Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021 Winners

Wildlife Photographer of the Yr 2021 and Winner, Underwater by Laurent Ballesta

 

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition has introduced the 2021 profitable photographs at a digital awards ceremony live-streamed from London’s Natural History Museum—and it was an unimaginable yr for underwater pictures. The Wildlife Photographer of the Yr 2021 title went to latest DPG Photographer of the Week Laurent Ballesta for his “explosive” picture of camouflage groupers rising from a cloud of eggs and sperm, which was captured in Fakarava, French Polynesia. Laurent used a Nikon D5 and a 17–35mm f/2.8 lens at 17mm in a Seacam housing with Seacam strobes.

DPG contributor Alex Mustard was the winner of the Pure Artistry class with a superbly advanced shot of a juvenile ghost pipefish hiding among the many arms of a feather star. Curiously, to attain it, he used a Nikon D850 and a Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 lens in a Subal housing together with a 12mm extension tube, ND8 filter, FIT +5 close-up lens, and a pair of Retra strobes.

An underwater picture took the Vegetation and Fungi class, as effectively, with well-known shooter Justin Gilligan creating the reflection of a marine ranger among the many seaweed of Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia. João Rodrigues captured the profitable picture within the Habits: Amphibians and Reptiles class, an atmospheric picture of a pair of courting sharp-ribbed salamanders in a flooded forest. Lastly, the winner of the Portfolio Award was additionally an underwater shooter, Angel Fitor, who supplied an intimate look into the lives of cichlid fishes in Lake Tanganyika, the oldest of the East African Nice Lakes.

Hearty congratulations to all of the winners! Test them out, beneath, among the many different winning images.

 

PRESS RELEASE

Explosive creation: extraordinary underwater scene wins Wildlife Photographer of the Yr 2021

Chosen from greater than 50,000 entries from 95 nations, the winners of the Pure Historical past Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Yr competitors had been revealed in the present day at a web-based awards ceremony.

French underwater photographer and biologist Laurent Ballesta was introduced as this yr’s Wildlife Photographer of the Yr for his enigmatic picture, Creation, that captures camouflage groupers exiting their milky cloud of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia. Yearly, for 5 years, Laurent and his group returned to this lagoon, diving day and night time in order to not miss the annual spawning that solely takes place across the full moon in July. After darkish, they had been joined by tons of of gray reef sharks, looking the groupers in packs. Overfishing threatens this susceptible species, however right here the fish are protected inside a particular biosphere reserve.

Chair of the judging panel, author and editor, Rosamund ‘Roz’ Kidman Cox OBE says, ‘The picture works on so many ranges. It’s shocking, energetic, and intriguing and has an otherworldly magnificence. It additionally captures a magical second – a really explosive creation of life – leaving the tail-end of the exodus of eggs hanging for a second like a symbolic query mark.’

Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Pure Historical past Museum says, ‘This yr’s Grand Title winner reveals a hidden underwater world, a fleeting second of fascinating animal behaviour that only a few have witnessed. In what might be a pivotal yr for the planet, with important discussions happening at COP15 and COP26, Laurent Ballesta’s Creation is a compelling reminder of what we stand to lose if we don’t handle humanity’s impression on our planet. The safety supplied to this endangered species by the biosphere reserve highlights the optimistic distinction we will make.’

 

Winner 2021, Pure Artistry by Alex Mustard

 

Younger Wildlife Photographer of the Yr 2021

Ten-year previous Vidyun R Hebbar was awarded the Younger Wildlife Photographer of the Yr 2021 for his vibrant picture, Dome dwelling, of a tent spider as a tuk-tuk passes by. Vidyun first featured within the competitors when he was simply eight years previous and likes to {photograph} the often-overlooked creatures that stay within the streets and parks close to his dwelling within the metropolis of Bengaluru, India.

‘It’s such an imaginative method of photographing a spider. The image is completely framed, the main target is spot on. You possibly can see the spider’s fangs and the loopy weave of the lure, the threads like some delicate nerve community linked to the spider’s ft. However the actually intelligent bit is the addition of a artistic backdrop – the intense colors of a motorised rickshaw,’ says Rosamund ‘Roz’ Kidman Cox OBE.

Dr Natalie Cooper, a researcher with the Pure Historical past Museum and jury member, says ‘The jury beloved this photograph from the start of the judging course of. It’s a nice reminder to look extra intently on the small animals we stay with each day, and to take your digital camera with you all over the place. You by no means know the place that award profitable picture goes to return from.’

World platform

The 2 Grand Title winners had been chosen from 19 class winners that remember the charming great thing about our pure world with wealthy habitats, enthralling animal behaviour and extraordinary species. This yr’s competitors noticed three new classes added, together with ‘Oceans – The Larger Image’ and ‘Wetlands – The Larger Image’ to shine a highlight on these essential ecosystems. In an intensive course of, every entry was judged anonymously by a panel of specialists for its originality, narrative, technical excellence and moral observe.

Displayed alongside insights from Pure Historical past Museum scientists and specialists, the 100 photographs will likely be showcased in spectacular lightbox shows on the Wildlife Photographer of the Yr exhibition on the Pure Historical past Museum, opening on 15 October 2021, earlier than touring throughout the UK and internationally to venues in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, USA and extra.

The fifty-eighth Wildlife Photographer of the Yr competitors will open for entries from photographers of all ages, nationalities, and ranges on Monday 18 October 2021. The worldwide jury of business specialists has been announced, and the entry price for photographers getting into from 50 nations will likely be waived.

Affiliate sponsors for the Wildlife Photographer of the Yr exhibition on the Pure Historical past Museum, London are renewable power firm Ørsted and non-alcoholic spirits model Seedlip.

Exhibition at Pure Historical past Museum, London

• Opens Friday 15 October 2021 and closes Sunday 5 June 2022.
• The exhibition is open Monday – Sunday, 10.00-17.50 (final admission at 16.30), and weekends promote out rapidly.
• Grownup tickets £17.25*, concession tickets £13.75*, and youngster £10.25* (*Costs together with non-compulsory Reward Help donation to the Museum.)
• Ebook your tickets: www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year
• #WPY57

Fifty-eighth Wildlife Photographer of the Yr competitors

• Opens for entries on Monday 18 October 2021.
• Closing for entries at 11.30am GMT on Thursday 9 December 2021.
• Entrants to the grownup competitors might enter as much as 25 photographs for a £30 price, which will increase to £35 within the closing week of the entry interval from 11.30am GMT 2 December to 11.30am GMT 9 December.
• An entry price waiver has been launched for photographers getting into the grownup competitors who stay in these 50 nations.
• Entrants aged 17 and beneath might enter as much as 10 photographs totally free.
• Learn how to enter: www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/competition

Winner 2021, Vegetation and Fungi by Justin Gilligan

 

Winner 2021, Habits: Amphibians and Reptiles by João Rodrigues

 

Winner 2021, Portfolio Award by Angel Fitor