THEY always say a drop of oil is the best way to fix a squeak...

The wonderfully quirky photograph by Stephen Lloyd-Smart (above) was just one of hundreds of entries in this year's Yorkshire Wildlife Trust photography competition. They included stunning landscapes; intricate close-ups of insects and other tiny creatures; snaps of unwary foxes, barn owls and songbirds; and much, much more.

Entries were sent in from children, enthusiastic amateurs, and those who had clearly developed real expertise with a camera and the patience to wait for the right image.

A panel of judges - including The Press's own Stephen Lewis - then had the difficult job of sifting through them to come up with a shortlist of 35 finalists across four categories, which were:

  • Wildlife watch (Junior category)
  • Smartphone (for images captured on a phone)
  • Wild Places
  • Wildlife 

Now it is over to you - a public vote will decide the winner in each category.

Voting opened today, and will close on April 1, with the winners being announced in a ceremony at Potteric Carr reserve near Doncaster on Thursday May 5. Winners will each receive a Yorkshire Wildlife Tour with Yorkshire Coast Nature and a signed copy of the new Bradt Travel Guide – A Summer of Wildlife by James Lowen.

Scroll down to see all the finalists. You can then cast your vote here http://www.ywt.org.uk/node/24813

 

THE FINALISTS

 

WILDLIFE

York Press:

Symmetry by Colin Hamilton

 

York Press:

Rabbit by Dave Semmens

 

York Press:

Insect by David Eccles

 

York Press:

Green leaf aphid by David Hopley

 

York Press:

War of the Worlds by David Hopley

 

York Press:

Banded Damoiselle by Ian Parker

 

York Press:

Adders by Simon Bailey

 

York Press:

Mouse by Stephen Lloyd-Smart

 

York Press:

Owl by Stephen Lloyd-Smart

 

York Press:

Shoveller courtship flight by Vernon Barker

 

WILD PLACES

York Press:

Hornsea groyne by David Hopley

 

York Press:

Emerald by 'Manphibian'

 

York Press:

Dent Head Viaduct by Harry Johnson

 

York Press:

Woodland by Charlotte Ellis

 

York Press:

Hawthorn tree, Ingleborough, by Harry Johnson

 

York Press:

Kingsdale, Yorkshire Moors, by Harry Johnson

 

York Press:

Twistleton Scar, Ingleborough, by Harry Johnson

 

York Press:

Northern lights over North Yorkshire coast by Joe Burn

 

York Press:

Goat Lane by Kevin Nutter

 

York Press:

Landscape at Sutton Bank by Mark Heslington

 

WILDLIFE WATCH (JUNIOR - five finalists only)

York Press:

Hedgehog by Hannah Orchison

 

York Press:

Seabirds by Jamie Kirk

 

York Press:

Stag by Jamie Kirk

 

York Press:

Hoverfly by Zach Haynes

 

York Press:

Insect by Zach Haynes

 

SMARTPHONE

York Press:

Poppies by Allison Richardson

 

York Press:

Bee by Catherine Sutherland

 

York Press:

Gulls on Humber Bridge by Catherine Sutherland

 

York Press:

Landscape by Darren Bellhouse

 

York Press:

Broad-winged damselfly, by Paul Farrington

 

York Press:

Common Blue by Paul Farrington

 

 

York Press:

Coast by David Hopley

 

York Press:

Five Spot Burnett, by Paul Farrington

 

York Press:

Hoverfly, by Rob Atkins

York Press:

We're hungry, by Stephen Towse