Teenager from Oldham wins RSPCA Young Photographer Award 2022

A teenager from Oldham has been awarded the 2022 RSPCA Young Photographer Award for his wintry image of a shy mountain hare at sunset.

The photo, taken by 17-year-old Ben Harrott from Oldham, was singled out from more than 4,000 entries to claim the top prize in the annual competition.

Every year, the animal charity invites youngsters aged 18 years and under to capture the animal kingdom on a camera or a mobile device.

The judges said they were impressed by Ben’s ability to capture this rare encounter with such a shy animal as well as the “bravery of the near abstract composition”.

Ben's photograph won the 16 to 18 age group category as well as being named this year's overall winner at a ceremony held at the Tower of London.

This is the second year Ben has won an award, having claimed runner up in the Portfolio category in 2021 for his series of images of red foxes.

Ben said: “I’m so happy that the judges liked my photo of a mountain hare so much.

“Winter at my local moorland is often cold and this particular day was freezing. The winter sun was out which didn’t help at all and after walking for hours I finally spotted this mountain hare.

“After an hour of steady approach, I was the closest I’ve ever been to a mountain hare. The sun was setting and the mountain hare was fully relaxed in my presence, so I was able to photograph this individual up close as the sun was going down.”

Judge and awards host Chris Packham said: “This year’s contest was difficult to judge as we received so many superb photographs, however Ben Harrott’s stunning picture of a mountain hare really stood out. Ben is a really worthy winner."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “The judges were impressed by Ben’s persistence and field craft in capturing this moment with such a notoriously skittish subject and then taking such a skilled picture, with an almost abstract composition.

“The image also highlights the issue of climate change. Mountain hares live at higher altitudes and are camouflaged with a white winter coat for hiding against the snow, though the low winter sun gave this hare’s white fur a golden appearance, but warmer winters and little snow means it is harder for them to hide.

“This hare was attempting to hide as best it could.”

This year’s judges were TV presenter and RSPCA vice president Packham, wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby, former competition winner-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt, professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie, and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs.

Winners in each category were awarded trophies and a selection of prizes and overall winner Ben Harrott received a weekend wildlife photography break.