Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in Dorchester is hosting the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit, showcasing the world’s best nature photography.
More than 100 powerful photographs have captured animal behaviour, spectacular species, and the beauty of the planet.
The images shine a light on stories and species from around the world and show the impact of human activity on the planet.
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From a dramatic encounter between a lioness, her two cubs and a wildebeest, to a bee appearing to build a nest, many of the photographs reveal aspects of life in the natural world that many have never seen before.
The exhibition goes on display from July 19 until November 3, at the High West Street museum.
Claire Dixon, the museum’s executive director, said: “We are delighted to host this fantastic exhibition.
“As the only Dorset venue to welcome this show, we can enable local audiences to enjoy world-class photography up close.
“Hosting over the summer period also means that those visiting the county will be able to add this exhibition to their ‘must do’ list.
“We find this exhibition appeals to all of our audiences, as children and young people are wowed by the incredible imagery and our more traditional audiences are engaged by the stories behind the photographs, as photographers reveal their extreme levels of commitment to capturing the perfect moment.
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“This exhibition also enables us to make connections with our own displays and in particular, encourage audiences to explore the impact of the climate crisis on our local landscape and natural environment.”
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious event of its kind.
Originally launched in 1965, the competition has grown to such an extent that a staggering 49,957 entries, from photographers working in 95 different countries, were submitted for this year’s event.
Of those nearly 50,000 photographs, only 100 of the most compelling have been selected.
Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum said: “We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change.
“The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights whilst offering hope and achievable actions visitors can take to help protect the natural world.”
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Chair of the judging panel, Kathy Moran added: “What most impressed the jury was the range of subjects, from absolute beauty, rarely seen behaviours and species to images that are stark reminders of what we are doing to the natural world.
“We felt a powerful tension between wonder and woe that we believe came together to create a thought-provoking collection of photographs.”
To complement the exhibition, a free science-based workshop has been created in partnership for school children.
Pupils will explore Dorset Museum’s hidden collection and discover how early scientists worked and developed their own scientific thinking.