Young RSPCA

Photographer: Max Pletzer
Category: Under 12 - Winner 2022
Title: River crossing
Description: We were travelling by boat along the Keurbooms River in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Suddenly we saw a baby boomslang swimming along the river. I grabbed my camera and lowered myself down in the boat as far as I could and just kept taking photos, all the while playing around with the ISO, shutter speed and depth of field.

Photographer: Jamie Smart
Category: Under 12 - Runner-up 2022
Title: Egret twins
Description: On a visit to Llanelli Wetlands Centre I was ultra excited to see these little egrets flying over my head while we were still in the car park. Luckily I managed to get this photo before they went out of shot.

Photographer: Bella Pharo
Category: Under 12 - Commended 2022
Title: Simba
Description: A mother lion and her two cubs crossed the road in front of our truck. The two cubs were following the mother over to a new place to sleep. The mother climbed up this acacia tree but I was too slow to get a photo. I knew the cubs would follow her up, so I pointed my camera up at the tree and luckily got this cub between the branches. I love how the light looks on the cub's chest and paws.

Photographer: Jamie Smart
Category: Under 12 - Commended 2022
Title: Flying high
Description: I captured this curlew flying over my head on the common land near my home. We've been helping a local conservation charity keep an eye out for these curlews as they are precious and vulnerable. I was lucky enough to see their chicks grow up and fledge this year - a real treat!

Photographer: Harvey Hill
Category: Under 12 - Commended 2022
Title: A relaxed dipper
Description: While wading through icy water in the Peak District, I spotted this extremely tame dipper. When it perched on a fallen tree in the water, I couldn't help noticing how relaxed and chilled it was. When taking the photo I was focusing on a detailed portrait, but as I looked back at the image I was over the moon with the result. I love the composition of the sunlit bird against the dark background.

Photographer: Tyler Hood
Category: Under 12 - Commended 2022
Title: I'm too focussed
Description: After spending time with a sparrowhawk family I was eager to find a nest. We found one, but at first I only saw the male and observed him putting food on a branch for the female to collect. The male sat on the branch but I was unable to get a photo. So I moved about to find a natural border and tried different heights and angles for the perfect context and lighting. It took 10 to 15 hours in total!

Photographer: Joshua Kneale
Category: 12-15 - Winner 2022
Title: Meet Bill
Description: I took this photo on a boat trip around Walvis Bay, Namibia. I wanted to capture a pelican looking straight down the lens, which was harder than I expected, due to the movement of the boat and the pelicans only looking for a second before turning away. I wanted to emphasise the exceptional size of the pelican's bill, so included as much as possible in the frame by using a portrait orientation.

Photographer: Oliver Butcher
Category: 12-15 - Runner-up 2022
Title: In position
Description: Love was in the air when we visited the S'Albufera wetlands in Majorca. This male avocet was frenetically preening while the female appeared uninterested. The male continued preening, circling the female and occasionally splashing her. Suddenly the female became motionless - this was the sign he'd been waiting for. He stopped preening and both birds became monochrome statues.

Photographer: Brooke Haycock
Category: 12-15 - Commended 2022
Title: Through the wild wood
Description: I went to Richmond Park to photograph the little owls. I heard one calling and followed the sound to a glade surrounded by old oaks. After a couple of hours hiding behind a tree, I saw this little owl perched on a gnarly branch. Suddenly the owl looked my way and I captured the moment. I positioned myself so the image would be backlit and the foreground blurred to create a unique composition.

Photographer: Ben Harrott
Category: 16-18 - Winner 2022
Title: Mountain hare
Description: This particular day at my local moorland was freezing! After walking for hours I finally spotted this mountain hare. After an hour of steady approach, I was the closest I've ever been to a mountain hare. The sun was setting and the mountain hare was fully relaxed in my presence, so I was able to photograph this individual up close as the sun was going down.

Photographer: Ben Harrott
Category: 16-18 - Runner-up 2022
Title: Mountain hare in snowfall
Description: I spend a lot of time on my local moorland, which is one of the few places in England to see mountain hares. One day I set off three hours before snow was predicted to fall, which allowed me to find a hare, successfully approach it and then lie low and wait for the snow. The flurry of snow took over against the dark rock, where this mountain hare began to disappear in its environment, so I was able to take this shot.

