Sussex Teen Wins Prize In RSPCA Young Photographer Competition

Brooke Haycock, 15, from Uckfield, has won a prize in this years' RSPCA Young Photographer Awards competition.

Brooke’s image entitled ‘’Through the wild wood” - a picture of a Little owl, was awarded Commended in the ‘12-15’ category of the charity’s prestigious annual photography competition, after being singled out from more than 4,000 entries this year. 

Every year, the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards invites youngsters aged 18 years and under to capture the animal kingdom on a camera or a mobile device.   

Brooke said:

“I’m so happy that the judges liked my photo so much.

“I set out into Richmond Park specifically to photograph the Little Owls. After walking about for a while I heard a Little Owl calling, I followed the sound until I came upon a glade surrounded by some old oaks.

"I waited in hope that I would spot one and after couple of hours of hiding behind a tree, it all came together when this Little Owl perched on a gnarly old branch of an oak. Suddenly it turned to look my way and I managed to capture the moment. I positioned myself so that the image would be backlit and wanted the foreground to be blurred to create a unique composition of this specialist bird.”

Other winners in the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2022 included 17 year-old Ben Harrott from Oldham who won the overall top spot in the prestigious competition with his image of a mountain hare at sunset. This photo also won the ‘16-18’ age group category. 

Joshua Kneale - Meet Bill

This year’s awards were judged online by a panel of experts in wildlife photography, including wildlife photographer, TV presenter and RSPCA vice president Chris Packham; wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby (a new judge for this year), former competition winner-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt; professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie; and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs.

Hope Skidmore - Shield bug

Judge and awards host Chris Packham said:

“This year’s contest was difficult to judge as we received so many superb photographs. 

“We have seen a fantastic array of animals featured across this year’s competition. Every year I am impressed by the level and skill in the photographs that are submitted. This year’s entries were magnificent - top work everyone!

“The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards is a real celebration of animals and the natural world and I love taking part every year. I hope everyone who entered continues with their love of animals and photography and they should all be proud of their achievements.”

This year, there were ten categories; under 12 (taken with a camera), 12–15 years (taken with a camera), 16–18 years (taken with a camera), under 12 (taken on a mobile/device), 12–15 years (taken on a mobile/device), 16–18 years (taken on a mobile/device), Pet Personalities, Pet Portraits, Small World and Portfolio.  

Thomas Easterbrook - Backlit Orange-Tip

The winning images across the ten categories were announced during an awards ceremony hosted by Chris Packham on Thursday, 15 December 2022 at the Tower of London.  

The ‘overall winner’ was chosen from the ten category winners by the judges. 

Winners in each category were awarded trophies and a selection of prizes.

In addition, the judges will shortlist a maximum of 15 images from the Mobile Phone and Devices; Pet Personalities and Pet Portraits categories that will then be put to the public vote for the People's Choice Award in the spring of 2023.   

For a full gallery of the winning images* for 2022 please visit:  https://young.rspca.org.uk/ypa/home