Wildlife Photographer of the Year launches 62nd competitors with stellar new jury panel and rule change

Wildlife Photographer of the Year has launched its sixty-second competitors, calling for entries from photographers throughout the globe of all nationalities, backgrounds and expertise ranges. The esteemed, worldwide professional judging panel for this yr’s competitors can also be introduced immediately, together with two-time Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Title winner, Laurent Ballesta.

Rules and Access

This yr, the competitors has up to date its rule on baiting, owing to its enduring dedication to moral wildlife apply above all else. From this competitors onwards, any type of baiting shall be prohibited, besides the place the {photograph} is the results of reliable scientific analysis, which have to be clearly said within the picture caption when submitted.

Previously, the competitors’s guidelines said that the jury would strongly favour non-baited images, with stay baiting or any technique of baiting that will put an animal in peril, or adversely have an effect on its behaviour, having been banned for a few years. The change to a whole ban displays the competitors’s continued give attention to championing pictures that remember the pure world with respect and integrity.

Additionally, consistent with Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s dedication to rising accessibility, entrants 26 years outdated and below will proceed to obtain free entry to the competitors. Last yr’s introduction of a charge waiver for these aged 18-26 resulted in an 83.6% enhance within the variety of entrants on this age vary in comparison with the earlier yr.  

The competitors may also proceed its waived charge for photographers from 114 nations throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and Southern America which have traditionally been underrepresented within the competitors.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year can also be dedicated to rising feminine and non-binary illustration and actively connects with feminine and non-binary photographers to encourage entry to its competitions. This consists of a suggestion of a reduced entry charge to organisations that help range in wildlife pictures.

For the world’s oldest and most prestigious wildlife pictures competitors, this yr’s esteemed worldwide jury contains seven consultants throughout a variety of wildlife and conservation subjects. They will choose the highest 100 pictures, together with the competitors’s 16 winners in classes starting from mammal behaviour and concrete wildlife to underwater and photojournalism. There are additionally three classes within the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitors for photographers aged 17 years outdated and below.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year may also proceed its Impact Award, launched for its sixtieth anniversary, to focus on the facility of pictures to advertise wildlife conservation successes and optimistic motion for the pure world.

Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury, says: “One of the great honours of serving on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year jury is the trust the photographic community shares with us – trust that we respect their work, that we value their commitment to the natural world and that we endeavour to hold the competition to the highest standards.  We believe in the community and once again we can’t wait to be amazed by their photography.”

Gemma Ward, Competition Manager, says: “We’re so excited to unveil this yr’s jury, who collectively will select the 100 profitable pictures that seize the great thing about the pure world. Their choice will highlight the facility of wildlife pictures to spark world conversations and encourage change.

“Wildlife photographers face the challenge of capturing powerful images with the responsibility of adhering to the highest ethical standards in their practice. This balance lies at the heart of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and we are proud to introduce our updated rule on baiting to further call for the protection of wild animals and their environments.”

The Jury

Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s repute is strengthened by the experience of its jury and the rigour of its judging course of. Please discover particulars under on this yr’s jury.

Kathy Moran (USA) is Chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jury and the previous Deputy Director of Photography at National Geographic. As the journal’s first Senior Editor for Natural History Projects, Kathy has been producing tasks about terrestrial and underwater ecosystems since 1990. Kathy has edited and produced quite a few books, in addition to curated exhibitions. She was named Picture Editor of the Year for her profitable portfolios in each the 2017 and 2006 Picture of the Year worldwide competitions. She is a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Laurent Ballesta (France) is a biologist by coaching and, for greater than 30 years, Laurent’s ardour for exploration has pushed him to develop progressive diving strategies, enabling him to seize pictures that lie on the intersection of science and artwork. He’s the one particular person within the 40-year historical past of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitors to have obtained the highest prize twice. Named a Knight of the Order of Maritime Merit, his work spans greater than 100 pages in National Geographic journal and 250 pages in Paris Match, and consists of 13 photographic books devoted to marine life.   

