Laois teen wins prestigious Young Photographer of the Year award

A Laois teen has been recognised on the nationwide stage for his beautiful wildlife pictures.

Sixteen 12 months previous Rossa Bracken from Johnsborough, Mountrath gained Young Photographer of the Year by the Nature Photography Award class.

Rossa’s successful {photograph} shall be on everlasting show at Mary Lavin Place, adjoining to Wilton Park in Dublin metropolis centre.

The competitors was ran by Photo Museum Ireland, with the official opening of the winners exhibition held on November 8.

Pictured: 16 12 months previous Rossa Bracken together with his award successful {photograph}

The younger photographer’s prizewinning picture was a cheerful accident, he instructed the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“I took the photo when I was twelve, I saw a fox in the ditch and jumped out of the car to get the picture,” he stated.

“As I’m taking the picture of the fox, suddenly a lamb sticks its head out too, I didn’t even notice at first! I posted the picture into a Facebook group at the time, it got over 10,000 likes,” Rossa stated.

Where does the teenager’s ardour for pictures come from?

“It started during the pandemic, out of nowhere. I was at home when I saw a bird, I took a picture on my mother’s phone to try to identify it. I posted it online and within minutes, hundreds of people came back with advice on photographing birds and wildlife,” he stated.

Pictured: Rossa’s picture on show 

“Portlaoise photographer Jim Osborne gave me an old camera he owned, local photographers have been very good to me. They have been very encouraging, I did work experience with Alf Harvey too,” Rossa defined.

“The fact that this was during the pandemic, meant that it brought me outside. My main goal in all of this is to get young people to appreciate nature,” he stated.

“Winning the photography award is a great boost. The fact that hundreds of people will see it, it means a lot to me. I hope it encourages some kids out there,” the photographer completed.

Rossa additionally gained Junior Photographer in a pictures competitors ran by Teagasc in 2025. His {photograph} of a pink squirrel gained him the highest prize within the Trees and Biodiversity class.

Above: Rossa’s award successful picture of an Irish pink squirrel

Rossa is understood throughout the county for his wildlife pictures workshop he holds for youngsters, and his household could not be prouder of him. Last June, Rossa held his ‘Get Out!’ pictures workshops by Cruinniú na nÓg.

“Rossa has always been very lucky when it comes to capturing wildlife- we went over to Estonia to take some pictures, and while we drove through Lithuania, he managed to photograph the rarest bird in the country!” his mom Kathy laughed.

“We went to Canada a number of years in the past and he managed to {photograph} nearly each hawk and bear species. It was ridiculous how he caught all of them within the first week!

“No one in his family has a photography background, he has a huge interest in it. Taking these photos is second nature to him, and the local photography community have been so good to him,” Mrs Phelan Bracken praised.

To view extra beautiful wildlife pictures from Rossa, take a look at his Instagram web page here.

Congratulations to Rossa!