Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition

Fresh from its launch at the Natural History Museum!

Animal activities, creative portraits, skilful hunters and vistas from the furthest corners of our planet will be captured in this photographic exhibition of the world’s most striking natural moments.  The show features 95 winning and commended images from the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, encompassing its 17 varied categories.

The competition (organised by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine and sponsored by Veolia Environnement) is the largest and most prestigious event of its kind in the world.  Yet again, this year’s contest has been the most competitive in the event’s 45-year history; the judges scrutinised a staggering 43,351 entries from 94 countries for their composition and originality to find the ultimate winning shot.

The exhibition showcases the very best photographic images of nature to a worldwide audience, displaying the splendour, drama and variety of life on Earth and inspiring people to care for its future.  Each picture is captioned to reveal how and why it was taken.  For many photographers, highlighting the richness and dynamic essence of wildlife is just as important as capturing a special moment with perfect composition and timing.  The show also aims to show the artistry involved in wildlife photography and encourage a new generation of photographers to produce visionary and evocative interpretations of nature. 

Spanish photographer José Luis Rodriguez  won the overall competition  for his dramatic image entitled ‘The storybook wolf’, which captures an Iberian wolf jumping over a farmers fence in the moon light. Jim Brandenburg commented that the image “speaks for itself, - thousands of years of history are frozen in this masterfully executed moment”. José hopes that his picture “will be used to highlight just how beautiful the Iberian wolf is and how the Spanish can be proud to share their country with such an emblematic animal”. 

British teenager Fergus Gill took the young Wildlife Photographer of the Year title with her image ‘Clash of the Yellowhammers’, which took  months of articulate planning.  Competition judge Mark Carwardine commented that Fergus’s “split-second timing has captured the perfect wildlife moment”.

Mark Carwardine, who chaired the judging panel, said “while there is no magic formula for winning, the trick is to include one key ingredient: originality. 
Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine

The exhibition runs from 19 January until 28 February at Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Nr. Twigworth, Glos. GL2 9PA

Explore Gloucestershire
14 January 2010

• Contact phone : 01452 731422
• Also see : Nature in Art Website

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