Photographer: Robin Denison-Pender
Category: 16-18 - Commended 2022
Title: A short rest
Description: Early one morning I headed out to a place where I'd seen wheatears, hoping to photograph them before they continued their migration to upland breeding grounds. A flash of movement in front of me caught my eye and through my binoculars I could see a female wheatear, freshly arrived from her Channel crossing. I got to eye level to take some photos before carefully moving away, and the next morning the bird was gone.

Photographer: Jenny Allan
Category: 16-18 - Commended 2022
Title: A fox through bars
Description: I went down to Ramsgate harbour one evening looking for foxes. After a short while I spotted this fox, behind a metal fence, that was staring straight at me. This allowed me to crouch down and take this photo of the fox staring straight down my lens, framed by the out-of-focus metal bars.

Photographer: Ben Harrott
Category: 16-18 - Commended 2022
Title: Art on the ocean
Description: While on holiday in Newquay I noticed the sun sets over the ocean. Each night I walked to the edge of the headland where a trail of light met the land over the ocean, creating a stunning bokeh effect when combined with the correct aperture. After days of watching the sunset I finally got lucky when, for no more than five seconds, this rock pipit stopped before heading off down the coast.

Photographer: Eilidh Shannon
Category: Under 12 Mobile Phone & Devices - Winner 2022
Title: Goofy dog
Description: This is my dog Lexie. She's a goofy and excitable girl, sleeps in funny positions and tries to sit on my lap at the dinner table (she's not allowed to). I took the photo by lying on my back and putting a treat on my phone camera - Lexie was on the couch looking down because she wanted to eat it. I chose this photo as it brings out her personality and I love it because her funny ears flop down.

Photographer: Hugo Napier
Category: Under 12 Mobile Phone & Devices - Runner-up 2022
Title: Snuggled squirrel
Description: I was outside playing in my back garden when I saw three tiny baby squirrels all huddled together at the base of a beech tree. We got some milk from our local vet and syringe-fed them until they were old enough. It was such an amazing experience to raise these orphaned squirrels and I will always have this photo to remind me of what a beautiful adventure I had with them.

Photographer: Isabella Stevens
Category: Under 12 Mobile Phone & Devices - Commended 2022
Title: Magnificent moon jellyfish
Description: I visited The Deep aquarium with my family in August. I found the jellyfish mesmerising and had to take a photo as they pulsated around the tank. They were relaxing to watch.

Photographer: Hope Skidmore
Category: 12-15 Mobile Phone & Devices - Winner 2022
Title: Shield bug
Description: These insects are so often overlooked with people preferring the garish ladybirds or fluttering butterflies, so it's high time someone gave the shield bug the limelight. I just had to capture this insect whose unique patterns are enhanced by the glistening water droplets and bright green leaf.

Photographer: Lily Logan
Category: 12-15 Mobile Phone & Devices - Runner-up 2022
Title: Angus - not your average cat!
Description: This picture of my two-year-old family cat Angus has a deeper meaning than just a picture of any old cat. I previously had a white British shorthair cat called Chester but he sadly passed away last year. As an only child, Chester was my best friend and hero, and I spent a lot of time taking pictures of him.

Photographer: Abi O'Brien
Category: 12-15 Mobile Phone & Devices - Commended 2022
Title: Moonlight silhouettes
Description: My dog Skye and I noticed the beautiful, iridescent moon shielded by the protection of the car window. Skye is fidgety and it's hard for her to sit still, especially in situations like this waiting for my brother to finish football training. The car was still, but our minds were not. There was something itching at us. This situation was so plain, so ordinary, we needed to make it extraordinary.

Photographer: Palvin Fernandes
Category: 16-18 Mobile Phone & Devices - Winner 2022
Title: Time to sleep
Description: I was on my phone at night and I noticed a fly around a lamp. The fly seemed to stay around the edge of the lamp as it was attracted to the light. I realised that if I took a photo from the right angle, I would be able to depict the light bulb as if it were the sun and the silhouette of the edge of the lamp as the ground, thus seeming as if it were the sunset. Hence the name 'Time to sleep'.

Photographer: Amelia Fergusson
Category: 16-18 Mobile Phone & Devices - Runner-up 2022
Title: Earth's alien
Description: One night, while on holiday in France, I saw the most enormous grasshopper. My brother held a torch over the insect to illuminate him from above and I turned my phone upside down and put it as close to the ground as I could, to photograph from a low angle. By doing this I captured his size, alienness and scary face, without frightening him away or traumatising him by getting too close.

