Shropshire Star

Shropshire student wins RSPCA photography competition

A student at a Shropshire college has won a photography award after her entry was chosen from more than 6,500 images.

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Katie collects her coveted award at the Tower of London

Katie Sales, 16, who is in her third year at Concord College in Acton Burnell, took first place in the mobile phone and devices category of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards.

“Winning came as a complete surprise to me,” said Katie, who is from Cleobury Mortimer.

“I only used an iPhone 5.

"Having entered with no intention of getting past the entry stage, it makes me feel that putting your mind to something, you can achieve anything.”

The photo she took on her iPhone 5 was a striking image of 24-year-old Albie, her family-owned retired horse.

Katie’s competition winning photo

“Originally, I had no intention of entering the photo for the competition," she added.

"I thought it was just a nice picture of Albie in the barn.

"The light was right and it turned out pretty good.

“It quickly became one of my favourites – so I chose to submit it.”

Katie won a £100 Amazon voucher, a personalised trophy, a T-shirt, a framed photo feature in RSPCA’s head office and was given further guidance from the judges.

The judging panel comprised experts in wildlife photography, including TV presenter Patrick Aryee, Chris Packham and award-winning photographers Andrew Forsyth and Jules Cox.

The aim of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards, open to anyone aged 18 or younger, is to encourage young people’s interest in photography as well as their appreciation and understanding of animals around them.