Acclaimed photography brings wild to life

Acclaimed photography brings wild to life

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, and any photographer worth his grain in salt knows just how hard a stellar moment can be to capture.

Tireless dedication and bucket loads of patience are needed to find that perfect moment, when lighting, frame, movement and shade all come together in the prettiest of fashions.

And it’s these moments being celebrated at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, co-owned by the London’s Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide, which opens at the Australian Museum on Saturday March 28, 2015.

Now in its 50th year, it is the most prestigious photography event of its kind in the world, providing a global platform that showcases the diversity and wonder of nature.

Back in its founding days in 1965, it saw just 361 entries. Today, however, the comp reels in just shy of 42,000 entries, showing just how prevalent this exhibition is.

Open to amateur and professional photographers spanning generations, this competition even attracts entries from children less than ten years of age.

Two Aussies made the cut among the 100 award-winning photographs shortlisted this year, including a stunning image of a bluebottle washed ashore, captured by photographer Matthew Smith.

The prize of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for 2014 was awarded to American photographer, Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols for a stark black and white image of lions resting on a rocky outcrop in the Serengeti.

The man followed this particular pride of lions for six months before capturing the perfect frame – if that’s not dedication, I don’t know what is.

And then there’s eight year old Carlos Perez Narval, who walked away with the title of Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his image of a scorpion soaking up the sun near his hometown in Spain.

Every year the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition attracts people from around Australia and the globe to see the world’s best wildlife photographs and to be inspired by the diversity of the natural world.

Have a squiz at what some of the world’s best wildlife photography looks like.

Sailing by Photo by Matthew Smith © Matthew Smith/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014

Sailing by Photo by Matthew Smith © Matthew Smith/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014

The last great picture Photo by Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols © Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014

The last great picture Photo by Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols
© Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014

Latest News