Wildlife exhibition inspiration for photo competition
Be mesmerised by the sheer beauty, extraordinary drama and astonishing variety of the natural world in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 exhibition. On display at Rotorua Museum from 11 August to 31 October 2012, this exhibition comprises more than 100 images taken from this prestigious photo competition.
The 2011 competition attracted more than 40,000 photographs from 95 countries and seeks to find the best wildlife images that showcase visionary interpretations of nature. Now in its 48th year, the competition is internationally recognised with a reputation for being the Oscars' of the wildlife photographic calendar.
The Natural History Museum (London), with its partner BBC Wildlife Magazine, have developed the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 exhibition. Presenting winning images from the 2011 competition, this exhibition celebrates the richness of our planet and encourages us to appreciate and preserve it. Each picture is accompanied by the story of its creation, sometimes under incredible conditions.
In the flick of a tail by David Lloyd from New Zealand was specially commended in the Nature in Black and White category. Lloyd captured this photograph on Kenya's Masai Mara. When he encountered a giraffe at close quarters and saw a second one on the horizon, he had to wait for something that would inject life into the scene; a tail flick. Lloyd said I didn't expect that I would have to wait as long as I did. My arms were aching from hand-holding the lens and were at the point of giving up when it finally did so.
This dramatic exhibition caused Rotorua Museum staff to consider the unique and incredible wildlife and nature within the Rotorua region. As a result the first ever Rotorua Museum Wildlife & Nature Photo Competition was conceived. Rotorua Museum Sales & Marketing Manager Joanna Doherty suggested the exhibition would be a great place to gain inspiration before heading out into the Rotorua wilderness to capture your own unique photographs.
Entries will be accepted between 6 August and 7 September 2012 via the Rotorua Museum Facebook page. Finalists will be chosen by a range of experienced local judges before online voting is opened to the public. As well as being displayed online, the finalist images will also be published in the Daily Post and will be exhibited at Rotorua Museum.