Wildlife Photography » Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition

Storybook Wolf The storybook wolf © José Luis Rodríguez/Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 José Luis had set out to capture the perfect shot of an Iberian wolf, but feared they would be too wary. When he realised he had got the shot of his dreams, he couldn't quite believe it. Iberian wolves have been persecuted by humans because they are often seen as a threat to game and livestock, which they hunt when natural food is scarce. They also face superstition about the supposed danger they pose. Even though they live close to humans, there are no verified incidences of them attacking people. In Spain, the population of Iberian wolves - a subspecies of the grey wolf - is thought to number 1000-2000 in the north with a few tiny, isolated populations in the south. José risked a slow shutter speed to reveal the moonlit sky and conjure up the atmosphere of the place. He switched from using his Nikon D2X to a Hasselblad so he could get the exact framing that he had in mind. He said, ‘I hope this picture, which shows the wolf's great agility and strength, will become an image that can be used to show just how beautiful the Iberian wolf is and how the Spanish can be proud to have such an emblematic creature'. Competition judge and noted wildlife photographer, Jim Brandenburg said, ‘This wolf jumping over the farmer's enclosure with the supposed intent of killing his livestock speaks for itself - thousands of years of history are frozen in this masterfully executed moment. This is a more technically complex photograph to achieve than one can imagine.'

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 reveals the best of the wild
A fairytale image of an Iberian wolf and two yellowhammers fighting over food - the winners of the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2009 were unveiled at a ceremony held at London's Natural History Museum.

The much coveted title of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Spanish photographer, José Luis Rodríguez, who impressed judges with his image, the storybook wolf. Scottish teenager Fergus Gill was crowned Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his dramatic photograph, clash of the yellowhammers.

The pair succeeded from a record 43,135 entries from 94 countries, a 33 per cent increase on last year. The best of these, including all winners, runners-up and commended photographs from the competition's 17 categories, is being showcased in a visually stunning exhibition at the London's Natural History Museum.

To cater for its increasing popularity, this year's exhibition will be displayed in one of the Museum's largest galleries. Photographs will be exhibited on a larger scale than ever before and new features include an optional audio guide allowing visitors to hear comments from photographers and judges on the images. There will also be an audio-described guide for visually impaired visitors.

The competition, owned by London's Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine, is regarded as the international leader in the artistic representation of the natural world. The 2009 competition and exhibition at the Natural History Museum are sponsored by Veolia Environnement. They are a world leader in environmental services, working with businesses, communities and governments to minimise our daily impact on the environment we have a communal responsibility to protect.

Chair of the judging panel, Mark Carwardine said, ‘While there is no magic formula for winning and no hard and fast rules to explain why one photograph wins and another doesn't, all winning shots have one thing in common - originality. The judges are looking for something that stops them in their tracks. The competition plays an increasingly crucial role in raising the profile of wildlife photography and generating awareness of conservation. Nothing speaks louder than an evocative photograph that stirs the imagination, tugs at the heart strings and engages the mind.'

Yellowhammers The planning for the clash of the yellowhammers started in the summer, when he collected sheaves of oats from a local farmer specifically as winter food for the birds. One evening in February, hearing that snow was forecast for the next morning, Fergus set up his hide in the garden, hung out feeders and carefully positioned a sheaf. He woke up early the next morning and got into the hide to wait. After a few hours, the garden was full of birds. At one point he counted 32 yellow hammers feeding on the ground. After a couple of hours, more snow fell and the yellowhammers began jumping up and feeding on the sheaf. ‘Every so often, I would see a fight between two males over ownership of the oats, but the spats were incredibly brief,' said Fergus. This, however, was the event he decided to focus on. Two days later, Fergus got the photograph he wanted, capturing both the clash and the composition he'd planned. Commenting on Fergus's image, competition judge Mark Carwardine said, ‘What a joy. First your eyes go to the yellowhammer on the left, then you realise there is another one in the bushes. Split-second timing has captured the perfect wildlife moment.' Clash of the yellowhammers©Fergus Gill/ Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009

 

Exhibition information for visitors:
Dates: Until - 11 April, 2010
Opening times: every day, 10.00-17.50 (closed 24-26 December)
Admission: -adult, Gift Aid admission £9*
-concession, Gift Aid admission £4.50*
-family, Gift Aid admission £24* (up to two adults and
three children)
-free for Members, Patrons and children aged three and under

2010 competition
Photographers can enter next year's competition online from January to March 2010.

For further details about the competition and its various categories, or to enter online, visit
www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto

* If you are a UK taxpayer and pay the Gift Aid admission ticket price, the Natural History Museum can reclaim the tax on the whole ticket price you pay. For every £100 worth of tickets sold, we can claim an extra £28 from Government. This means you can further support the work of the Museum. The standard admission charges are adult £8, concession £4 and family £21.

The right of entry is the same for visitors with or without the voluntary donation.

Visitors can buy tickets at the Museum or online. Latest details of UK regional and international tour venues are available on the website.

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine