Llandrindod Wells nine year-old is a major winner in the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2024
A nine-year-old from Llandrindod Wells has won four categories in the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2024
A nine-year-old from Llandrindod Wells has won four categories in the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2024.
Jamie Smart secured victories in the Pet Portraits category with her picture of her 13-year-old cat Humbug, titled ‘Not Impressed’.
She also won in the Better World category with her picture of an owl, called ‘Ready for bed’, the City Life category with her photo of a kingfisher called ‘City fisher’, and the Under 12s category with her picture ‘Rise of the Gannet’.
In addition to her wins, Jamie was a runner-up or commended in the Small World, Better World, and Under 12 sections.
The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards is open to all budding photographers under the age of 18, inviting them to capture images of the animal kingdom.
This year, the awards ceremony was held at the Tower of London on December 19.
Jamie, the youngest winner of the RSPCA photography competition last year, had eight of her images shortlisted this year.
She said: "To be shortlisted for the YPAs three times in a row is mind-blowing and winning last year has had a big impact on me.
"I aimed to win overall and then I did, so I put a lot of hard work into it.
"It was amazing to win.
"It made me want to enter again and take more photos and try new things.
"I’d love to be a wildlife photographer and presenter one day, that’s my dream job.
"I like showing the different sides to wildlife, the cute side but also what they have to go through.
"I want to inspire people to fall in love with animals and to protect them.
"The more people who are inspired by wildlife the more they will want to protect them and that’s the key to my photography."
Her success is even more impressive given that all entries are judged anonymously.
The competition is sponsored by Natures Images and Camtraptions.
This year, the RSPCA introduced two new categories to celebrate its 200th anniversary: ‘Better World’, showcasing what a better world for animals looks like, and ‘City Life’, highlighting the presence of animals in unexpected places and how we can live harmoniously together.
The judging panel consisted of photography experts, including wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby, former competition winner-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt, professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie, and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs.
For the first time this year, Fabian Rivers, an exotic animal and wildlife vet and RSPCA ambassador, joined the panel.
Winners in each category were awarded trophies and a selection of prizes at the Tower of London ceremony, and as the overall winner, Anwen Whitehead received a weekend photography break with Natures Images.
The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2025 opens for entries on May 6.
For more information, go online for all the latest news, galleries and photo tips.
Email: ypa25@rspca.org.uk to join the mailing list and be the first to know when the competition opens.
