Latest news with #WildlifePhotographeroftheYear
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
British Council & Natural History Museum bring wildlife wonders to India
The British Council and London's Natural History Museum (NHM) have joined forces to bring the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition to India. The 60th edition of the renowned showcase, featuring award-winning photographs that capture the "beauty and fragility of the natural world," opened at the British Council on May 2 and will run until June 6, 2025. The exhibition's inauguration was marked by the presence of Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, highlighting the significance of this cultural event. Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, British Council, emphasised the power of art in driving change, stating, 'The Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is a testament to the power of art to inspire action. By hosting this showcase at the British Council, we aim to spark meaningful conversations about conservation and creativity, engaging young people we work with in the global movement to protect our planet's biodiversity. ' Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, expressed his delight in bringing the exhibition to New Delhi, noting, 'We're delighted to present Wildlife Photographer of the Year in New Delhi, India, with a showcase of our category winning images. These are photographs that not only encourage further wildlife conservation efforts, but that spark the creation of real advocates for our planet on a global scale.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo This collaboration, supported by the foreign, commonwealth & development office, aims to engage diverse audiences in India – from students to artists – in crucial discussions about sustainability and biodiversity. The British Council underscores its long-standing commitment to the arts as a tool for "fostering dialogue, creativity, and global collaboration." Beyond photographs, the month-long exhibition will feature a range of engaging activities, including a digital library wall, a curated book display, a children's drawing session on 'Wildlife Conservation', a creative writing competition for children in the British Council's Summer School, a screening of Ashwika Kapur's documentary 'Catapults to Cameras', and a panel discussion with representatives from the Natural History Museum and the British High Commission. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Sydney Morning Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Matt had three seconds to capture the perfect shot. He nailed it
Photographer Matthew Smith was halfway through a gruelling 28-day expedition on a small yacht from South America to Antarctica when a seal looked directly down the barrel of his camera for just three seconds. A few clicks of the shutter later, Smith instantly knew he had captured the perfect shot. While the wildlife photographer is accustomed to shooting pictures of humpback whales feeding on krill, as well as the countless penguin species in the Antarctic Peninsula, it was this chance encounter with a curious seal who wandered right up to their yacht that caught Smith by surprise. 'We were just sailing in to anchor up for the night, but this leopard seal started following us because they're really curious, obviously predatory animals,' he said. 'The seal went around the yacht, sticking his head up and looking at us, so I pulled on my dry suit, got my camera all set up and slipped into the water. It started interacting with me quite curiously, and I went up over there where I probably spent half an hour to 45 minutes … It was a really calm interaction'. Among the almost 60,000 other entries submitted, this shot of an inquisitive seal was the 2024 winner of the underwater picture category to the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Other wildlife photos from the prestigious annual event will also be showcased at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney from May 15. 'It takes months and months to be able to create unique shots like this. You've got to play by nature's rules and not your own. You've just got to be there in the moment and be ready 24 hours a day to react to what's going on around you, so it's very tricky. It's definitely a numbers game, and a game of patience,' Smith said. After being crammed in with eight other people in a 60-foot (18 metre) long yacht, and working tirelessly around the clock, Smith said capturing the eventual shot felt incredibly rewarding. 'Once I got that photograph, I was really, really, happy – I could have stopped shooting for the rest of the trip. It was a very special moment. The opportunity didn't arise again,' he said.
