RSPCA: Beat boredom with YPA08 this summer

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Friday, 08, Aug 2008 12:00

Youngsters hoping to beat the summertime blues have been urged to get snapping as part of the RSPCA’s prestigious Young Photographer Awards 2008 (YPA08).

The RSPCA has already received a record number of entries for this year’s competition – but there is still plenty of time to take part.

There couldn’t be a better time to get clicking, with the summer holidays upon us. Whether it’s a blackbird in a back garden or your pet pooch on the beach, there are thousands of opportunities to capture a winning image.

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards, sponsored by Olympus and Warners Midlands, has already received scores of entries from budding snappers who have captured some spectacular images from the animal kingdom.

It couldn’t be easier for youngsters to enter their photographs online at the new YPA08 website www.rspca.org.uk/ypa.

The competition is open to anyone aged under 19 on 1 September 2008, with fantastic prizes – including Olympus digital cameras and the chance to go on a RSPCA photoshoot – up for grabs for the winners.

This year’s judging panel is the best judging panel yet with a wide range of expertise and backgrounds. The celebrity judges new for this year are Nick Baker and Penny Lancaster-Stewart.

Nick Baker is a keen photographer, naturalist and TV presenter. He has travelled the world and encountered many different species. Having presented the BBC’s Really Wild Show and also produced his own range of children’s wildlife kits, he is a strong supporter of encouraging children’s interest in the animal kingdom. Nick will also host the exclusive award ceremony at the Tower of London in December where the winners will be announced.

Penny Lancaster-Stewart is well known for her modelling and more recently as a competitor on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing programme. Penny is also a keen photographer and after finding success as a model Penny undertook numerous fashion and beauty photography assignments for newspapers and magazines. When asked to be a judge for the competition Penny was more than happy to help out.

She said: “I’m delighted to be a judge for the RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards 2008 and am looking forward to seeing lots of creative and interesting images from fantastic young talent. I never travel anywhere without my camera - you never know when a terrific photo opportunity will present itself, and you don’t want to miss that all-important award-winning shot!”

Expert wildlife photographer Ernie Janes also joins the judging panel this year. He is looking forward to using his vast experience to discover some of the country’s top young photographers.

He said: “I am delighted to be invited to join the judging panel and I am looking forward to seeing the work of emerging young photographers.

RSPCA chief photographer Andrew Forsyth has been a judge for the competition for many years and is looking forward to seeing more fantastic entries.

He said: “I’ve had a sneaky peak at some of the entries and know that this is going to be a fab year for YPA.”

The deadline for entries is Monday 1 September 2008. More information, winning entries from previous years and top tips from TV presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham and RSPCA chief photographer Andrew Forsyth are available by logging on to www.rspca.org.uk/ypa.

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Notes to Editors:

1. Entries must be received no later than Monday 1 September 2008 and should be sent to: YPA08, Publications Department, RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 9RS. Entries can also be submitted to the YPA08 website www.rspca.org.uk/ypa

2. Entrants must include name, age, address and the category they are entering as well as a maximum of 100 words describing their photo on an accompanying note. We are very sorry, but we cannot return photos. A photo cannot be entered into more than one category, but all photos are eligible to win the overall prize.

3. Full details of the competition, together with rules, can be found on the website.

4. Entries for the YPA08 competition will be divided into four different categories: under 12 years, 12-18 years, pet personalities and the Olympus portfolio. The best overall picture will be chosen from all the entries.

5. The overall winner will receive an Olympus digital SLR E-420 camera, two lenses, a YPA08 trophy – plus the chance to join the RSPCA on an exclusive photoshoot for the day.

6. The winner of the Pet Personalities category will receive an Olympus mju 1030SW.

7. The Olympus portfolio will reward an individual whose body of work showed consistent quality. Entrants should pick five photographs that display their photography skills and make a great collection of images. One winner will receive an Olympus digital SLR E-420 camera, two lenses and a YPA08 trophy.

8. The winner of the under 12 years category will win an Olympus SP-570 UZ camera and YPA08 trophy. There will be four runners-up prizes of Olympus FE-350 cameras.

9. The winner of the 12-18 years category will win an Olympus SP-570 UZ camera and YPA08 trophy. There will be four runners-up prizes of Olympus FE-350 cameras.

YPA08 Judges:

Andrew Forsyth – RSPCA chief photographer

Nick Baker – TV presenter and naturalist

Penny Lancaster- Stewart – Photographer and model

Jean Hosking – managing director of nature picture agency FLPA

Ernie Janes – photographer specialising in nature and wildlife

Sarah Evans – editor of Animal Action magazine

Philip Warner – managing director of Warners Midland plc

Jerome Demare – marketing communications manager at Olympus

Henry Macaulay – RSPCA head of press and media

Louise Stevens – RSPCA head of publications and brand

For further information please contact:

RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244 or arobbins@rspca.org.uk or the Olympus press office on 01923 831215 or press-office@olympus.uk.com

Images of previous winning photographs are available on request.

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS

Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099

Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 0870 0555500 and ask for pager number 828825

Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk