The skills of a talented photographer who has yet to reach barmitzvah age have been recognised by the Royal Photographic Society.
Radlett schoolboy Sam Kaye, 12, is one of the youngest snappers to become a licentiate of the society, reaching the first of three levels. He is one of only 3,300 in Britain.
The Merchant Taylors’ pupil picked up a basic camera for the first time when he was six, following in the footsteps of his mother Su and grandfather Paul — both professional photographers.
His images, particularly of wildlife and the natural world, have since earned him first place in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Young Photographer of the Year competition and a top spot in a National Geographic contest. His work will be showcased at an exhibition at the Radlett Centre next month.
The Chelsea fan also takes photographs for the sports pages of his school newspaper. He prefers action photography to posed scenes, with his favourite photograph being one he took of a hoverfly.
“I’m always crawling around in the garden to get the perfect angle,” he said. The RPS recognition has yet to sink in. “It’s weird that I’m a qualified photographer.”
The lifetime qualification will stand him in good stead for a career in photography, although he’s also considering medicine.
And someone else will be taking the photos when he celebrates his barmitzvah at Radlett and Bushey Reform Synagogue next year.
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