The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2010 (YPA10) is now open for entries. Photographs can be submitted in the post, to arrive no later than 5pm on 23 August, or online on the contest website until the closing date of midnight on Monday, 6 September. The overall winner will get £1,000 worth of Olympus kit of their choice. Additionally, Danny Green - one of the world’s best wildlife photographers - is offering the overall YPA10 winner the chance to join him for a three-day photography break. Danny will pass on some expert photography tips as well as share his inside knowledge during the annual deer rut in Bradgate Park, in Leicestershire.

RSPCA Press Release

Prize of a lifetime on offer for RSPCA Young Photographer Awards winner

One of the world’s best wildlife photographers has teamed up with the RSPCA to offer the overall winner of this year’s Young Photographer Awards (YPA10) the prize of a lifetime.

Danny Green, a two-time category winner in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, is offering the overall YPA10 winner the chance to join him for a fantastic three-day photography break. Danny will pass on some expert photography tips as well as share his inside knowledge during the annual deer rut in Bradgate Park, in Leicestershire.

Danny will also be joining the judging panel again for YPA10, sponsored by Olympus and Warner Midlands, which has established itself as one of the premier competitions for the best of Britain’s young photographers.

“The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards has developed into one of the best animal photography competitions in the UK for under 19s to enter and now attracts some fantastic young talent.

“I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s entries because if the quality of last year’s finalists was anything to go by there are going to be some outstanding photographs in contention,” said Danny.

If that wasn’t enough, the overall winner will also get £1,000 worth of Olympus kit of their choice. The winners of the under 12s and 12-18 categories will meanwhile get to join RSPCA chief photographer Andrew Forsyth on their own exclusive shoot, as well as an Olympus camera each. Last year’s winner Ryan Edwards (left, with YPA host Matt Baker and judge Danny Green), of Woodbridge, Suffolk, took his camera to the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre to see rehabilitated seals being released back into the wild.

He joined the RSPCA team that took the seals out to sea for release at Blakeney Point, before heading back for a guided tour around East Winch Wildlife Centre.

Ryan said: “The day was fantastic and a rewarding experience, which not only gave me and my twin brother Paul a behind the scenes look at the work of the RSPCA but allowed us to experience the amazing feeling of releasing an animal back into the wild. I learned loads from Andrew about photography and all the staff at the centre were brilliant. It really was a memorable day.”

The 18-year-old was crowned overall winner of last year’s YPA with his stunning shot Golden Flight which captured a hovering barn owl (top right).

Ryan’s photograph caught the eye of judge and YPA awards host BBC Countryfile presenter Matt Baker, who will once again be on the panel for this year’s competition.

Matt will be casting his eyes over entries into categories which include under 12s, 12-18s as well as the pet personalities section and the Olympus portfolio prize.

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards has become a recognised launch pad for aspiring photographers to showcase their work, gain recognition from industry professionals and be rewarded for the talent they have developed.

With four categories to choose from, the competition attracts a range of images from the cosy cat to the miniscule millipede. The youngest finalist so far was five-year-old Haydn Shelton whose photograph was commended at last year’s awards ceremony.

With Olympus camera gear up for grabs for all the winners and runners-up, as well as the chance to attend the exclusive awards ceremony where finalists will meet Matt Baker as well as top wildlife photographers, YPA10 is a great summer project for the under 19s.

YPA10 is now open for entries on the official website www.rspca.org.uk/ypa until the closing date of midnight on Monday, 6 September. Entries can also be submitted in the post, to arrive no later than 5pm on 23 August. Information and postal entry forms are available from the website, by emailing [email protected] or writing to YPA/RSPCA Publications, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, West Sussex, RH13 9RS. The shortlisted photographers will then be invited to HM Tower of London for an exclusive awards ceremony where Matt Baker will announce the winners on 10 December.

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