Ooh we love to see kids and young people out with their cameras. We also like competitions to inspire and encourage them to take photos. So we're happy to see that the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards are now open for entries!

The RSPCA's Young Photographer Awards opened yesterday and they present photographers aged 18 or younger with heaps of opportunities to submit their work and be in with the chance of winning some great prizes, including an Olympus OM-D and a photoshoot at an RSPCA centre. Very importantly, the competition is free to enter and there's no nasty rights grab for submitted entries. (Although please don't take my word for this and check it out for yourself.)

There are three age categories: Under 12, 12 to 15, and 16 to 18; two themed categories (pet personalities and making life better); a portfolio award; and a People's Choice Award that will be selected from the pet personalities category. And the winners of these categories will be put forward for the Overall Winner prize, too.

Young photographers are eligible to enter five photos in their age category, five in the pet personalities and making life better categories, and they can submit three porfolios comprising five photos each. That's a lot of photos that they can submit!

Being a competition run by the RSPCA, the photos should be of animals, and they don't want photos depicting animals doing anything unnatural or being treated cruelly. There are also rules governing manipulation, submission, and residency.

The registration form is here and you'll find all the information pertaining to the competition on the website, including tips and advice from some pros. The closing date is 26 August 2013. Good luck!