WPY 2015

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WPY 2015

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WPY 2015

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WPY 2015

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WPY 2015

0 |

WPY 2015

News / 01 November, 2015

WPY 2015

The "Oscar" Award for Wildlife Photography

This competition provides a showcase for the world's highest exponents of wildlife photography. Organised by the world-renowned British institution, the Natural History Museum of London, this competition rewards images that raise awareness of Nature's beauty and fragility. 

The competition started in 1965 when the BBC Wildlife magazine was still called "Animals". In those days there were only three categories which attracted just five hundred entries. It was really a far cry from today's forty-two thousand photos submitted from almost one hundred countries around the globe.

“A Great Honour”

The fifty-first Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 Competition has recognised one of my best-loved underwater pictures. I am really very honoured to be part of such a prestigious group of revered photographers whose images have been selected from so many entries from so many countries. It is overwhelming that my entry was selected as a finalist (before highly commended) prize winner this year. Moreover this competition makes it the third time that one of my images has been selected.

“A Rigorous Selection Process”

One hundred photos ranging from images of the marvels of the deep blue sea to stunning landscape shots were finally short-listed from the huge amount of entries. The images were judged by a panel of professionals: men and women recognised in the photographic and academic world for their experience and involvement in wildlife photography.

This year both professional and amateur photographers did a wonderful job with their images, capturing in both black-and-white and colour, the world's most awe-inspiring facets of our beautiful planet.

“The Exhibition Tour”

From 24th October onwards the selected images are on public display at an awesome exhibiton in London. After this major showing at the National History Museum, they will then go on a year's tour, first of all visiting sixty cities in the UK before setting off to venues all around the world.

This magnificent exhibition celebrates the one hundred award-winning photographs that illustrate the abundance and vulnerability of life on Planet Earth. It includes all aspects: from intimate portraits of animals to amazing landscapes, using stunning action photography and incorporating the most innovative photographic techniques.

“The Award Ceremony”

Personally it has been a great honour to be part of such elegant and prestigious award ceremonies. One feels part of the world's photographic elite when rubbing shoulders with the best and most world-renowned photographers of the Natural World. The breath-taking Victorian Natural History Museum set the scene for an amazing Award's Ceremony.

An informal reception took place on 12th October at the modern Earth Hall which is close to the magnificent model of the Globe spinning on its axis above the escalator leading up to the upper galleries. There I met other garlanded photographers, members of the jury and competition staff. The atmosphere was relaxed and cordial.

On the following day, 13th October, the main ceremony unfolded in the central hall, known as the Hintze Hall. This is the gateway to the Natural History Museum's fine collection and galleries. It is a magnificent cathedral-like structure with the enormous "Diplodocus" skeleton looming overhead. The hall was decorated in all its finery for the award ceremony, as we, the lucky photographers also were. All of us were decked out in our finest and most elegant evening attire. The evening started with drinks, and dinner was served. This pleasant interlude was followed by the formal award ceremony. Finally there was an exclusive preview of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

The last day of the WPY 2015 Exhibition was an opportunity to meet the media, with interviews lasting the whole morning. This was a great chance for the photographers to talk about their work while surrounded by the award-winning images which included my selected contribution "Rhythm of the Blues".

GALLERY:

1: Hintze Hall, where the main ceremony took place followed by an elegant dinner.
2: Invitation card.
3: The awesome Earth Hall, with its magnificent spinning Globe.
4: 
Main entrance to the Museum. Amazing atrium to the Victorian building.
5: At the dinner with my pic
Rhythm of the blues” on the front screen.
6: 
Rhythm of the Blues”, finalist award-winning image.