Photographer: Holly Smith
Category: 16-18 Mobile Phone & Devices - Commended 2022
Title: Leaping through
Description: I took this photo while walking my dog in the Yorkshire Dales. I loved how the afternoon sun sparkled off the top of the water, framing Betsy as she leaped through it. I feel that the image encapsulates summer and the joy that dogs feel when they can cool down in the water after a long walk.

Photographer: Demmi Havenhand
Category: Pet Personalities - Winner 2022
Title: Baby face
Description: This photo was taken of my dog Callie shortly after bringing her home for the first time. I noticed the way her ears were spread out when she was lying down, giving her a super innocent, almost crazy, look. Her expression in this photo matches her personality perfectly and as she was around 12 weeks old, really emphasises her puppy look and attitude.

Photographer: Bella Pharo
Category: Pet Personalities - Runner-up 2022
Title: Super stretch
Description: My cat, Mr Smoke, was stretching on top of our roof shed and I wanted to take some pictures of him. I stood on an upside-down bucket and balanced the camera on the edge of the roof to take this photo. I like it because he is in a strange position, especially his tail.

Photographer: Jamie Smart
Category: Pet Personalities - Commended 2022
Title: Acer, the Border collie
Description: Acer will herd anything including turkeys, ducks and sheep. She loves her belly rubs and speaks (well, takes commands in) Welsh! This photo makes me laugh because she looks scary when she is the opposite - she's a very soppy dog. I took this photo of her running towards me while I was sitting with my camera in our garden just after she'd had a bath.

Photographer: Ellisa Jeakins
Category: Pet Personalities - Commended 2022
Title: Let me in
Description: It seems the cat flap is never good enough for Muffin and she insists on glaring through the window until you open the door for her - what a princess! This photo captures her nature and she looks furious that I haven't got up quick enough to save her from the rain. Also, the morning light really adds to the photo by highlighting her features and expressing her personality.

Photographer: Hattie Pearce
Category: Pet Personalities - Commended 2022
Title: Nose dive
Description: On a trip to the seaside Nellie was fascinated by the sand and the feel of it under her paws. She enjoyed digging in it as it was soft and malleable. My aim was to capture the movement of the sand as it was kicked up in the air when she suddenly nose-dived and came up with sand all over her nose. I captured the moment just at the right time as she quickly stood up and sneezed!

Photographer: Ben Hancock-Smith
Category: Small World - Winner 2022
Title: Hovering
Description: I had gone out in search of barn owls when I noticed something hovering near me. It was two small flies mating in mid-air. Quickly I switched over to my macro-lens to try and capture this and to my luck, they were in reach of my lens, plus the flies didn't move too erratically which allowed me to get this shot of them airborne.

Photographer: Joshua Garbutt
Category: Small World - Runner-up 2022
Title: Notch-horned cleg-fly
Description: I have wanted to photograph a horse fly like this for a long time as I love the colour in their eyes and the detail that can be seen in their eyes. I spent almost an hour with this fly, taking hundreds of photos to get the fly fully in focus.

Photographer: Thomas Easterbrook
Category: Small World - Commended 2022
Title: Back-lit orange tip
Description: I took this photo at Lundy Bay in the early summer. The butterfly had settled on this stem, which gave me just enough time to capture the butterfly backlit by the sun with the light also coming through the butterfly's wings. There was also some colour in the plants which meant that I could adjust my camera settings to set the butterfly against a soft, coloured background.

Photographer: Jamie Smart
Category: Pet Portraits - Winner 2022
Title: Fighter, the Barnevelder cockerel
Description: I took this photo of Fighter while I was wandering around the chicken pen. We hatched him last year and he was the first one to hatch out of the egg in the incubator. I've named him Fighter because he fights to protect his hens in the coop and stops the crows and magpies stealing the eggs!

Photographer: Demmi Havenhand
Category: Pet Portraits - Runner-up 2022
Title: Radiant Ralph
Description: This photo was taken as part of a series of studio images showcasing how dogs all have different quirks and traits that make them unique. While shooting, Ralph the lively cocker spaniel had a great time running around the studio, chasing bubbles, getting treats and playing with his ball. In a rare few minutes of calm, I captured him soaking up the light and showing off his posing skills.

Photographer: Phoebe Mann
Category: Pet Portraits - Commended 2022
Title: What's up there?
Description: I took this photo when my cat caught my attention - she was trying to catch a fly above her head. I found this amusing so quickly got my camera. This was my favourite as it shows my cat's personality and has been taken from a perspective different from the front of her face. I love this photo as it shows her playfulness as well as her concentration to catch the fly.