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Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

 

It was the strength and agility of a Spanish Iberian wolf, jumping a farmer’s enclosure with the supposed intent of killing his livestock that stood out from 43,125 entries across 94 countries, who were all vying for the much coveted title of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

 

The competition was run by London’s Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine with both the 2009 competition and exhibition sponsored by Veolia Environnement.

Judges were extremely impressed with José Luis Rodriguez’s photograph The Storybook Wolf with competition judge and noted wildlife photographer, Jim Brandenburg commenting, “This wolf jumping over the farmer’s enclosure…it 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.”

In Spain, the current population of Iberian wolves is thought to be only 1000-2000, as they have been persecuted by humans who perceive them to be a threat to game and livestock, which they hunt when natural food is scarce.

Comparatively, Scottish teenager Fergus Gill was awarded Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his dramatic photograph, Clash of the Yellowhammers. This concept materialised after months of preparation and after hearing that snow was forecast for one early February morning, Gill set about constructing feeders and carefully positioning a sheaf until the entire garden was filled with birds. “Every so often, I would see a fight between two males over ownership of the oats, but the spats were incredibly brief,” Gill said.

Commenting on Gill’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.”

The purpose of the competition it to raise the profile of wildlife photography as well as attempting to generate awareness about conservation; as Mark Carwardine, chair of the judging panel says, “Nothing speaks louder than an evocative photograph that stirs the imagination, tugs at the heart strings and engages the mind.”

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

For all media related enquiries please contact Renee Fry- National Corporate Affairs Manager on (02) 8571 0109