A trio of young photographers who captured the lovable quirks of the animal kingdom are in the running at the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards.
A shortlist of 21 photographers has been compiled from more than 8,000 entries, featuring everything from terriers playing on a beach to lions snarling at each other.
Amelia Robinson, 13, from Dorset, captured the mischievous spirit of a seven-month-old Bengal kitten, Lily, pictured right. She wrote in her application: “She’s just been caught doing something she shouldn’t – climbing up the sofa – so she pulled her ’It wasn’t me’ face.”
Also on the shortlist are Bertie Gregory, 18, from Bristol; and Georgia Harding, 12, from Bristol. Some of the photographers entered a portfolio. Sam Rowley, 17, from Richmond, submitted a run of five pictures from Richmond Park.
He got up early to find deer surrounded by fog.
“As the sun rose, all the fog began to change colour and the silhouette of this deer added a great final touch,” he wrote, submitting his picture Deer At Dawn.
Becky Murray, one of the RSPCA’s picture researchers, said: “I was amazed at the level of talent. There were stunning images from across the board of all kinds of animals - from the smallest spider to the largest bear.”
“Well done to the finalists – what an amazing year.”
The winners will be announced on December 16 at an awards ceremony at the Tower of London.
The winner will be sent to photograph the annual deer rut in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire.
The full shortlist is:
Amelia Robinson, 13, from Dorset;
Amy Wilton, 16, from Fareham;
Antony Archer, 15, from Leeds;
Bertie Gregory, 18, from Bristol;
Chris Pritchard, 18, from Surrey;
Emily Biggs, 13, from London;
Georgia Harding, 12, from Bristol;
Hemma Jari, 11, from Altrincham;
Jo Cock, 15, from West Mersea;
Kyle Moore, 12, from Lowestoft;
Lela Penistone, 17, from York;
Owen Hearn, 13, from Leighton Buzzard;
Poppy Jones, 15, from Accrington;
Rachel Michael, 14, from Glasgow;
Ryan Iyapah, 18, from Ilford;
Sam Rowley, 17, from Richmond;
Samuel Hood, 12, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne;
Scarlett Martin, 8, from Stafford;
Sophie Bramall, 10, from Stafford;
Tim Tabatabaie, 15, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne;
Will Nicholls, 16, from Hexham.