Wildlife Photogrpaher of the Year 2025
“Rutting Call”
10 & Under Category
Highly Commened – Jamie Smart | ‘Rutting Call’ | Bradgate Park
Jamie’s wildlife photography has received remarkable international recognition. Her latest image — a dramatic red stag bellowing in the soft autumn light of Bradgate Park — has been awarded Highly Commended in the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition and selected as one of the Top 100 photographs worldwide.
This year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY), developed and run by the Natural History Museum in London, reached a record-breaking milestone with 60,636 entries from photographers across the globe — the highest number in the competition’s 60-year history. To be singled out as Highly Commended in the Young category from such an extraordinary pool of images is a truly outstanding achievement, marking Jamie’s work as among the best in the world.
The awarded photograph was taken at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, one of the UK’s most iconic deer parks. It captures the raw intensity of a red stag in full bellow during the autumn rut — a moment that symbolises both the drama of nature and the timeless rhythm of Britain’s wild landscapes. Working alongside acclaimed wildlife photographer Danny Green, Jamie showed both patience and skill in seizing this fleeting moment, resulting in an image that is both powerful and atmospheric.
Recognition in the Young category is particularly significant. It not only celebrates Jamie’s artistry at an early stage in her photographic journey but also highlights the growing contribution of young people to wildlife photography and conservation awareness. WPY has long championed the next generation of storytellers, encouraging them to use their creativity to connect audiences worldwide with the natural world.
The competition’s Top 100 images are exhibited internationally, attracting millions of visitors in London and across global tour venues. Jamie’s stag bellowing photograph will travel as part of this exhibition, sharing the spirit of Bradgate Park and the unforgettable sound of a rutting stag with audiences far beyond the UK.
Being recognised as Highly Commended also speaks to the values of WPY itself — images that inspire wonder, provoke thought, and ignite a passion for protecting the environment. Jamie’s work is more than a picture; it is a story of connection between humans, wildlife, and the landscapes they share. It is a reminder of how fragile and yet how powerful nature can be.
Highly Commended Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 - Rutting Call - Jamie Smart
