Nature, beautiful and confronting – Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 showcases 100 awe inspiring images from the world’s most prestigious photography event of its kind.
“Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 is coming to Geelong for the second year in a row,” says Mayor Darryn Lyons.
“I am thrilled to be officially opening this internationally renowned wildlife photography exhibition and launching it’s Australian tour right here in Geelong at the National Wool Museum; the only venue in Victoria to host the exhibition.”
Wrestling komodo dragons, ethereal egrets and thirsty squirrels are among the creatures captured on camera for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015.
Now in its 51st year, the competition receives over 42,000 entries from 96 countries highlighting its enduring appeal as a showcase for the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights.
The exhibition premiered at the Natural History Museum in October 2015 before embarking on an international tour across six continents, giving millions of people the chance to see some of the world’s most incredible wildlife photography.
The 100 winning images in the exhibition were selected from 18 individual category winners, depicting nature at its finest, from displays of extraordinary animal behaviour to sublime landscapes. The competition is judged by an international panel of industry-recognised professionals. Images, submitted by both professional and amateur photographers, are selected for their creativity, artistry and technical complexity.
As part of the exhibition experience, relax and explore the National Wool Museum’s Cabinet of Curiosities Lounge. Evocative of ‘old school’ natural history museums, the Lounge is an alluring array of the weird and wonderful from the vaults of the NWM collection and features all the images submitted to the Geelong by Nature Photography Competition. The Competition invited Geelong community photographers of all ages and abilities to submit original photographs showcasing our regional wildlife and landscape.
Looking for a fun day out and want a pre-view of the amazing photography you will see as part of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015? Then head to the Geelong Botanic Gardens. A selection of images are installed right intothe landscape giving you and your family a chance to wander the gardens and experience these images in super-size or explore amongst the ferns and see if you can find all the hidden faces.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
FEATURED IMAGE
74. Natural frame
Morkel Erasmus
SOUTH AFRICA
Finalist, Black & White
Morkel could hear every rumble. He could even smell the elephants. But his view was limited to the viewing slit of a cramped bunker sunk into the ground beside a remote waterhole in Namibia’s Etosha National Park. Giraffes, zebras and kudu wandered in and out of view, but the elephants were right in front, sometimes so close that his view was blocked. Morkel used black and white to place the emphasis on the composition. His moment came when a mother framed his shot with her legs just as her calf walked into view framing a giraffe. Having caught his ‘dream moment’, Morkel put down his camera and just sat and enjoyed the ‘bliss’ of watching wild animals taking their turn to drink from this life-giving waterhole.
Nikon D800 + 70-200mm f2.8 lens at 200mm; 1/640 sec at f8; ISO 360.
When & Where: National Wool Museum, Geelong – on display until May 15
