On loan from London’s Natural History Museum, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has arrived at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney. The exhibition is on show now until the end of October this year.
The embrace by Sergey Gorshkov, Russia. With an expression of sheer ecstasy, a tigress hugs an ancient Manchurian fir, rubbing her cheek against bark to leave secretions from her scent glands. She is an Amur, or Siberian, tiger, here in the Land of the Leopard National Park, in the Russian Far East. The race – now regarded as the same subspecies as the Bengal tiger – is found only in this region, with a small number surviving over the border in China and possibly a few in North Korea. Hunted almost to extinction in the past century, the population is still threatened by poaching and logging, which also impacts their prey – mostly deer and wild boar, which are also hunted. But recent (unpublished) camera‑trap surveys indicate that greater protection may have resulted in a population of possibly 500–600 – an increase that it is hoped a future formal census may confirm. Nikon Z-7 + 50mm f1.8 lens; 1/200 sec at f6.3; ISO 250; Cognisys camera-trap system.
The exhibition showcases the best images from the 56th edition of the International competition, which were chosen from more than 49,000 entries from across 86 countries around the world.
Chair of the judging panel, Roz Kidman Cox, said, “The diversity of subjects and styles this year is memorable, with more than 25 different nationalities represented. But what especially stands out are the images from the young photographers – the next generation of image-makers passionate about the natural world.”
Eleonora's gift by Alberto Fantoni, Italy Winner 2020, Rising Star Portfolio. On the steep cliffs of a Sardinian island, a male Eleonora’s falcon brings his mate food – a small migrant, probably a lark, snatched from the sky as it flew over the Mediterranean. These falcons – medium-sized hawks – choose to breed on cliffs and small islands along the Mediterranean coast in late summer, specifically to coincide with the mass autumn migration of small birds as they cross the sea on their way to Africa. Canon EOS 7D Mark II + 500mm f4.5 lens; 1/2000 sec at f7.1 (+1 e/v); ISO 800; hide.
Designed to tell important and surprising stories about our relationship with the natural world, this year’s exhibition features themed panels, which have been curated with the help of expert scientists.
The fox that got the goose by Liina Heikkinen, Finland. It was on a summer holiday in Helsinki that Liina, then aged 13, heard about a large fox family living in the city suburbs on the island of Lehtisaari. The island has both wooded areas and fox-friendly citizens, and the foxes are relatively unafraid of humans. So Liina and her father spent one long July day, without a hide, watching the two adults and their six large cubs, which were almost the size of their parents, though slimmer and lankier. In another month, the cubs would be able to fend for themselves, but in July they were only catching insects and earthworms and a few rodents, and the parents were still bringing food for them – larger prey than the more normal voles and mice. It was 7pm when the excitement began, with the vixen’s arrival with a barnacle goose. Feathers flew as the cubs began fighting over it. Nikon D4 + 28–300mm f3.5–5.6 lens; 1/125 sec at f5.6 (-0.3 e/v); ISO 1600.
Kevin Sumption, Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum said, “The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition held wide appeal across all ages, due to its rich material and strong environmental message.”
“The popularity of the exhibition has grown each year at the museum, not only because of its stunning imagery, but because visitors share our commitment and interest in environmental issues, particularly ocean health.”
“With 2021 marking the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development we must concentrate our efforts to promote our natural environment.”
Perfect balance by Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco, Spain Winner 2020, 10 years and under. In spring, the meadows near Andrés’ home in Ubrique, in Andalucia, Spain, are bright with flowers, Andrés had walked there a few days earlier and seen European stonechats hunting for insects, but they were on the far side of the meadow. He regularly sees and hears stonechats, their calls like two stones tapping together. They are widespread throughout central and southern Europe, some – such as those around Andrés’ home – resident year round, others overwintering in northern Africa. Andrés asked his dad to drive to the meadow and park so he could use the car as a hide, kneel on the back seat and, with his lens on the window sill, shoot through the open windows. Fujifilm X-H1 + XF 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 lens; 1/50 sec at f5.6; ISO 800.
