An amazing three-day photography break with one of the world's best wildlife photographers is up for grabs for the winner of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards (YPA) 2010.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year category winner Danny Green, who runs Natures Images along with Mark Sisson, will join this year's overall YPA winner and pass on some of his expertise during the annual deer rut in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire.

Hundreds of entries have already poured in for YPA, which is one of the country's most prestigious photography competitions for under 19s. But there is still time to put your snaps in the frame to win some amazing prizes.

Be in with a chance of winning some of the best prizes yet

YPA is offering its best prizes to date. The overall competition winner will receive:

• £1,000 worth of Olympus camera kit
   
• three-day photography break courtesy of Natures Images.

And there's more...

As if all this wasn’t enough, the YPA category winners will pick up some fantastic new cameras at the final of this year's awards, sponsored by Olympus and Warners Midlands, at HM Tower Of London on Friday, 10 December.

And the winners of the under 12s and 12-18s categories will get to enjoy an exclusive photoshoot at an RSPCA centre with our very own award-winning photographer Andrew Forsyth, as well as a top Olympus camera.

Categories also include the Olympus portfolio prize, where photographers get to showcase several images on a consistent theme, and the pet personalities section which is the perfect chance to frame your furry friends.
 

About last year's winner

Last year’s overall winner, Ryan Edwards, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, joined Andrew at our East Winch Wildlife Centre to photograph the release of rehabilitated seals back into their natural habitat.

 

As well as picking up some top tips from Andrew, Ryan was able to put them into practice and get plenty of his own stunning images from a memorable day out with the RSPCA team, like the picture on the right of one of the seals.

YPA could be your gateway into photography

YPA has become a recognised launch pad for aspiring photographers to showcase their work, gain recognition from industry professionals and be rewarded for the talent they have developed.

It has now gained a reputation as prestigious as many leading adult photography competitions.

Entries will be shortlisted by the judging panel, including BBC Countryfile and The One Show presenter Matt Baker. He said:

I can't wait to see the great entries that have been submitted for this year's competition.

It has been a fantastic summer to be out and about, so I am looking forward to seeing lots of sunny and happy pictures of pets and wildlife and meeting the winners at the awards ceremony in December.

Enter now!

You can enter the competition and upload your photos on our official YPA website: www.rspca.org.uk/ypa

Here you'll find full details of the award categories, prizes and rules. Plus browse our past winners' galleries, get photography tips, and watch our YPA video from last year's awards ceremony at HM Tower of London.

The closing date for online entries is midnight on Monday, 6 September 2010.

You can also submit your entry by post, to arrive no later than 5pm on Monday, 23 August 2010. Information and postal entry forms are available from the YPA website, by emailing publications@rspca.org.uk, or by writing to:

YPA / RSPCA Publications
Wilberforce Way
Southwater
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 9RS.

Maybe this year it could be you picking up a winner's prize from Matt Baker...