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Young Category (5-8 Years)
Winner: Tomos Roberts, Age 8
Richard's Comments
'Tomos has captured a lovely moment on Skomer Island, with the lesser black-backed gull standing out beautifully against the pinks of the red campion and the blues of the bluebells. His observation that the gull “stood out among the pinks and blues” shows a wonderful awareness of colour and how it can help draw the viewer into an image.
The composition is particularly effective. Placing the gull centrally gives it a strong presence and allows it to become the clear focal point, while the darker foreground provides a simple, uncluttered base to the photograph. This helps the brighter colours in the background and the gull itself really stand out.
For a photographer aged just 8, Tomos has shown a great eye for colour, composition and simplicity. It is a charming image that demonstrates how sometimes keeping a photograph simple can make it especially effective. Well done, Tomos!'
Tomos told us: “This lesser black-backed gull was on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire. The gull stood out among the pinks and blues of red campion and bluebells.”
Runner-up: Amyra, Age 6
Richard's Comments
'A charming and beautifully simple image that captures the delicate detail of Buzzia the Bee against a softly diffused background. The sharp focus on the bee is particularly impressive, given how challenging insects can be to photograph. The image works wonderfully alongside Amyra’s touching story of kindness and care'
Amyra told us: “Buzzia the bee had been whacked by accident by our dog Rusty’s tail and fallen exhausted. Amyra offered her sugar syrup and with love and care her energy came buzzing back!”
Runner-up: William Vaughan, Age 7
Richard's Comments
This is a strong and atmospheric image, especially considering it was taken on a cloudy, dark day with an older camera. I really like the way William has captured the light catching the sand eels in the puffin’s bill, creating a small but striking focal point. The dark, moody sea adds to the feeling of the harsh conditions these birds face while living and feeding at sea. The image successfully captures both the resilience of the puffins and the rawness of nature during such a busy breeding season. A lovely wildlife photograph with a great sense of atmosphere.
William told us: “I took this photo on the Farne Islands for my 8th birthday! My dad let me borrow his really really old camera!”
Junior Category (9-12 Years)
Winner: Emily Brackley, Age 9
Richard's Comments
This image is a standout winner for me. The vibrant colours of nature, from the bright yellows and fresh greens to the striking red-tailed bumblebee, work beautifully together. The bee is captured with excellent sharpness and exposure, allowing the fine detail to really shine. The soft green background also helps the bee and flowers stand out beautifully. An outstanding macro image, well done, Emily!
Emily told us: “I took this in a Cambridgeshire nature reserve using a macro lens to capture as much detail in the bee as possible. I love the colourful flowers, the red of the bee’s tail and the green background.”
Runner-up: Daniel Hammond, Age 9
Richard's Comments
Daniel has made excellent use of the rule of thirds, placing the heron so that it appears to be flying into the frame, which gives the photograph a real sense of movement and tells a story. The soft, diffused background works particularly well, helping the heron stand out without any distracting clutter. The natural greens and yellows also provide a lovely contrast with the grey tones of the bird. Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-composed wildlife photograph that shows a great eye for colour, composition and timing.
Daniel told us: “I took this picture whilst bird watching in a hide at Saltholme RSPB centre. I love the greens and yellows against the colour of the heron.”
Runner-up: Joshua Pike, Age 11
Richard's Comments
Joshua has captured a wonderful close-up of a starling and revealed the beautiful colours that are often missed when we see these birds from a distance. His observation that he “thought they were brown birds” shows how photography can encourage us to look more closely at the natural world.
Starlings are sometimes overlooked as a photographic subject, but Joshua has shown just how stunning they can be. The bright natural light brings out the incredible colours and fine detail in the bird’s plumage, while the soft bokeh creates a beautifully uncluttered background. The composition works very well too, making this a strong and thoughtful wildlife photograph.
Joshua told us: “This photo was taken in my grandad’s garden. The starlings like to visit and until now, I thought they were brown birds. Now I can see the amazing colours that they have, especially in the sunshine.”
Senior Category (13-16 Years)
Winner: Jack Brackley, Age 14
Richard's Comments
This is a truly stunning wildlife photograph and a worthy winner of the Senior Category. Jack has captured the Red Fox beautifully, with the darker tones of the fox standing out dramatically against the bright, sunlit meadow and glowing yellow flowers.
The fox’s intense stare immediately draws you into the image, while the pin-sharp eyes provide a fantastic focal point. The soft, diffused bokeh works beautifully, keeping the background uncluttered and allowing the fox to remain the star of the image. The warm summer light also brings out the rich red tones of its coat.
The editing has been handled very well, enhancing the atmosphere without taking away from the natural beauty of the scene. Jack has demonstrated excellent awareness of light, composition, focus and storytelling. A striking and beautifully executed wildlife image, a very deserving winner. Well done, Jack!
Jack told us: “I took this on the edge of a woodland in Essex, which has a fox den. It was summer, so they could be seen in daylight. The beautiful light cast a glow over the yellow flowers and the fox’s red coat.”
Runner-up: Theo Fairbrother, Age 14
Richard's Comments
I know from personal experience that Ptarmigan are not the easiest birds to see, let alone photograph, so this is a really impressive image. Theo has used great fieldcraft to capture a bird that is almost perfectly hidden within its landscape, showing just how harsh and wild its mountain home can be.
The camouflage of the Ptarmigan makes you look at the image several times before you finally spot it, which gives the photograph its wonderful Hide and Seek quality. The exposure is nicely handled, with good detail retained in both the bird and the surrounding rocks and snow.
I particularly like the composition, with the Ptarmigan looking into the frame rather than out of it. This helps draw the viewer into the image and encourages you to search the landscape for the bird.
A fantastic photograph that demonstrates real skill, patience and fieldcraft. A very deserving runner-up.
Theo told us: “I photographed this wonderful ptarmigan just moulting into its summer plumage on Schiehallion, a mountain in Perthshire. Its colouring means it’s perfectly camouflaged amongst the rocks and snow.”
Runner-up: Bende Batki, Age 16
Richard's Comments
This is a lovely macro image that reveals the miniature world of insects that can so easily go unnoticed. Batki has found natural beauty and striking colour within what appears to be a simple sea of green, creating an image that rewards the viewer for taking a closer look.
I particularly like the blurred foreground, which frames the sharply focused wasp beautifully and helps isolate the subject from its surroundings. The central composition works well here, drawing the eye straight to the insect while still allowing the viewer to appreciate the lush green environment around it.
There is a wonderful simplicity to this photograph, yet it demonstrates real skill in finding and capturing a small subject within a busy natural setting. The image shows how much wildlife can be found in the world immediately around us, if we take the time to look.
A beautifully observed macro photograph, showing great patience, skill and an eye for detail. A very deserving runner-up!
Bende told us: “I took this image of what I believe to be is a Yellow Ichneumon Wasp* in a park near Coventry, and shows how one can find natural beauty and colour even in a sea of green.”
(*Bende: Richard has consulted an expert colleague who believes it to be a Nomad Bee)