Local Teen Triumphs in Photography Contest with Stunning Puffin Capture

A 15-year-old from Aberystwyth has been awarded the title of winner at the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards with a captivating photograph of a puffin.

The image, which depicts the puffin glancing back among blossoms on Skomer Island in western Wales, earned Anwen Whitehead the premier accolade for the contest.

Titled ‘Daydreaming in the Chamomiles’, the evaluators commended both the feeling and layout of the photograph, highlighting the challenges of capturing puffins while also acknowledging her impressive focus against a blurred background.

Anwen, hailing from Cnwch Coch, received her accolade during an event in the Tower of London on 19 December that celebrated the charity’s bicentennial.

On accepting the award, she stated: “It’s surreal and fantastic to have achieved this.

“This is likely to motivate me to continue pursuing this and strive to create a career out of it.

“I was astounded just to be shortlisted as a finalist, so winning reinforces my determination to persist and enhance my skills.

“I have triumphed in a few local competitions, but nothing of this magnitude!”

Anwen only began to take photography seriously in 2023, yet she now enjoys spending up to 10 hours daily in a bird hide or among fields, dressed in camouflage, striving to achieve the ideal shot.

She took her award-winning photograph during a much-anticipated journey to the renowned puffin island in Pembrokeshire.

She remarked: “That’s where I feel happiest – it’s incredibly soothing to be in nature and unplug from digital devices.

“It offers me the chance to unwind.

“The process can be lengthy, but the outcome is always gratifying, and the exhilaration lasts for hours or even the entire week!

“I have always been passionate about animals.

“Living in rural Wales, I’m constantly surrounded by wildlife and nature.

“I believe it is crucial to assist in safeguarding nature through photography, showcasing both the beauty and fragility of the environment to raise awareness of its uniqueness.

“I view wildlife photography as a means of conservation, helping to promote the message.”

Her puffin photograph also claimed the top spot in the 12-15 category, in addition to her image capturing a red ‘Sergeant Squirrel reporting for duty’ being recognized as commendable – a total of seven of her photographs were shortlisted in the finale, all assessed anonymously.

The animal welfare organization invites young photographers under the age of 18 each year to depict the animal kingdom through the lens of a camera or smartphone, aiming to ‘inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal’.

Other winners included the gifted overall winner from the previous year, Jamie Smart, aged nine, from Powys, Mid Wales, who clinched the Pet Portraits category with a photograph of her feline titled ‘Not Impressed’.

Her photo ‘Ready for Bed’ featuring an owl obtained the Better World category trophy, closely followed by her kingfisher picture ‘City Fisher’ which won the City Life category.

She also took first place in the Under 12s category with ‘Rise of the Gannet’ and was recognized as a runner-up or received commendations for an additional four images.