The victorious submission came from Anwen Whitehead, 15, who received recognition at a ceremony held at the Tower of London earlier this month—an exclusive and historic occasion also commemorating the RSPCA’s milestone anniversary.
Annually, the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards encourages individuals aged 18 and under to document the animal kingdom using a camera or mobile device. This initiative supports the RSPCA’s goal of motivating everyone to create a better environment for every creature.
The judges lauded the emotion and arrangement of Anwen’s puffin image, titled ‘Daydreaming in the Chamomiles,’ marveling at the difficulty of capturing puffins and commenting on the splendid, soft-focus background.
Anwen, the winner, stated:
“It feels incredibly surreal and wonderful to have achieved this. I believe this will highly motivate me to persist and strive to turn this into a profession. Being shortlisted as a finalist surprised me immensely, so to win inspires me to keep moving forward and enhance my skills. I’ve secured a few local titles, but nothing compares to this!”
Having only recently embarked on photography as a serious pursuit last year, Anwen shared that her puffin shot, taken during a much-anticipated trip to Pembrokeshire’s renowned Skomer Island, stands out as one of her favorite captures.
Anwen elaborated that she can happily spend up to 10 hours in a bird hide or out in a meadow clad in camouflage at dawn to secure the ideal photograph.
She mentioned: “That’s my zone of happiness. Being immersed in nature, away from screens, is remarkably calming. It allows me to slow my pace a bit. It may take considerable time, but the satisfaction in the end is always worthwhile, and the exhilaration lingers for the entire day or even the week!”
“I’ve always cherished animals. Residing in rural Wales, I am surrounded by wildlife and nature. I find it vital to contribute to nature conservation through photography, highlighting both the wonders and vulnerabilities of the natural world to help individuals appreciate how extraordinary it truly is. I view wildlife photography as instrumental in conservation efforts by promoting awareness.”
Remarkably, several of Anwen’s submissions received accolades this year. In addition to being the overall victor, her puffin photograph also claimed the first prize in the 12-15 age category, while her red squirrel image ‘Sergeant Squirrel reporting for duty’ garnered commendation in the same category.
Another image of a red squirrel, ‘Peckish,’ received commendation in the mobile category for ages 12-15, and her swallows photograph was a runner-up in the City Life section. Lastly, her ‘Puffin Paradise’ compilation came in as a runner-up in the Portfolio category, culminating in Anwen having an impressive seven images shortlisted in the final.
All submissions are evaluated entirely anonymously and independently, reinforcing the remarkable nature of Anwen’s multiple achievements this year.
In celebration of the charity’s 200th anniversary, the RSPCA introduced two new categories—‘Better World,’ envisioning an improved world for animals, and ‘City Life’—showcasing the prevalence of animals in our surroundings and illustrating how we can coexist harmoniously.
Chris Packham, the television presenter, RSPCA President, and supporter of the awards since its inception over 30 years ago,
Previously, stated:
“As always, this is an exceptional collection of work. This contest consistently draws impressive submissions, and my heartfelt congratulations go to all the victors and, of course, particularly, to the overall champion.”
Chris, who was unable to be present at the event physically but recorded a special video message for the champions, added:
“Photography is a fantastic method of expressing your affection for, your enthusiasm for, your intrigue regarding, and your concern for animals. I believe it’s crucial that we utilize that as a resource during this particular time when many animals are facing challenges.
“Having the ability to employ your creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness to develop something personally distinctive and impactful is a very vital asset.”
This year’s accolades were assessed by a committee of photography specialists, including wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby; previous competition victor-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt; professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie; and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs. Additionally, for the first time this year – Fabian Rivers, recognized as the ‘Dready Vet’, an exotic animal and wildlife veterinarian and RSPCA ambassador who features on CBBC’s The Pets Factor.
Fabian remarked:
“It’s a tremendous privilege to partake in the motivating RSPCA Young Photographer Awards this year. The quality of submissions has been astonishing. Anwen’s puffin photograph is technically excellent, it’s crisp and evokes such wonderful feelings. There’s a genuine narrative behind it, and it was an obvious selection for me.”
[Lead image: RSPCA]