12–15 years
Leaping into the golden wild
PHOTOGRAPHER
Shelby Grant
CATEGORY
12–15 years – Winner 2025
DESCRIPTION
On an evening walk with my camera, I spotted a deer and headed in their direction. As I got closer, I heard a rustle and there stood a badger in the newly cut field. I got down low to hide myself and get closer to eye level, and this beautiful badger started to run in my direction. I cranked up my shutter speed and took lots of photos. Within a few seconds it was over and my heart was racing. What a moment!
Illuminated
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jack Crockford
CATEGORY
12–15 years – Runner-up 2025
DESCRIPTION
I discovered that a pair of foxes were living on my road. Watching them patrol up and down the street in search of a meal for themselves or one of their three cubs became my favourite evening activity. I’d seen shots like this before, so I set out with this specific style in mind. I wanted to get a clean and dark image, and after multiple failed attempts, I finally got this shot.
Golden hour barny
PHOTOGRAPHER
James Clark
CATEGORY
12–15 years – Commended 2025
DESCRIPTION
I cycled to a local spot where I'd caught a glimpse of a barn owl before. To my surprise, as I approached a sunlit field, a beautiful barn owl appeared on the horizon, flying straight towards me. Trying to contain my excitement, I crept quietly backwards into some shrub for camouflage. I didn't have to wait long before the majestic bird landed silently on his favourite perch, ready to hunt. I began taking images, mesmerised by his stillness.
A blossom perch
PHOTOGRAPHER
Sam Morris
CATEGORY
12–15 years – Commended 2025
DESCRIPTION
Walking home after a rewarding day photographing small birds, I passed a flowering blossom tree and stopped in my tracks when I heard the robin’s unmistakable song. The bird was perched perfectly in the branches, nestled among the soft petals. I used the surrounding blooms to frame the moment – capturing the beautiful contrast between the bright orangey-red of the robin and the vibrant pinks of the blossoms.
Daydreaming in the chamomiles
Photographer
Anwen Whitehead
Category
12–15 years – Winner and overall winner 2024
Description
My long-anticipated first visit to Skomer Island in Wales exceeded my wildest dreams. I arrived on a misty morning, but the sun finally broke through the clouds in the afternoon, exposing a spectacular backdrop. I particularly like the warmth of the greens and contrasting colours of the adult puffin I captured among the chamomile found by the cliff edges.
Misty descent
Photographer
Johann Morrison
Category
12–15 years – Runner-up 2024
Description
I was at Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire, standing on a viewing platform, and saw a gannet repeatedly gliding over the edge of the cliff just 20 feet away. I changed to a wide-angle lens and found the ideal composition, with the cliffs and sea a prominent part of the scene. I fired a short burst of shots as the gannet swooped dramatically back down the cliff. This image tells a story, as if the gannet is caught between the cliffs and the perilous sea below.
Beautiful blue tit
Photographer
Jack Brackley
Category
12–15 years – Commended 2024
Description
This photo was taken at the RSPB in Bedfordshire. I set up my tripod to photograph some of the birds at an angle where I could capture a catchlight in their eyes. I composed this image so the blue sky and yellow gorse were in the frame as they matched the stunning colours of the blue tit. I focused on its eye for a sharp image. I love the details in the feathers, the sharpness of the image and the angle of the bird.
Common darter
Photographer
William Lambourne
Category
12–15 years – Commended 2024
Description
I noticed this common darter hunting around the edge of my neighbour's pond and saw that it was regularly alighting on the tip of a horsetail plant. I positioned myself so that the low sun was backlighting the dragonfly, underexposed slightly, and took the photograph.
Translucent guest
Photographer
Angelo Anderson
Category
12–15 years – Commended 2024
Description
This image came from the sudden arrival of a peculiar ghost-white arachnid (a flower crab spider) onto a magenta flower I was photographing at the time. The glass-like exoskeleton absorbed the colour of the flower’s petals, while its bright white abdomen created a direct contrast to the intensity of the magenta. I worked this contrast into my post-production of the image, with the background as a canvas of muted tones. The focus remains on the contrast within the composition.
Drookit woodpecker
Photographer
Eilidh Shannon
Category
12–15 years – Commended 2024
Description
In Scotland, when something’s really wet, we use the word ‘drookit’. I was sat in a hide looking for pine martens and it rained all day. The pine martens had clearly decided it was too wet and I was disappointed not to see them, however, many wee birds were active, including this woodpecker. It could definitely be described as ‘fair drookit’! Its determination to get food, even in extreme Scottish weather, was amazing. I was very glad to be in the dry hide myself.
Sergeant squirrel reporting for duty
Photographer
Anwen Whitehead
Category
12–15 years – Commended 2024
Description
I visited Anglesey to learn about the successful red squirrel conservation efforts at Nant y Pandy and spent a day in the company of a local expert and an enchanting group of reds. This individual was foraging when something caught their attention and they sat upright, surveying their surroundings. I stealthily positioned myself at eye-level. This is one of my favourite photographs from the trip. I love the comically long ear tufts and pristine white tummy, with paws neatly held in classic red squirrel pose.