Young Broxburn photographer Caitline Sutherland wins prestigious national competition

Jan 7 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A YOUNG snapper has won a trip of a lifetime to Africa after coming first in a prestigious national photography competition.

St Margaret’s Academy pupil Caitlin Sutherland beat off competition from across the whole of the UK to win the National Geographic Kids photography competition. Her beautiful composition, entitled ‘A Lonely Flower’, won the scenery category of the journal’s competition.

And there was even better news for the 12-year-old from Broxburn when her superb shot was judged overall winner by the magazine’s photographer Reza and singer Leona Lewis.

The X Factor winner said: “I could imagine Caitlin’s photo on the wall in a frame as soon as I saw it.”

National Geographic photographer Reza Deghati added: “This photo is a perfect composition, and the rocks and petals show the softness and hardness of life. “It sends a great message — that even in hard times, there is always hope.”

Caitlin and her family will now jet off for an incredible 10-day Great Rift Valley adventure safari in Tanzania in July. They will travel through the Ngorongoro Crater, home to 30,000 wild animals before visiting the Olduvai Gorge, where some of the world’s oldest human skeletons were found.

Caitlin will have plenty of opportunities to use the new camera she won when she also visits the amazing Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara, with its playful groups of monkeys and even tree-climbing lions.

She said: “I have never been to Africa but it is somewhere I have always wanted to go.

“It’s a great prize and my family and friends are all really proud of me.

“My entry was a photo of a little poppy growing in the rocks outside my house. I did take a few photos to get the right one but it didn’t take too long as I was on my way out at the time. I like taking pictures of most things really but I like scenery shots the best. It was amazing and quite an honour to find out I had won.”

Caitlin’s photograph was the centrespread in this month’s edition of NG Kids and will also be displayed in the National Geographic Store in London.

The 12-year-old says her passion for photography comes from her dad Duncan.

She added: ““My dad has been into photography for quite a while and takes his camera with him everywhere he goes.”

Caitlin’s snap will also be entered into the International Photography competition, where it will compete against pictures from other NG Kids readers from around the world for a chance to win a trip to National Geographic HQ in Washingston DC.