Last weekend my friend and colleague Jonathan and I went to the exhibit of the Wildlife Photos of the Year. This contest is sponsored by the National History Museum of London, and I believe was started by David Attenborough in 1964. Celebrating its 60th year, the 100 winning photos were displayed artfully, and I imagine there are similar exhibits all around the world. For more information go to www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy.
The work was humbling and moving, especially those by teenagers and younger! The photos were grouped in various categories and the exhibit displayed the honorable mentions along with the winners for each category. Along with the story of how the photo was taken, there was information about the plight of the animals. I hope I am not breaking any copyright rules by posting these photos, but I will be crediting to the photographer or showing his/her name on the photo.
Throughout the exhibit were quotes from the judges which were informative and thought provoking. Celina Chien says, “Be curious. You don’t need to travel far to explore the natural world. Discover nature on the doorstep. Observe it, listen to it and be curious in everything you do.” Melissa Groo says, “Be patient. I’m not patient with much in life, but when it comes to nature’s stories unfurling in front of me, I have nothing but time and attention. Only by observing over time can we witness behaviors that illuminate the wonder of nature.” And finally, Lucase Bustamante wrote, “Communicate your story. Think of the bigger picture and tell the whole story. Inspire people with the beauty of the natural world, but also help them think about the problems it faces. Learning about nature is the first step to protecting it.”
These were my favorite photos or stories.
Well, I have to compare my photo (on the right) with a professional’s on the left. Humbling, right?
Aside from being exceptional photos compositionally, I was fascinated by how they caught the mushroom spores being released.
This series won the overall prize (as did a high school student!). The photos were amazing and shared how the plight of these golden horseshoe crabs is critical as they have many medicinal properties (one was used in coming up with the COVID vaccine) and how synthetic medicines are then developed to mimic the natural property. They are only found in the Philippines.
After the two floors of the winners’ photographs, there was a third floor where you could view short documentaries on how photographers teamed with conservation organization to raise awareness. There was also information on parks and reserves in the state of Maharashtra, along with 3 reserves in Mumbai I will be visiting with my camera!
On this floor was also a slideshow of People’s Choice winners. These were my favorites.
After this event, Jonathan and I went out for a snack and a drink, always a good time with him. Lots of serious discussions and many laughs!
As we walked to the restaurant, this work is by Subogh Gupta caught my eye. He incorporates everyday objects that are found throughout India, such as the steel tiffin (lunch) boxes, metal plates, bicycles, and milk pails. According to Wikipedia, from such ordinary items Gupta produces sculptures that reflect on the economic transformation of his homeland. I felt this piece told the story of consumer waste.
This was a new wall mural (or at least I hadn’t noticed it before) on the highway between where I live and South Mumbai.
