Natural World (Young APOY)

If any image demonstrates that wildlife photography doesn’t have to be about frame-filling animal portraits in colour, it’s this one, which was overwhelmingly popular with our judges. The humble pigeon is just as valid a subject as any glamorous – or more beautiful – creature. There’s a lot that can be read into this image, with the outstretched wings of the bird and its shadow symbolic of any number of things. The line of wires is a hugely important part of the composition, too. It’s clever, interesting, and full of drama. Well done.

This is a great close-up photo of a puffin. Pin sharp but with the background nicely blurred, and the foreground grasses too, which adds a sense of depth and movement.

A skilfully created image with strong vibrant colour and, lovely soft light. The water droplets create additional interest.

This is an interesting image with lots of moody atmosphere. While some may find the foreground twig a distraction, it adds to the natural charm of the image and the subject is captured very well. The end result is more interesting than a 'straight on' record shot - creativity is the essential ingredient of all great photography, not just technical perfection.

This is a wonderfully timed photo of a beautiful subject. The animal is caught on the turn, staring intently into the distance. It is an image full of anticipation. It is technically accomplished too - a sympathetic colour palette, perfect focus, and a shallow depth of field to isolate the fox from its surroundings and emphasise its sense of concentration.

A superb close-up of this spider, with the focus in exactly the right place. Well done for keeping the background free of distractions, too.

A great example of a well-executed macro shot - the bug is razor sharp, as is the plant, while the background blur really makes the subject stand out. There is a nice quality to the background bokeh too, and the portrait orientation suits the composition perfectly. In addition, the colours really sing.

This is a charming and candid image and it's particularly impressive considering how shy these creatures are. The photographer's shooting angle really adds to the atmosphere too, while the composition is spot on - you really get a sense of time and place. Highlight and shadow details are well preserved too.

This is a lovely moment skilfully photographed. Well worth being late for school for!