The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is calling for young photographers to enter this year’s prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards. This year there are two new categories: the first one is for photos that illustrate how animals make people’s lives better, while the second one is called Garden Wildlife. A brand new website has also been set up to make it easier to take part and stay up to date with the competition. The overall winner of the Awards will go on an amazing three-day photography break with top wildlife photographer Danny Green, courtesy of Natures Images. Olympus cameras worth up to £500 are also up for grabs for the winners and runners up in each category. For more details and to enter visit the website below.

Website: RSPCA YPA 2011

RSPCA Press Release

It’s time to enter the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2011

Could your favourite animal photo win a top prize?

Wednesday 8 June 2011

The RSPCA is calling for budding young photographers to enter this year’s prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards (YPA11), supported by Warners Midlands, Natures Images, Wildlife Whisperer and Olympus.

For the first timewildlife film maker and TV presenter Simon King OBE is judging and presenting the awards.

Simon has made stunning wildlife films for programmes such as Blue Planet and Planet Earth and is one of the creators of Wildlife Whisperer, an online community for people who share an interest in watching, photographing and filming wildlife.

He said: “The RSPCA works hard to improve the lives of animals both domestic and wild. Wildlife Whisperer is proud to be able to support the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards and I look forward to meeting the winners in December”.

There are also two brand new categories this year. In the first we’re looking for images that best illustrate how animals make people’s lives better. The second new category is the Garden Wildlife award. Any garden-related photo that’s entered into one of the other categories will automatically be in with a chance of a lifetime membership to Whisperer PLUS+, which comes with a nest box camera kit.

As always, young photographers can also enter their age category, Pet Personalities and the Portfolio award.

The overall winner will go on an amazing three-day photography break with top wildlife photographer Danny Green, courtesy of Natures Images. Olympus cameras worth up to £500 are also up for grabs for the winners and runners up in each category, as well as lots more goodies!

YPA11 judge Joe Murphy, chief photographer at the RSPCA, said: “The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards are one of the best animal photography competitions in the UK for under 19s to enter and they attract some fantastic talent. I think the recognition these photographers receive is nothing more than they deserve.

“No doubt this year – with the addition of the new categories – we will receive even more entries that show what a nation of animal lovers and great photographers we are. We want to see stunning pictures of animals of all kinds in all situations, from pets to wildlife, and insects to birds.”

We’ve launched a new website for this year’s competition, making it even easier to take part and stay up to date with the competition.It’s packed full of photo tips and guidance on how to take that winning shot – don’t forget to check out the ‘Galleries’ section to see previous winning photos.

Full details and information about how to enter are available at www.rspca.org.uk/ypa

The deadline for entries is Monday 5 September 2011.

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Illustration: Catriona Parfitt’s overall winning photo in last year’s competition: ‘Gull lookout’

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