Talking turkey with RSPCA Young Photographer Awards winner Jamie Smart

I entered the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards once more this 12 months as a result of I cherished the competitors a lot final 12 months. I bear in mind leaving the ceremony on the Tower of London and saying to mum and pop: “I want to win this one day!” And with that I set myself a problem and aim to attempt to seize pictures that may be ok for me to have an opportunity.

The concept of photographing our turkey Frederick got here to me whereas I used to be wandering round my backyard with my digital camera simply on the lookout for issues to {photograph}. I noticed him in his pen taking a look at me via the bars – he was being saved inside due to chicken flu. He had a curious look in his eyes so I believed I’d attempt to get a special picture of a turkey whereas he was standing there taking a look at me… that is the place the picture of him happened and was additionally the thought for the portfolio of a turkey. I wished to do one thing totally different and distinctive with the portfolio of the turkey as individuals overlook turkeys. 

Fred is nice, he’s fairly tame and I take pleasure in spending time with him, so I believed I’d attempt to seize the fantastic thing about his feathers through the use of a macro shot to show-up their iridescence. I additionally wished to get an actual detailed picture of the caruncles on his face and neck. They had been notably crimson and hyped up, so I requested dad to assist maintain a flash up for me in his pen whereas I attempted to get the picture of him sq. on – it was difficult as he wouldn’t keep nonetheless! And I needed to alter my f-stop and shutter pace fairly a bit to lastly get the picture I wished.

I’ve used Nikon from day one as a result of that’s what dad James has. He has used Nikon over many years as he loved images as a passion. At the second I shoot with Nikon Z 9 physique and varied lenses relying on what I’m trying to seize and the place I’m. For the picture of Frederick, ‘Not Guilty’, which received the general prize, I used a Nikon Z 24-120mm lens with a Nikon SB-910 Speedlight… and pop as a flash holder!

For the horse {photograph}, I used a Sigma 150-600mm lens, and for the caterpillar picture I used the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 macro lens with the Nikon SB-910 Speedlight. I took the ‘Turkey Eye’ image with dad’s Nikon D500… I didn’t begin with a Z 9! As I bought higher, dad trusted me together with his newer digital camera – the D850. We then offered old equipment and saved as much as get the mirrorless Z 9, which made a large distinction when taking pictures of wildlife as it’s so a lot quieter and sooner.

I really like nature and wildlife and that is all of the inspiration I have to take pictures. My mum and pop give me as many alternatives as attainable to get out into the wild. We do quite a lot of analysis on the place to seek out sure birds and animals and what kind of habitat they’re more likely to stay in and when. 

We stand up early to go to locations to attempt to discover them. We wish to journey loads round Wales and have began going a bit additional afield into England. Lots of instances I don’t handle to get the picture I would like or I miss the chicken or animal altogether. But that makes the time that I do get it proper that rather more wonderful. I wish to stay by Bear Grylls’ motto – ‘never give up’.

I used to be so satisfied at profitable the Pet Portrait class final 12 months that I began taking extra pictures right away after we bought home! There’s a gaggle of horses on the moorland close to the place we stay in Wales, and we went up there late afternoon on a fairly tough day. As the solar was setting, the clouds parted for just some minutes and lit up the herd. This lovely animal seemed throughout at me with this kind of curious look about him… so I made a decision to name the picture ‘Curious George’.