The Rotary Club of Whitby & District has announced the winners of the Whitby heat of the Rotary Young Photographer Competition 2025/26.

The competition aims to encourage young people to experiment with photography and create opportunities for them to unlock their potential.

In the most recent Whitby heat, young photographers aged 11-17 years responded to the theme Happiness in Nature with thoughtful and imaginative entries.

Rather than staged scenes, many chose to capture animals, landscapes and quiet moments that reflected how nature makes them feel.

14-17 years winner Amelia Dyson with her certificate, and her photo of the three ducks.

placeholder image — 14-17 years winner Amelia Dyson with her certificate, and her photo of the three ducks.

Organisers thank all the young people that participated.

Winners - 11-13 years

1st – Jack

Jack described his winning photograph as “This is mine and mum's footprints in the sand at Sandsend before anyone else had walked on it. This is happiness - sea, sand & family.”

11-13 winner Jack with his certificate and his picture of his and his mum's footprints in the sand at Sandsend.

2nd – Isaac Lumley

Winners - 14-17 years

1st – Amelia Dyson

Amelia said: “I chose this moment because the simple sight of three ducks peacefully sharing a quiet riverside reminds me that happiness is often in the small, harmonious rhythms of nature.”

2nd – James Morris

Joint 3rd – Gracie Sutherland

Joint 3rd – Hana Kameeda

Competition winners were awarded prizes, and all the entrants received judge’s feedback and a certificate recognising their achievement.

Jack and Amelia’s winning entries have gone forward to take part in the Yorkshire Regional Final and, if successful, will then compete in the National Final of the Rotary Young Photographer Competition 2025/26.

A big thank you also to the volunteers from the Whitby Community that judged the competition: Rob Williams, Donald Readman, Tony Hewitt, Malcolm Blenkey and Zoe Cooper.