Children snap up ESB photo prizes

A MEATH boy, who at six years of age is already something of a veteran snapper, yesterday became the youngest ever photographer shortlisted for the ESB Environmental Photography Awards.

Meara Owen-Griffiths, from Athboy, Co Meath, made it into the top 50 selected from 3,000 people who entered the ESB's 2003 competition for his snap of a butterfly on stones in the family garden.

How does taking pictures rank with kicking a football? "It's about the same really, that's what I think," said the unfazed youngster at yesterday's prize-giving in The Helix, Dublin. He's not thinking of being a professional photographer, but he's convinced his best pictures are yet to come.