A stunning photograph of a field grasshopper taken by young British wildlife photographer Jamie Smart has earned high commendation in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition. The image, titled "Morning Hopper," was captured in the "10 Years and Under" category and showcases Smart's exceptional talent for wildlife photography at a remarkably young age.
The photograph features a field grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) expertly framed against a soft backdrop of grass stems that hint at the insect's natural hiding place. Smart captured the image during the early morning hours as sunlight began to penetrate through autumn mist in Mid-Wales, UK. "The light was just perfect," Smart explained, describing the ideal conditions that allowed her to create this award-winning composition.
To achieve the shot, Smart demonstrated both technical skill and respect for wildlife by acting quickly and gently drawing back a few grass stems to get a clear view of the grasshopper without disturbing the creature. The resulting image showcases the field grasshopper's distinctive characteristics, including its short antennae and powerful hind legs that are perfectly adapted for jumping. These legs also serve another important function – when rubbed against the grasshopper's wings, they produce the characteristic intermittent chirps that other grasshoppers can detect through specialized sensory organs located on their abdomens.
Known professionally as "the Eagle Eyed Girl," Jamie Smart's passion for wildlife photography began at the remarkably young age of six and a half when her father gave her a camera during a nature walk. Since that pivotal moment, she has dedicated herself to exploring nature reserves and common lands throughout the United Kingdom, consistently seeking to document the beauty and diversity of British wildlife through her lens.
The technical details of the winning photograph demonstrate Smart's growing expertise with professional equipment. She used a Nikon Z9 camera with a 105mm f/2.8 lens, shooting at 1/200 second at f/13 with an ISO setting of 64. The image was enhanced with a Nikon SB-910 Speedlight flash and a Cygnustech diffuser to achieve the perfect lighting conditions that highlight the grasshopper's delicate features.
The field grasshopper featured in Smart's photograph is a small but widespread species found throughout Europe and Northern Europe. Like most grasshoppers, this species plays an important role in its ecosystem and represents the type of common yet often overlooked wildlife that Smart specializes in capturing. Her work demonstrates how even familiar creatures can be transformed into compelling artistic subjects when photographed with skill and creativity.
Smart's achievement in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition highlights the growing recognition of young photographers in the field of wildlife photography. The competition judges evaluate images based on their quality, style, and originality, considering everything from animal portraiture and behavior shots to broader habitat scenes and artistic interpretations of the natural world. Smart's "Morning Hopper" clearly met these high standards, earning its place among the highly commended works in this internationally renowned competition.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which features Smart's work alongside other winning images, aims to help visitors pause, reflect, and reconnect with the natural world through photographs that celebrate nature's awe-inspiring beauty while urging viewers to protect it. The competition and exhibition continue to serve as important platforms for photographers like Smart to share their vision and inspire conservation efforts through the power of compelling wildlife imagery.
