Hollie Williams, an 11-year-old from Caerphilly, has once again achieved success at the World Food Photography Awards, sponsored by Tenderstem. For the second consecutive year, she has been recognized in this global celebration of food photography.
Award-Winning Image
Hollie's photograph earned third place in the Jamie Oliver Youth Prize category for participants aged 12 and under, a category personally judged by the renowned chef. The announcement was made by celebrated chef and food writer Gennaro Contaldo at an awards evening held at the Mall Galleries in London on Tuesday, June 2, attended by prominent figures from the culinary and artistic worlds.
Her winning entry, titled 'Spaghetti Waterfall,' captures steaming pasta in a dynamic composition. Hollie explained her technique: "My grandad cooked the pasta and raised it from the saucepan with a pasta ladle. I put a black board behind so the steam would show when lit from behind with a Canon Speedlight. I used a white reflector to light the shadow area."
A Family Affair
This marks the second time Hollie has been a finalist. Last year, she and her grandfather, Harry, both reached the finals in different categories. Harry has been teaching Hollie photography for the past three years. "It gives me immense pleasure in nourishing her interest in photography, as she seems to be very creative," Harry said. "She started her photography journey aged nine - the same age I started."
Competition and Exhibition
Nearly 9,000 entries from over 50 countries were submitted this year. A free exhibition featuring all 203 finalists, including Hollie's work, will premiere at the Mall Galleries in London from Wednesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 7. The online gallery of all 2026 finalists can be viewed at www.worldfoodphotographyawards.com. Entries for the 2027 edition will open later in September.