Jasper Doest (The Netherlands) creates visible tales that discover the connection between humankind and nature, and is a contributing photographer to National Geographic journal. As a real believer within the energy of pictures to provoke change, Jasper is an International League of Conservation Photographers Senior Fellow and a World Wildlife Fund Ambassador. His accolades embody 4 World Press Photo awards and 11 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, and in 2020 he was named European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. 

Florence Goupil (Peru) is a French-Peruvian documentary photographer based mostly in Peru. A National Geographic Explorer and contributor, Florence was lately awarded with the Sony Latin America World Photography Prize.  Florence’s work has additionally been revealed in The New York Times journal, Polka Magazine, The British Journal of Photography, Fisheye and Atmos, amongst others. She’s additionally co-directed quick movies, together with Cumbia’s Day and Cuidantsiqmi, which had been recognised at Shorts México, Chile’s Felina Festival and the Festival International du Film de Nancy in 2023. 

Blanca Huertas (UK/Colombia) is an entomologist, with experience on the taxonomy and conservation of butterflies. For 20 years, she’s been the curator chargeable for the direct care and growth of one of many world’s largest collections of butterflies, housed at London’s Natural History Museum. Blanca’s analysis focuses on tropical faunas and habitats, addressing points such local weather change, endemism, species discovery, conservation and extra currently utilizing genomics, the place she’s presently main a big across-the-Americas venture. Driven by a deep dedication to nature and science, Blanca is obsessed with fostering range and inclusion in her discipline of labor. 

Clement Kiragu (Kenya) is an award-winning wildlife photographer, cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer. Renowned for his intensive information of wildlife and memorable resilience in among the world’s most distant environments, Clement has made vital contributions to pure historical past productions for PBS Nature, National Geographic, BBC ONE and the BBC’s Natural History Unit. Clement leads non-public pictures expeditions all through Kenya and different places throughout Africa via his Kenya-based wildlife manufacturing and expeditions firm.  

Sudhir Shivaram (India) is one among India’s most celebrated wildlife photographers, famend for his skill to mix technical mastery with highly effective storytelling. A Sony India Brand Ambassador, he was named Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2012 and obtained the National Geographic Yellow Border Award in 2013 for the perfect National Geographic Traveller cowl throughout 14 worldwide editions. Sudhir has featured in Asian Photography Magazine’s prime ten most influential individuals within the Indian pictures trade for 4 consecutive years. A sought-after mentor, Sudhir has constructed one of many largest on-line pictures studying communities in Asia via his Sudhir Shivaram Photography Academy.

For full particulars in regards to the jury, guidelines, prizes and dates, go to: nhm.ac.uk/wpy/competitors

#ENDS#

NOTES TO EDITORS

Media Contact

To focus on protection or to rearrange interviews with the jury, please contact Laura Gosney, Communications Manager for Wildlife Photographer of the Year through e mail: wildpress@nhm.ac.uk

The Sixty-Second Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition

• Entry charge waiver for photographers from Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Curaçao, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Sixty-First Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition and Winners

The winners of the sixty-first competitors had been lately revealed at a ceremony hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin on the Natural History Museum, London. The competitors attracted over 60,000 entries from 113 nations. Please contact wildpress@nhm.ac.uk for additional info.

About Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Now in its sixty-first yr, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum, London’s, world platform for the world’s greatest nature pictures and wildlife photojournalism. Our annual competitors, receiving over 60,000 entries, is open to photographers of all ages, nationalities and expertise ranges. With our touring exhibition and outreach actions partaking hundreds of thousands across the globe yearly, we invite ever extra individuals to rejoice and advocate for the pure world.

About the Natural History Museum, London

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific analysis centre and one of many world’s most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet – individuals who act for nature.  

Our 400 scientists are discovering options to the planetary emergency – from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the inexperienced financial system.  

We are searching for a further £150 million to remodel our South Kensington constructing: putting our groundbreaking analysis at its coronary heart, revitalising 4 present galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million extra guests a yr with the wonders of the pure world.