Hurry RSPCA Young Photographer Awards deadline approaches

Recognition from wildlife film maker, Simon King OBE, and a three-day photography break with a top wildlife photographer are up for grabs in the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2011 (YPA 11).

Hundreds of entries have already flooded in to what is one of the country's most prestigious photography competitions.

But there is still time to get your snaps in the frame:

• the closing date for online entries is Monday, 5 September 2011 
• the closing date for postal entries is Monday, 22 August 2011.  

New judge Simon King

For the first time, wildlife film maker and TV presenter Simon King is judging and presenting the awards.

Simon has made stunning wildlife films for programmes such as Blue Planet. He is also a creator of Wildlife Whisperer, an online community for people interested in watching, photographing and filming wildlife.

Top prizes to be had 

The winner of a new YPA 11 award - the Garden Wildlife Award - will win membership of Whisperer PLUS+, which comes with a nest box camera kit.

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 winners and runners up in each category.

And we've also got vouchers to spend at Hamleys, 'the finest toy shop in the world'. 

About the categories 

There are six main categories that can be entered, which include the following.

Three age categories:

• under 12 years
• 12 - 15 years
• 16 - 18 years. 

Three themed categories:

• Pet Personalities
• Portfolio
• Making Life Better.

Making Life Better is a new category for images that best illustrate how animals make people's lives better.

Entries chosen from the Pet Personalities category by our judging panel will be put to the public vote in our People's Choice Award.

And any photos of garden wildlife entered into the competition will automatically be in with a chance of winning our new Garden Wildlife Award.

'Now is the time to send us your best photos' 

YPA 11 judge Joe Murphy, chief photographer at the RSPCA, said:

"If you're thinking of entering, then now is the time to send us your best photos – don't delay!

"We want to see your stunning pictures of animals in all kinds of situations, from pets to wildlife, and insects to birds."

Full details of all the categories and how to enter are available at:

www.rspca.org.uk/ypa 

Read more at the National RSPCA website

So what are you waiting for? Get snapping!

YPA 2011 is supported by Warners Midlands PLC www.warners.co.uk, Natures Images www.natures-images.co.uk, Wildlife Whisperer www.wildlifewhisperer.tv, Hamleys www.hamleys.com and Olympus www.olympus.co.uk.

Published on 06-08-2011 - 12:02 - last updated on 06-08-2011 - 12:02

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