This category is designed to encourage our youngest generation to pursue photography and wildlife conservation. This age group will celebrate a winner, highly commended and three finalists. Images can be landscape or portrait orientated.

Crikey! Kids – 10 Years and Under Winning Image:

Winner: Jamie Smart | Age 10

‘Stripey Jumper!’

I noticed this little jumping spider on the kitchen window one night and loved the reflection it was creating. Getting up onto the work surface, I contorted myself into all sorts of angles to get this photo using a flash and Cygnustech diffuser. I love spiders!

Location: Lamington National Park, Australia
Camera/Lens: Nikon Z9, 105mm lens

Highly Commended: Leo Parry | 9 Years

‘Woolumbin Salute’

I captured this photograph with my dad off the coast of Byron Bay, the sun was setting and then all of a sudden a humpback whale started to slap its tail in front of Woolumbin and the iconic hinterland of the Border Ranges.

Location: Byron Bay, Australia
Camera/Lens: Sony A1, 70-200mm f2.8 lens

Finalist: Aneeshwar Kunchala | 10 Years

‘Soaring on the Wind’

Perfectly camouflaged within its natural habitat and after endless patience, this red kite kindly looked at me – majestic, feathers glowing in flight, a true symbol of resilience. Once nearly extinct in the United Kingdom, today it soars freely, a testament to hope and conservation efforts.

Location: Wales, United Kingdom
Camera/Lens: Canon EOS 6D Mark II, 150 – 600mm F5 – 6.5 DG lens

Finalist: Jamie Smart | Age 10

‘Bamboo Home’

I spotted this little spider hiding in the end of a bamboo stick and spent some time watching it run in and out of its home every time an unsuspecting insect got caught in its web! I took this photo looking straight down into the bamboo cavity to create this suspended effect.

Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Camera/Lens: OM1 Mark II, 90mm lens

Finalist: Jamie Smart | 10 Years

‘Head Twister!’

This is a male shining flycatcher which I caught on camera actually regurgitating a seed! I was on a boat on the Daintree River early one morning and we stopped near an area where they typically habit. They were tricky to capture on camera as they are quite shy.

Location: Daintree River, Australia
Camera/Lens: Nikon Z9, 800mm F6.3 lens