We are delighted to announce the winners of our 2023 Photography Competition, which we had revamped and expanded this year to better reflect how people experience nature. The competition attracted 520 individual entries, and included a fantastic array of images taken all around our three counties on a range of devices.
The overall winner is Matt Hazleton for his fantastic image of a bearded tit taken at Stanwick Lakes in Northamptonshire. He bags himself the fantastic prize of a Canon EOS R10 + RF-S 18-150mm lens kit worth £1,349.99, courtesy of competition supporters Canon UK in association with Campkins Cameras. We are pleased to note that many of this years' winning photos have been taken using Canon equipment, and we're sure Matt will enjoy using his prize in the future.
"The bearded tit in my photo turned up at Stanwick Lakes this winter and was a real poser, allowing me to capture lots of photos," says Matt. "I've entered the Wildlife Trust photography competition every year and am so pleased to have won it!"
The winner or the Flora and Fauna category is Kevin Pigney for his photograph of two boxing hares, taken on a farm in Cambridgeshire. "It was an image I had been after for around five years," explains Kevin, "and although I had seen this boxing behaviour many times, this was the first time I managed to get an image I was really happy with."
James Sinclair has won the People in Nature category for his picture taken of Hemmingford Meadow in Cambridgeshire. James was very pleased to have been selected, saying that "it has come as a pleasant surprise. I am by no means a professional photographer."
Finally, the winner of the Youth category is Finley Gerrard-Croxon, whose image of a barn owl in flight was taken in Cambridgeshire.
He describes the story behind the image: "I’ve always been obsessed with nature, however it wasn’t until I first picked up a camera that I started to realise that there was a lot to learn and explore in my surroundings. In late March in 2023, I remembered a local patch where I saw some badger cubs during my GCSEs, but unfortunately at that time didn’t have my camera to hand. I set off on a short bike ride with all my gear in my bag, in the hope that they may still be there.
"About half a mile down the road, tilting my head to either side, I spotted something unexpected. I slammed on the brakes and quickly jumped off my bike, which went crashing down into the soft grass, and knelt down to grab my camera out of my bag. By the time I’d got my camera from my bag, I could no longer see the owl. I felt disappointed, however I quickly realised that it was very likely that it was going to fly back. I positioned myself the best I could and knelt down once again and, crazily, the owl started flying impressively close and I snapped away with my camera, whilst following its movement; then it happened, I got the photograph I’d been hoping for.
"Ever since, my photography has stepped up, I’ve managed to capture other birds such as red kites, tawny owls and spoonbills in all their glory. I'm so grateful to have come first place in the youth category," he adds, "It's another big step in my passion for wildlife photography."
