This category awards passionate young photographers aged 11 – 14 years. This age group celebrates a winner, highly commended and three finalists. Images can be portrait or landscape orientated.

Crikey! Kids – 11 – 14 Years Winning Image:

Winner: Tyler DeVane

‘Curious Kits’

It was a very special moment for me to see these fox kits emerging from their den. Fox kits begin exploring above ground, close by to their den at around four to five weeks old. When all four of them looked right at me, I managed to get this shot.

Image location: New Jersey, USA
Camera: Sony A7V with Sony 400-800mm lens

Highly Commended: Jamie Smart

‘Stop And Stare’

It had been my goal to photograph a Goshawk ever since I discovered they were spotted around a nearby hide. One morning after an early start and long wait, one finally came and perched on the water’s edge for a drink in the hot weather. I was over the moon!

Image location: Hungary
Camera: Nikon Z9 with 400mm F4.5, 1/1,600s

Finalist: Emma Perez

‘Outlook on Life’

A gorgeous Barred Owl in Seattle, Washington camouflages almost perfectly amongst the bark of a forest tree. Owls are extraordinary predators with silent flight. We discovered this one because a group of crows was loudly mobbing it.

Image location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Camera: Sony A7 IV with a 50-400 Tamron lens

Finalist: Jamie Smart

‘Grub’s Up!’

Early one morning, from a wildlife hide, I spotted some young hoopoes taking their first steps into the world beyond the nest. I managed to capture an image of the parent trying to coax this little one out of the hole
to take its first flight.

Image location: Hungary
Camera: Nikon Z9 with 400mm F4.5, 1/1,000s

Finalist: Tyler DeVane

‘Painted by Nature’

This is a portrait of a Red-breasted Toucan that I captured on a recent trip to Brazil. Whilst the Red-breasted Toucan is not currently threatened according to the IUCN, habitat loss is one reason researchers are starting to see a decline in the population. Another reason why protected areas are so important for our wildlife.

Image location: Tapirai, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Camera: Sony A7V with Sony 400-800mm lens