Young RSPCA

Photographer: Ollie Ross
Category: Picture Perfect Pets - Winner 2018
Title: Leap of faith
Description: This image captures Ruby's true cockapoo character, on a foggy winter's morning at our local golf club.

Photographer: Sophie Bramall
Category: Picture Perfect Pets - Runner-up 2018
Title: The fountain of life
Description: I first found out Beauty had kidney disease in April 2017 and the vets told me she would become increasingly thirsty, and the more she drank the more it would help her. The fountain is in my garden and I believe in some way it prolonged her life. Every time I see this photo it reminds me how clever she was and I wish she could have stayed with me a lot longer.

Photographer: Lucy Hutton
Category: The Human Impact on Animals - Winner 2018 and Overall Winner 2018
Title: Solitario George
Description: Lonesome George ('Solitario George' to locals) is a Pinta Island tortoise who was the last of his species. His preserved body is kept in a temperature controlled room in the Charles Darwin Research Centre in the Galapagos. I only had six minutes to get a photo free of people and I found the moment very moving, as the conservation of endangered species is something I am passionate about.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: The Human Impact on Animals - Runner-up 2018
Title: What's in it for me?
Description: A herring gull in Brighton tears at a plastic bag of rubbish to see what's inside. With natural food resources depleting the opportunistic gulls have turned to towns and cities as prime spots for feeding, where they will generally scavenge for discarded food.

Photographer: Thomas Easterbrook
Category: Under 12 - Winner 2018
Title: Majestic raven
Description: I photographed this raven keeping watch at the Tower of London. I thought it was slightly menacing but very beautiful.

Photographer: Joshua Kneale
Category: Under 12 - Runner-up 2018
Title: Peeking puffin
Description: I took this photo on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire. The puffins were relatively easy to approach, allowing me to capture this close-up image. I love the out-of-focus golden grass around the puffin and the fact that it is just peeking out of the hole.

Photographer: Thomas Easterbrook
Category: Under 12 - Commended 2018
Title: Havergate hare
Description: In the spring, I took a boat to Havergate Island before sunrise to see the brown hares. Luckily, I was able to get very close to one hare and managed to take this photo. The hare seemed very relaxed and I love the way the gorse is reflecting in its eye.

Photographer: Thomas Easterbrook
Category: Under 12 - Commended 2018
Title: Ladybird preparing for lunch
Description: I took this photo on a walk in the summer. I was surprised how scary the ladybird looked when seen very close and it was certainly well positioned for its next meal!

Photographer: Freddy Jones
Category: 12-15 - Winner 2018
Title: Grass snake pond dipping
Description: I was walking down the garden to photograph sparrowhawks when something caught my eye. I saw a head pop up and thought it was a frog, but I crept in close to the pond and saw it was a grass snake! It saw me, so I waited patiently nearby and as soon as its head appeared I took the shot.

Photographer: Joshua Myers
Category: 12-15 - Runner-up 2018
Title: The stare
Description: This is the very intense and stern-looking stare of an incredibly cute snowy owl chick at a bird of prey and animal park in Bridlington. The snowy owl was allowed to wander around freely and I took the opportunity to get down to eye level and shoot a close-up portrait as it gave me 'the stare'!

Photographer: Jake Kneale
Category: 12-15 - Commended 2018
Title: Emergence
Description: I photographed this downy emerald dragonfly (Cordulia aenea) emerging from its larval form on a fence post at a local nature reserve. The fascinating process took over two-and-a-half hours, finally leaving the hollow exuvia behind. I used flash to create a black background, producing a simpler and more dramatic image.

