This image was a category winner.
The category was “under-10”. Two more of her images were “highly commended”.
I think I might just drop my kit off at our local recycling centre 
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Her passion for photography was ignited at the age of six and a half when her father handed her a camera during a nature walk.
Well, I’m dadding well, then, both my 7 year old and my nearly-6 year old have tried their hand at portraits. Now they just need to save up for a Z9 and the 105mc and we’re golden! 
Great pic, lovely to see that this is not just an old bloke’s game, too.
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I feel like this every time I go to the local WPOTY exhibition. Just heard her being interviewed on the radio and she’s also a very articulate and engaging speaker.
Ten. WTH?
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Thats insane, her photos are very impressive. Also on her website. Probably a good bit of parental backing though.
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No doubt. Which kinda is the point of parenting, of course.
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All of the images in that category are pretty great.
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They are going to be exhibited in a neighbouring town soon, so I have to refrain myself from clicking any link here to avoid spoilers…
So not referring to the picture mentioned here but generally I feel a bit ambivalent about the children categories at WPOTY (especially the very young one). There are often really impressive pictures in it (sometimes even some among my favourites), but I remember one case where it even said in the description that the father set up the camera on a tripot and everything and the child merely pushed the button. So its sometimes a bit unclear how much of the achievement really comes from the child.
If I were to judge myself by comparing my photos to these, or frankly to those of most of you, I would give up.
But comparison isn’t the point.
Regarding parent intervention, I have, well, a fishing story. When my daughter was around 8 years old, and son nearing six, I took my wife and kids fishing on one of those fishing boats that take people out for a few hours. We were in Dana Point, CA US.
Most of the others on the trip were men. The skipper taught us how to use the rented tackle, including where to attach the weight and (most importantly) how to grab the live bait (small fish) and set the hook, plus how to drop the line to the sea bed and set just a little tension. My job was to bait and drop the line for my kids before attending to my own pole.
Except I never actually got a chance to set my bait. No sooner would I drop the line and hand the pole to my daughter, she’d yell, “Daddy, I caught one!” Over and over and over …. Same thing for my son, but he was just a tad more patient.
Of course, I needed to “help” bring the fish up, catch them in a net, remove the hook etc.
The other passengers had pooled money to award to the winner with the most catches. I had declined to participate. But after a while, a few of the men came by and asked to rub my daughter’s head for good luck.
We quickly exceeded our quota, but continued catching and throwing fish back.
I think combined my two kids caught around 50 fish. I I caught none. 
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Most 10 year olds don’t have access to high quality photo gear or the time and money to travel for photo opportunities, so in that sense most of these kids probably come from pretty privileged backgrounds that enable them to do this in the first place.
That’s not an indictment against their skills or anything. It’s just hard not to imagine the kids who could have the skill and passion but don’t have the same access. That’s life tho…
We were in Canterbury with friends last weekend, and went for a walk with their grandson.
He is a keen birder, using photography to document what he sees. Two things struck me, firstly his ability to spot things, much more acute than anyone else. Secondly, his depth of knowledge, I showed him some of my pictures from around the UK, and he was able to identify all the birds, some of which he can only have seen in pictures.
He is 12. It was a pleasure to meet someone who was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
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