use of natural light, backgrounds and foregrounds creates elegant and timeless images. One of her ongoing projects is with the charismatic Dalmatian pelican of Lake Kerkini, photographing the conservation successes and challenges of a fragile bird species.
Ellie is a tour leader with the wildlife trip company Natures Images. This is her 11th year as a judge. ellierothnie.com
Catriona Parfitt
Catriona is a professional wildlife photographer and former RSPCA Young Photographer Awards Overall Winner. Catriona first entered the competition in 2004, was named 'Overall winner' twice (in 2005 and 2010) and also received awards in four other years.
She won the BBC Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2008 and has been successful in the Young Travel Photographer of the Year competition. This is Catriona's 11th year as judge.
Danny Green
Danny Green was born and still lives in Leicestershire.
He became interested in nature from a young age and was very rarely at home, always wandering the woods and rivers looking for wildlife. Some 30 years on and he is still as restless and keen professional photographer. His images are regularly published in magazines like BBC Wildlife, the RSPB’s Natures Home and Outdoor Photography and in 2014 had his first full feature published in National Geographic. He is also represented by some of the leading picture agencies including RSPB Images, Nature PL and NHPA.
Danny has received numerous awards for his photography; several of his images have been awarded category winners in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, he was the overall winner in the IWP awards in 2007, in 2009 won the Bird Category in Natures Best and has had a number of Highly Commended images in the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and was the overall winner in the Deer Photographer of the Year for 2025.
More of Danny’s work can be seen at www.dannygreenphotography.com
Brett Harkness
Brett Harkness has been working as an RSPCA photographer for over two years, creating powerful and emotive imagery that captures the spirit, vulnerability and resilience of the animals in the charity’s care. His love for animals has shaped much of his creative life, and continues to inspire both his personal and commissioned work. Today, Brett is recognised for his ability to combine storytelling with technical excellence, producing cinematic photography and film for brands, events and private clients. Brett has also stepped into a new role as a photography competition judge during his first year in the position, sharing his experience with the next generation of creatives. His passion for imagery — and for animals of all kinds — continues to drive every project he takes on.
Fabian Rivers
Fabian is an exotics and wildlife vet, known as Dready Vet, and an RSPCA Ambassador. He’s appeared on CBBC show The Pets Factor and has presented animal welfare documentaries such as the BBC programme Britain's Puppy Boom: Counting the Cost.
Fabian loves sharing animal care advice with young people and showing others how to look after the animals who share our world.
A keen photographer himself, this is his second year as an RSPCA Young Photographer Awards judge.
