A ten-year-old Instagram sensation from the West Midlands has been hailed as a future David Attenborough after her breathtaking photograph of a garden spider won a prestigious regional award.
A 'Happy Accident' in the Garden
Jamie Smart, who is home-schooled and boasts over 170,000 followers on Instagram, described her award-winning image as a 'happy accident'. The young photographer decided to venture into her garden after a rainfall, captivated by the water droplets. "There were water droplets everywhere, and I thought it would be a really nice time to go out and capture some photos of animals," Jamie explained.
Her keen eye spotted a spider's web among some dead dock leaves. Following the trail, she discovered a garden spider, measuring perhaps half a centimetre, tucked inside its daily-built hide-out. Using flash and a diffuser, and experimenting with various settings and angles, Jamie managed to illuminate the tiny arachnid in a stunning close-up shot.
From Dinosaurs to Dispelling Fears
Jamie's passion for wildlife began with what she calls an "immense" early fascination with dinosaurs. She started taking animal photographs at just six and a half years old. Spiders are among her favourite subjects, and she is eager to change people's perceptions of them.
"They don't want to harm you," she said. "They're just full of character and some are really cute - their hunting behaviours are incredible." Her winning image secured the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Wolverhampton Museum & Art Gallery.
A Family Learning Journey
Jamie's talent is nurtured by her father, James, a carpenter who once enjoyed photography as a hobby. He has since picked up his camera again to support his daughter's passion. "We've been learning together, we never stop," James said. He is now also mastering videography to help film Jamie for social media and guide her understanding of the wildlife photography industry.
The young photographer's achievement gained national attention during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, where she was dubbed the next David Attenborough. Members of the public still have time to view the award-winning photograph, as the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition remains on display at Wolverhampton Museum & Art Gallery until January 25.
