Two local photographers scoop all five prizes in the summer heat of the WWT photography competition
Two budding amateur photographers have won a total of five top titles between them in the summer heat of WWT’s Photography Competition 2011-2012, held in celebration of the Scott Antarctic Expedition Centenary and in association with Canon.
June Shaw, from Washington, and Samuel Hood, from Newcastle, clinched the number winning spot in all five categories of the final heat of the annual competition.
June, from Albany, was awarded first place in the Wetland Wildlife, People & Wildlife and Wetland Landscapes categories; while 15-year-old Samuel from Killingworth won the Young Photographer and People’s Choice categories, the latter of which is decided by online public voting.
Jane Ramshaw, centre manager at WWT Washington, said: “These seasonal entries show just what a magical place WWT Washington Wetland Centre is in the summer and what tremendous photography talent we have here in the North East.
“Whether it’s our spectacular wildfowl, our Chilean flamingos, Asian short-clawed otters or simply the stunning beauty of our wetlands, woodlands and nature reserve, you will find something to amaze and inspire you around every corner.”
The winners each receive a day’s photography workshop, courtesy of local wildlife photographers Alan Hewitt and Kaleel Zibe of Hawk’s Head Photography http://photo.wwt.org.uk/categories-and-prizes/wild-arena-photography-courses/
The five winning images now go forward to the national grand finals, to be held in November, where they will be presented to a panel of judges including BBC
Springwatch presenter Chris Packham. There are a host of fantastic prizes for the national category winners, including birding and photography breaks, activity holidays and a spectacular 12-day exploration trip to Antarctica, courtesy of Exodus in partnership with Quark Expeditions, for the photographer who wins the overall Portfolio Photographer of the Year title. For more information, please visit www.wwt.org.uk/photo
