Snap happy pair scoop top prizes in Stortford Rotary Young Photographer of the Year
By Eleanor PatmoreSNAP happy photographers Rohma Malik and Isabelle Crawford have been revealed as the winners of the Rotary Young Photographer of the Year competition.
Rohma, 17, from Takeley, was chosen as the winner in the 12-18 age group for her picture entitled ‘The Long Nights’. The stunning skyscape was taken from her bedroom window.
The Herts and Essex High School pupil said: “Photography is something I’ve been doing for a while and I always have my camera with me.
“I can watch the sun go down from my window so when I saw this sunset I thought the colours looked perfect. I like the contrast of the pinks and purples with the black of the tree.
“I really like experimenting with colour and different effects; the photography club I go to has been helping me try new things.”
The A-level student said when she heard she had won she “couldn’t stop jumping around”.
“I’ve never won anything before so I was so excited,” she said. “At home, I have a checklist of all the things I’d like to achieve and winning a photography competition is on there so that’s one ticked off already!”
Isabelle, 10, from Bishop’s Stortford, was named the winner of the 7-11 category with her striking shot ‘Tulips’.
The Northgate Primary pupil captured the colourful blooms on a family day out to Wimpole Hall.
“There were lots of beautiful flowers and quite a lot of tulips and I thought it would make a nice picture because of the sunshine and all the different colours,” she said.
“I had to crouched down to take it from that level and was really pleased with the results.”
Isabelle said she was always taking pictures with the camera she got as a joint birthday and Christmas present. She especially likes capturing animals, people and different scenes.
“If I see something nice and I think it will be a good picture I take one and then if I think I could do better, I’ll try it again at different angles,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe it when my dad told me I’d won. I thought he was joking.”
Both girls were presented with their prize – a framed print of their photo courtesy of Menor Photographic and a £50 voucher to spend at Photosound – by Rotary president Rick Waterhouse and Observer editor Paul Winspear last Thursday.
