A TEENAGE photography prodigy from Oxfordshire has won a prestigious nationwide accolade for the third time.

Oxford schoolboy Alex White, who rose to fame across the county for his highly-skilled and up-close snaps of local wildlife, was crowned winner at the Young Mammal Photographer of the Year in the category 15-18 years.

The 16-year-old from Appleton near Cumnor impressed the judges with his photo of a 'Summer Meadow Deer'.

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Alex took the snap of the wide-eyed animal towards the end of the period when roe buck shed the velvet from their antlers.

The teenager said: "My whole life I have been very much focused on wildlife animals and the nature around me.

Oxford Mail:

"I did not enter the competition last year because I was really busy preparing for my GCSE exams but after that I had enough time to prepare."

This is not the amateur photographer's first time in the prestigious competition organised by the Mammal Society charity, which works to identify effective conservation strategies for all British mammals.

Back in 2016, when Alex was only 12, he clutched his first win in the Young Photographer category (ages 15 and under) with a mesmerising snap of a still brown hare.

Two years later the teenager was again awarded in the same category for a stunning silhouetted image of a roe deer.

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This year, head judge Brett Lewis commented on the teenager's competition entry: "The buck is aware and its focus of attention is diverted towards the presence of the photographer.

"Alex took that moment to capture an engaging shot and one that pulls the viewer's focus straight back to the deer, whilst appreciating the plethora of flowers that adorn the meadow.

"Often scenes like these are fleeting and it takes a certain amount of professionalism to capture the image so well."

Alex's prize is a day of mammal photography, courtesy of Westcountry Wildlife Photography Centre.

Oxford Mail:

This year the renowned competition received more than 300 entries.

Mr Lewis commented: "The standard of the competition entries seems to increase with each passing year and the variety of species captured by the UK’s photographers is very pleasing to see.

"Many of the images represent the animals in their environment with some facing very harsh conditions, which the photographers have also endured to capture some great photos."

The winning image of the competition was taken by amateur photographer Roger Cox from East London of a local fox that had climbed on the front window of a car.

Admirers can view all accoladed photographs at the free for all Mammal Photographer of the Year 2020 exhibition, which will be taking place at Robinson College, University of Cambridge.

For more details, and opening times visit mammal.org.uk/events/66th-spring-conference