This year, at the 61st World Photography competition, more than 60,000 entries were received from all over the planet by some of the most amazing wildlife photographers who have snapped breathtaking moments through their lenses.
But a 10-year-old girl, Jamie Smart, has stunned everyone by winning the Youngest Wildlife Photography Award for the year 2025.
Jamie entered her photo in the competition under the under-10s category.
The young photographer Jamie Smart, who lives in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, started taking snaps when she was just age 6 and never imagined she would gain international recognition for her talent one day.
Llandrindod Wells is a picturesque town in Powys, Wells, known for its natural beauty, historic architecture, and tranquil surroundings.
Jamie’s passion for photography began with dinosaurs, but realizing she couldn’t capture them in the wild, she shifted her focus to wildlife photography, discovering a new creative platform.
To get the perfect shot, she walked at a safe distance along a path and stretched up tall so the grass didn’t block her view.
Jamie named the photo “The Rutting Call.” It was captured on part of a two-day wildlife rutting season expedition at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire.
It shows a red deer stag giving a mighty bellow during the autumn rut in Bradgate Park in Leicester.
She described her shot, saying, “It's actually a monarch stag; he has over 16 spikes on his antlers, which shows he’s a mature and strong stag.”
She continued to narrate the chilling moment: “A younger one came over the hill; it was running, bellowing. The stag was so tired, so he had to lay down. I laid down; the grass was very long and right on his face, but when he bellowed, he lifted up his body, and I was able to capture it.”
Besides, Jamie is a gifted photographer with a wealth of knowledge when it comes to wildlife, which plays a key role in her endeavor to capture those award-winning shots.
Jamie shares her passion for wildlife and photography with her 111,000 Instagram followers and also hosts a podcast where she chats with animal experts.
Jamie is excited to attend the awards ceremony in London on October 14 and explore the Natural History Museum.
The globally acclaimed competition is in its 61st year and is run by the National History Museum, showcasing the stunning intersection of photography, science, and art.
From humble beginnings in 1965 with 361 entries, this iconic photography competition has evolved into a global phenomenon, attracting millions through its touring exhibition.
The award ceremony will take place for the sixty-first Wildlife Photographer of the Year award on October 14, and the exhibition will open on October 17 at the British History Museum.