The Rotary Young Photographer Competition is an annual event that encourages young people to explore, observe, and celebrate the world around them through photography.
Open to photographers aged 11 to 17, the competition offers a supportive and inspiring platform for young people to express creativity, build confidence, and develop visual storytelling skills — all while engaging more deeply with nature and their surroundings.
Why Young Photographer Matters
Photography invites young people to slow down, look more closely, and reflect on what they see and feel. Each year’s theme is designed to spark curiosity and personal interpretation rather than technical perfection.
Participants are encouraged to:
-
Notice beauty in everyday places
-
Express emotions and ideas visually
-
Develop creative and observational skills
-
Gain confidence by sharing their work
-
Receive constructive feedback from experienced photographers
There is no single “right” way to respond to the theme — originality and personal perspective are actively encouraged.
Learning and Support
As part of the competition, professional and experienced photographers support young people through judging and, where possible, school-based workshops. These sessions help participants understand composition, light, and storytelling, while reinforcing that photography is as much about seeing as it is about technique.
All entrants receive feedback on their work, helping them learn and grow regardless of whether they win a prize.
Recent Highlights
Judging has now been completed for the Whitby heat of the Rotary Young Photographer Competition 2025–26.
We were delighted to receive ten high quality entries from individual participants, as well as from Whitby School and Fylinghall School. This year’s theme, Happiness in Nature, provided an inspiring and thought provoking brief, resulting in a collection of creative and expressive images. Our judges greatly enjoyed reviewing the submissions and engaging in careful discussion before reaching their decisions.
Congratulations to our prize winners:
Age 11–13
First Prize: Jack Broadley
Second Prize: Isaac Lumley
Age 14–17
First Prize: Amelia Dyson
Second Prize: James Morris
Third Prize: Gracie Sutherland and Hana Kameda
All entrants will receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement. Prize winners will also receive gift vouchers. The winners of each age group will now go forward to represent Whitby at the Rotary District 1040 Final, with the opportunity to progress to the national stage of the competition.
We commend all participants for their enthusiasm, creativity and commitment, and thank them for contributing to another successful year of the competition.
Prizes and Recognition
-
Certificates awarded to all participants
-
Gift voucher prizes for top entries at local level
-
Progression to district and national competitions
More importantly, participants gain encouragement, recognition, and the confidence to keep developing their creative interests.
Get Involved
If you know a young person who enjoys photography — whether using a camera or a phone — the Rotary Young Photographer Competition is a welcoming and rewarding way to take that interest further.
Entries open annually.
Details of themes, deadlines, and how to enter will be shared locally each year.
