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BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition
From: The Natural History Museum
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 he BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, organised by BBC Wildlife Magazine and The Natural History Museum, and sponsored by the BG Group, is the most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world. It is open to both amateur and professional photographers and is now in its nineteenth year. For the 2001 competition photographers from over 60 countries entered more than 19,000 images. |
The competition aims to find the best wildlife pictures taken by photographers worldwide, and to emphasise through their work the beauty, wonder and importance of the natural world. Judges look first and foremost for aesthetic appeal and originality, and also place an emphasis on photographs that have been taken in wild and free conditions. The competition is open to anyone, amateur or professional, of any age and nationality. |
Winner of the competition
 The winner is the photographer whose individual image is judged to be the most striking and memorable. Tobias Bernhard from Germany won the 2001 competition with his spectacular picture of a grey reef shark. The photograph was taken at the Beveridge Reef in the South Pacific. Bernhard spent several weeks building a rapport with the shark population and his image vividly demonstrates the grace and speed of this magnificent creature. Niall Benvie, wildlife photographer and one of the competition judges, said
This picture is loaded with tension: tension between the warm and cool tones and between the viewer and the subject. The line of the fish is dynamic and the sense of motion adds to the power of the image.
The competition has both adult and junior sections, As well as awarding the overall winner, the adult section is divided into 14 categories ranging from 'The Underwater World' and 'The World in Our Hands' to 'Animal Portraits' and 'Composition and Form'. There are two special awards, the 'Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife' and the 'Eric Hosking Award' for the best portfolio of six images taken by a photographer aged 26 or under. In the junior section there are three age categories and 'The Young BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award.' |
History of the competition
The competition was launched in 1964 by Animals, the precursor of BBC Wildlife Magazine, with just three categories; animals, birds and other animals. In 1981 the magazine, now re-named, decided to extend the scope of the Competition not only to find new photographers but also to raise the status of wildlife photography. Aesthetics were added to the main judging criteria, an emphasis was placed on photographs taken in wild and free conditions and the range of categories was extended. |
In 1984 the partnership between The Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine was established and the competition took on a life of its own. Award ceremonies are now hosted by the museum and overseas winners are flown in to receive their prizes from wildlife celebrities who over the years have included Sir David Attenborough, Sir Peter Scott, Gerald Durrell and Virginia McKenna. |
The exhibition of the winning images proved very popular and in 1987 was offered as a touring event to museums and art galleries in the UK. It now tours over 30 venues across the UK and visits countries such as the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France and Spain. |
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