The Age
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Matt had three seconds to capture the perfect shot. He nailed it
Photographer Matthew Smith was halfway through a gruelling 28-day expedition on a small yacht from South America to Antarctica when a seal looked directly down the barrel of his camera for just three seconds. A few clicks of the shutter later, Smith instantly knew he had captured the perfect shot. While the wildlife photographer is accustomed to shooting pictures of humpback whales feeding on krill, as well as the countless penguin species in the Antarctic Peninsula, it was this chance encounter with a curious seal who wandered right up to their yacht that caught Smith by surprise. 'We were just sailing in to anchor up for the night, but this leopard seal started following us because they're really curious, obviously predatory animals,' he said. 'The seal went around the yacht, sticking his head up and looking at us, so I pulled on my dry suit, got my camera all set up and slipped into the water. It started interacting with me quite curiously, and I went up over there where I probably spent half an hour to 45 minutes … It was a really calm interaction'. Among the almost 60,000 other entries submitted, this shot of an inquisitive seal was the 2024 winner of the underwater picture category to the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Other wildlife photos from the prestigious annual event will also be showcased at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney from May 15. 'It takes months and months to be able to create unique shots like this. You've got to play by nature's rules and not your own. You've just got to be there in the moment and be ready 24 hours a day to react to what's going on around you, so it's very tricky. It's definitely a numbers game, and a game of patience,' Smith said. After being crammed in with eight other people in a 60-foot (18 metre) long yacht, and working tirelessly around the clock, Smith said capturing the eventual shot felt incredibly rewarding. 'Once I got that photograph, I was really, really, happy – I could have stopped shooting for the rest of the trip. It was a very special moment. The opportunity didn't arise again,' he said.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Wildlife photography exhibition opens at British Council India
London's Natural History Museum 's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has opened at the British Council in India. The 60th edition of the acclaimed showcase, running from May 2nd to June 6th, 2025, presents award-winning photographs capturing the beauty and vulnerability of the natural world. The inauguration by UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of art, biodiversity, and conservation. The British Council's hosting of this global exhibition reflects its dedication to promoting cultural exchange and fostering conversations around critical environmental concerns among diverse audiences. This initiative is a result of ongoing collaboration to share world-class British culture and spark discussions on climate and nature on the occasion, Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council said, 'The Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is a testament to the power of art to inspire action. By hosting this showcase at the British Council, we aim to spark meaningful conversations about conservation and creativity, engaging young people we work with in the global movement to protect our planet's biodiversity.' Speaking on the annual exhibit's 60edition being featured at the British Council, Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, said, 'We're delighted to present Wildlife Photographer of the Year in New Delhi, India, with a showcase of our category winning are photographs that not only encourage further wildlife conservation efforts, but that spark the creation of real advocates for our planet on a global scale.'The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in New Delhi features extraordinary category-winning images from photographers all over the world, capturing rare moments in nature and highlighting pressing conservation challenges. The month-long exhibit will also feature a variety of engaging events and activities, including a digital library wall and curated book display, a drawing session for children on the theme of 'Wildlife Conservation', a creative writing competition for children participating in the British Council's Delhi Teaching Centre's Summer School, screening of Ashwika Kapur's documentary 'Catapults to Cameras', and a panel discussion with representatives from the Natural History Museum, London, and the British High Commission.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue urgent warning after witnessing unsettling shift in polar bear actions: 'We were super surprised'
A powerful photo series showing polar bears wandering through abandoned buildings on a remote Russian island has captured the world's attention — but experts say it's not just an eerie snapshot. It's a warning sign. As sea ice continues to shrink, polar bears are adapting in unexpected and troubling ways, and their growing presence on land could put both wildlife and people at risk. Wildlife photographer Dmitry Kokh was seeking shelter from a storm in far northeast Russia in 2021 when he spotted something strange on the deserted island of Kolyuchin — polar bears. Nearly 20 of them roamed the ruins of a long-abandoned Soviet weather station, with some even peeking out of the windows. "We were super surprised because we never expected to meet polar bears so far to the south," Kokh told the BBC in a new report this month. The image, titled "House of Bears," went on to win the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. But while the pictures are visually striking, researchers say this behavior is a growing — and potentially more dangerous — trend. Polar bears are spending more time on land, often close to human settlements. And it's not out of curiosity, as the BBC detailed, but hunger. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals, their main source of food. But with rising temperatures melting ice earlier each year, they're left with fewer options. Some have begun scavenging land-based food sources, including open dumps near northern towns. Wildlife scientist Tom Smith notes that while bears don't see humans as prey, encounters are becoming more common — and potentially more threatening. Hungry bears accustomed to garbage may start wandering into villages, damaging property, or in rare cases, attacking people. "They're curious animals so we see them in structures often, or they will be climbing on top of cars or pipelines," Smith said. On land, the bears burn through fat reserves quickly and can't get the nutrients they need. Research shows their health, reproductive success, and long-term survival are all at risk if this shift continues. Do you think we should deal with air pollution by burying things underground? Sounds great No way Only for certain waste I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Experts like Smith are urging governments to fund better waste management in Arctic villages, where open garbage dumps are drawing hungry polar bears closer to people. "It's extremely expensive. They need help," Smith said. Some Arctic communities have already started securing waste with bear-proof bins and enclosed landfills. In a town in Manitoba, Canada, called Churchill, closing an open dump helped reduce conflicts with bears. Experts also advocate for wider use of deterrents like bear spray and increased public education. Long-term solutions will depend on slowing the planet's overheating and preserving sea ice. Supporting clean energy, reducing single-use plastics, and backing conservation groups like Polar Bears International are all small steps individuals can take. Kokh's haunting images may be art — but they also tell a deeper dystopian story. One where polar bears are adapting to a world they were never built to survive in. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