Photographer: Will Jenkins
Category: 12-15 - Commended 2018
Title: Scratch
Description: This brown bear cub had been digging for clams on a beach in Alaska and had sand in his snout and on his paw and ear. He sat down for a long scratch. I sat down too as it looked better shooting from a lower viewpoint.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: 16-18 Winner 2018
Title: In the dying light
Description: A carrion crow is silhouetted by the last ray of the day's sunshine as the park around dims into darkness. Taken in Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: 16-18 - Runner-up 2018
Title: Summer shower
Description: To cool down during the heatwave in July this herring gull found a fountain to sit under. Taken in Brighton.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: 16-18 - Commended 2018
Title: Black on white
Description: During the winter the lakes of my local park froze and were covered with a layer of snow. I was struck by the sharp contrast between the black of this crow and the white of the lake. Taken in Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Winner 2018
Portfolio title: The carrion crow
Image title: Take flight (1 of 5)
Image description: A carrion crow takes flight from a dead branch as the evening sun shines bright on the horizon. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Winner 2018
Portfolio title: The carrion crow
Image title: On an autumn morning (2 of 5)
Image description: A carrion crow sits among some fallen leaves as the early morning sun begins to bring colour to the parkland behind. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Winner 2018
Portfolio title: The carrion crow
Image title: Black on white (3 of 5)
Image description: During the winter the lakes of my local park froze and were covered with a layer of snow. I was struck by the sharp contrast between the black of this crow and the white of the lake. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Winner 2018
Portfolio title: The carrion crow
Image title: Evening bokeh (4 of 5)
Image description: The setting sun filters through the trees behind this crow, creating golden 'bokeh balls'. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Winner 2018
Portfolio title: The carrion crow
Image title: Seaside swoop (5 of 5)
Image description: A small party of crows along Brighton beach were picking up small items of food which they would then fly into the air with and drop onto the hard stones below. This would crack apart the morsel and allow the crow to eat it. This crow is swooping down to see if its drop has been successful.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Runner-up 2018
Portfolio title: The colours of autumn
Image title: Autumn's russet (1 of 5)
Image description: A red fox vixen rests amongst fallen leaves. Her thick winter coat matches the rich reds and oranges of the leaf litter. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Runner-up 2018
Portfolio title: The colours of autumn
Image title: Little egret (2 of 5)
Image description: A little egret stands in a tree above a canal, keeping a keen eye out for the local mistle thrushes who will often mob it. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Runner-up 2018
Portfolio title: The colours of autumn
Image title: Grey heron (3 of 5)
Image description: A grey heron sits in a tree among the autumn leaves. In a busy London park the heron waits until the canal is safe before flying down to fish. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Runner-up 2018
Portfolio title: The colours of autumn
Image title: Little grebe (4 of 5)
Image description: A little grebe swims through a shallow canal. The floor of the canal is coated with the large leaves of a plane tree that have dropped into the water. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Runner-up 2018
Portfolio title: The colours of autumn
Image title: A lake of gold (5 of 5)
Image description: The trees around the lake reflected their leaves turning the water around this mallard to gold. Valentines Park, London.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Commended 2018
Portfolio title: The herring gulls of Brighton
Image title: Southern sunset (1 of 5)
Image description: A herring gull is silhouetted by the famous Brighton sunset.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Commended 2018
Portfolio title: The herring gulls of Brighton
Image title: Gull in the snow (2 of 5)
Image description: A herring gull surrounded by falling snow during the winter cold snap.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Commended 2018
Portfolio title: The herring gulls of Brighton
Image title: Summer shower (3 of 5)
Image description: To cool down during the heatwave in July this herring gull found a fountain to sit under.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Commended 2018
Portfolio title: The herring gulls of Brighton
Image title: Roost (4 of 5)
Image description: At dusk, herring gulls leave the town and head out to the abandoned West Pier to roost for the night.

Photographer: Gideon Knight
Category: Portfolio - Commended 2018
Portfolio title: The herring gulls of Brighton
Image title: Town crier (5 of 5)
Image description: A herring gull calls loudly in Brighton's popular Churchill Square.

Photographer: Millie Rodgers
Category: Under 12 Mobile Phone and Devices - Winner 2018 and Judges' Special Mention
Title: Best friends
Description: Willow and I love being together. She loves walks in the Peak District countryside, paddling in the stream - and when I throw balls for her she brings them back again and again. She also likes to help/hinder me with my homework by lying in the middle of my papers! Willow is my best friend. N.b. Unlike Willow, many dogs will avoid close facial contact with their owners and it can be unsafe, so the RSPCA doesn't recommend it.

Photographer: Phoebe O'Shaugnessy
Category: Under 12 Mobile Phone and Devices - Runner-up 2018
Title: My grandad's doggy, Bella
Description: Snuggled up on the sofa together, I noticed that the window light shining on Bella's silky fur looked very interesting. The shadows and lighting really show up her lovely brown eye and the lines of her face. I took this photo and showed it to Bella - I think she liked it too!

Photographer: Tia Bromley
Category: 12-15 Years Mobile Phone and Devices - Winner 2018
Title: I can see you
Description: I was sitting on the floor next to our playful two-and-a-half-year-old ragdoll cat, Bluebell, when she jumped into an empty box. Her big, beautiful blue eyes were peering over the edge, so I quickly grabbed my iPhone to capture the moment and ended up with my 'I can see you' photo.

Photographer: Molly Charnock
Category: 12-15 Years Mobile Phone and Devices - Runner-up 2018
Title: Puppy
Description: A Labrador puppy, only days old, snuggled among their nine siblings for warmth.

Photographer: Aimee Bristow
Category: 16-18 Years Mobile Phone and Devices - Winner 2018
Title: Step carefully
Description: Camouflaged in the sand, this was our friendly morning visitor that crawled out from under the tent when we were packing up from a camping trip in the desert.

Photographer: Kizzy Porter
Category: 16-18 Years Mobile Phone and Devices - Runner-up 2018
Title: Goof-ball
Description: I took this photo of my Labrador, Blue, in our garden on a sunny July afternoon. The thing I love most about the photo has to be the emotion she is showing in her eye, it really sums her up. She has such a crazy yet loving personality and still acts like a puppy at nearly four years old!