[BCMA] 2011 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winners, Royal BC Museum

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[cid:image001.png at 01CCBB16.56232440]                                   NEWS RELEASE







December 15, 2011

2011 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winners at the Royal BC Museum

Victoria, BC - The winners of the world's most respected wildlife photography competition are coming to Victoria.  The best 108 images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year - an international competition that had more than 41,000 entries from 95 countries - are on display at the Royal BC Museum from Dec. 16, 2011 to April 9, 2012.

Visitors to the Royal BC Museum will experience the wonders of nature as never seen before: through the lenses of prize-winning photographers from around the world. This visually striking exhibition showcases photographs in 17 categories (including Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Underwater World, Wild Places and Photojournalist of the Year).  Each photo and caption tells the inspirational, astonishing and sometimes humorous stories of our fascinating natural world.

"Wildlife Photographer of the Year is truly a treat and not just for photography buffs - there is a beauty and majesty in the photographs that will appeal to all," says Royal BC Museum CEO Pauline Rafferty.

"This is like the Oscars of wildlife photography," said Martin Cooper, the only Canadian winner, from Burnaby, BC. "It's important that we have special contests and museum exhibitions like this, to remind us of the rich wildlife in our urban areas as well as out in the wilds."  A chance encounter with a family of coyotes near his home has made them his favourite. "It's the eye contact. There is always a moment when your eyes meet and the shutter is pressed, it's magical for me."

The exhibition photographs are selected from more than 41,000 entries. These images were judged to be the best of all those entered in the 2011 competition by a judging panel that included some of the world's most respected nature photographers and wildlife experts.

The 500-square-metre (5,400 sq ft) Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Royal BC
Museum, opening December 16, 2011, will include:

 *   108 photographs displayed on large backlit panels
 *   high-quality duratran images
 *   detailed captions telling the story behind the image
 *   technical details on the photographic equipment used by each photographer

Now in its 47th year, the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is run by London's Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine. The competition uniquely combines the work of gifted amateurs, professionals and young photographers.  It celebrates the beauty and magnificence of the world in which we live, as well as acting as a stark reminder of the fragility of nature.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is sponsored by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine and locally by BC Hydro.

Special Events at the Royal BC Museum
During feature exhibition periods the museum also offers complementary activities and events:

Martin Cooper, Wildlife Photographer
Meet winning photographer Martin Cooper on the opening day of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Cooper will present his extensive photo portfolio in the lounge of the second floor gallery. Drop in to see more of his work, ask questions, and learn from his experience.
Friday, December 16, 2011, Noon to 1:30 pm
Royal BC Museum, Victoria, BC
Included with admission or membership.

Wonder Sunday - Picture Perfect
Have you ever wondered how a pinhole camera is made?  See nature through the eyes of a photographer. Enjoy our newest exhibition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and then try making your own camera, developing sun prints, and coming up with wacky captions for your photos.
Sunday, January 29, 2012, 1pm to 3pm
Royal BC Museum, Victoria BC
Included with admission or membership

Wade Davis, World Wildlife Photographer on The Sacred Headwaters
A renowned ethnographer, writer, photographer and filmmaker, Wade Davis is launching his newest book, The Sacred Headwaters, a visual feast and plea to save an extraordinary region in North America.  A native of BC, Davis is a licensed river guide, has worked as a park ranger and forestry engineer, and conducted ethnographic fieldwork among several indigenous societies.  His photographs have been featured in exhibits and have been widely published worldwide.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7 pm
Royal BC Museum, Victoria BC
$15 per person, 10% member discount.
Tickets available online at www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca or at the RBCM box office.


About the Royal BC Museum
As the provincial museum and archives, the Royal BC Museum preserves and shares the stories of British Columbia - on-site, off-site and online - through its research, collections, exhibitions, publications and educational programs.  Its two-hectare cultural precinct in Victoria also includes a number of historically significant buildings and First Nations sites; and its seasonal satellite museum gallery in Vancouver showcases BC's history in one of the oldest buildings in Chinatown - Wing Sang.

For more information about the Royal BC Museum, visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca or
call 1-888-447-7977.
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Media contact:
Royal BC Museum Media Enquiries
250-387-3207
news at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

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