This year, amidst the stunning visuals of endangered species and picturesque landscapes at the yearly Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibit at Victoria’s Royal BC Museum, one image stands out in acclaim.
Shane Gross, a Nanaimo-based marine conservation photographer, took the Adult Grand Title Winner photograph, The Swarm of Life, depicting western toad tadpoles illuminated by light beneath the surface of a lake close to Campbell River.
Gross revealed to Victoria News that many of his photos may require months or years to capture, but in this instance, he was fortunate.
“After identifying the optimal time of year to observe the tadpoles, I dedicated about six hours at the lake that day familiarizing myself with the lake, the tadpoles, their behaviors, and experimenting with various angles and lighting methods,” he stated. Gross highlighted their “incredible golden flecks” by utilizing front-lighting on the tadpoles.
The photograph was selected from a total of 59,228 submissions from 117 nations and territories at the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition organized by the U.K.’s Natural History Museum.
Gross infuses a dedication to conservation into his work, which is why he co-established the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective (CCPC) alongside a few companions.
“We believe that united, we are more powerful … Our mission is to advocate for the rights of nature by leveraging our expertise as photographers, videographers, and storytellers.”
This shared philosophy resonates in the 100 images from photographers worldwide that will move from London’s Natural History Museum to Royal BC Museum from February 14 to April 27. The exhibition “captures and showcases the intricate elegance of our planet while emphasizing the global initiative to rejuvenate Mother Earth,” states the Royal BC Museum website.
“We are inundated with significant facts and figures about the deterioration of our world daily, yet it seldom leads to transformative change. Humans are visual and emotive beings, so to inspire action we can harness the impact of visual storytelling,” Gross articulated.
“I believe the exhibit possesses the potential to influence individuals’ lives and aspirations. I know that certain visuals and films have transformed my perspective.”