11 year old Saskia Slavin LRPS has become one of the youngest people ever to be awarded the accolade of a Royal Photographic Society Distinction. She submitted a panel of ten images, which included landscapes, portraits and macro images.

Saskia was proud as punch that the first letter addressed to her saying Saskia Slavin LRPS came from the head teacher of her primary school, congratulating her on her achievement.

Saskia from Reeth in Swaledale, Yorkshire took her images with a Nikon D80 camera, having taken up photography at the tender age of five. She was given encouragement by her mother, Sylvia, and by  her step father, John, who are both keen photographers.

She was also given advice at an RPS advisory day in Bradford, which she says was vital in helping her towards her goal. She is now looking for a new project to take her to the next level, Associateship. Again, she is determined to be the youngest ever!

The youngest person to achieve Associateship was aged 15, so Saskia has just over four years to find a suitable theme. In the meantime her mother, Sylvia, is herself trying to become an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society; she is putting in a panel of 15 landscape images at the RPS headquarters in Bath on April 23^rd.

Roger Reynolds Hon FRPS Chair of the Distinctions Advisory Board, said:

“I would like to give my heartfelt congratulations to Saskia. This is a marvellous achievement and I was delighted to witness this very special event. The Royal Photographic Society is dedicated to bringing photography to everyone: young or old, rich or poor, and the fact that such a young person is able to achieve this important award is testament to this fact.

“Young skilled photographers like Saskia represent the future of the media and it will do all it can to encourage the younger generation to enjoy and improve their photographic skills”