Nine-year-old Jamie Smart, from Llandrindod Wells, recently travelled to Australia to meet celebrity zookeeper Robert Irwin after winning a global photography competition.
Jamie won the age 14 and under category as well as the People’s Choice category in Australia Zoo’s Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition.
After seeing the competition on social media, Jamie and her parents decided to enter her photographs. Amongst thousands of entries from all over the world, Jamie’s image of a harvest mouse was selected as the winner.
The prize for winning included a visit to Robert Irwin’s Zoo: Australia Zoo. The Smart family got to stay in the new lodges located at the zoo and Jamie met and spent a special afternoon taking photographs of animals at the zoo with Robert Irwin.
Robert Irwin is a famous conservationist, zookeeper and wildlife photographer. He is also known for being the son of his late father, Steve Irwin, a world-renowned zookeeper and conservationist from Australia.
The magical experience continued when the Smart family were invited to Robert Irwin’s 21st birthday celebrations, which included the opening of a gallery showcasing all of the winning photographs.
The family from the Llandrindod Wells area were shocked when they saw 18 of Jamie’s photographs on display there.
Speaking about the experience, Jamie’s dad, James, said: “This was just massive, we had to get over there. We attended the opening ceremony of the gallery of all the winners on Robert Irwin’s 21st birthday. Jamie gave him a birthday card and even appeared on the radio while there."
“Whilst we were there, we saw the winning images that were printed and they were huge. They had 16 of Jamie’s other images printed, so overall, 18 of her photos were on display in the gallery.
“It was pretty special really, it’s a good job we went!”
Jamie’s mum, Eleri, added: “What they did for her was just so accommodating and so nice and really encouraging for young talent and young people in nature. Jamie had so much fun with Robert Irwin that afternoon too.”
At just nine years old, Jamie became the youngest winner of this competition. Jamie has won multiple nature photography competitions and says her love of wildlife is equal to her love of photography with the two going hand in hand. She even has her own website, Eagle Eyed Girl.
Speaking about how she got into photography. Jamie told the Brecon & Radnor Express: “I started using binoculars, but I found it very hard focussing on wildlife before it ran away or flew off, so Dad asked if I’d like to use a camera, but I didn’t want to drop the camera because I knew how expensive it was.
“So, when I started photographing animals in the bush and the garden I got better and better at photography and that’s where it all started. I love it.”
Rounding off a successful end to the year, Jamie won four categories in the recently concluded RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2024.