2007 Young PDSA Photography Awards

Press Release:

Three talented young snappers have scooped top titles in the 2007 Young PDSA Photography Awards! Martyn Burnett from Aberdeenshire, Charlotte Berry from Bury and Sarah Boot from Bristol wowed judges with their creative animal and wildlife photos.

The three categories were Wildlife, under 12’s and 12-18. PDSA launched the photography awards in the summer to encourage children to get out and about photographing their pets, farm animals or wildlife. The charity received hundreds of high quality entries, making it very difficult for the judges to pick the winners!

In the under 12’s category, nine-year-old Martyn Burnett from Insch, Aberdeenshire was crowned Young PDSA Photographer of the Year, with his photo of two penguins taken at Edinburgh Zoo.

Martyn says: "I'm so happy I’m the under 12 PDSA Young Photographer of the Year. I've always loved taking photographs, especially of animals and birds. When I saw the two penguins at the zoo, they looked like they were cuddling, I immediately took the picture. I can't wait to start using my new camera and will hopefully get some more good photos so I can enter even more competitions."

Eleven-year-old Sarah Boot from Horfield in Bristol scooped the Young PDSA Wildlife Photographer of the Year title, with her cute shot of a fluffy duckling!

Commenting on her win, Sarah says: “I love going for walks in the countryside and I always take my camera along because you never know what you are going to see. I spotted the duckling at the Slimbridge Wildlife Wetlands in Bristol and waited quietly on the bank until it waddled up the hill.”

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Berry, from Bury in Lancashire won the Young PDSA Photographer of the Year (12-18) title after she impressed the judges with her spectacular snap of her pet dog – or rather, his paws!

Charlotte says: “I really enjoy taking photographs of my pets and thought I would try some different angles when I took this photo of my dog. Winning this competition has inspired me to focus on my photography and I can’t wait to start using my new camera!”

PDSA Director General, Marilyn Rydström says: “The quality of the photographs we received was really impressive. Picking out the winner was not easy, but these three really stood out for their creativity and originality. I’d like to thank everyone who sent in a photograph and special congratulations go to Martyn, Charlotte and Sarah.”

To see some of the other great entries, visit the news page on the Young PDSA website.