Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Over the weekend I ventured down to the Natural History Museum, mother in tow, to view the amazing finalists and winning photographs from the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year. 

An overall stunning exhibition which I could have spent hours. The winner this year was Paul Nicklen (Canada), with his fantastic image ‘Bubble-jetting emperors’. The depth, colours, and amount of detail were even more eye-catching on the back-lit prints that were displayed on black walls.

The image that will stay in my mind is that of a tethered yellow baboon looking absolutely terrified. With it’s heartbraking humanistic expression, the photo ‘Primal fear’ was taken by Jabruson (UK). The baboon had been caught when its troop raided local crops, probably forced to by loss of habitat. ‘Few animals show such human expressions,’ says Jabruson, ‘and this youngster’s face spoke volumes.

Jasper Doest (The Netherlands) photo titled ‘Relaxation’, also stuck out for me. Again, proving that there is not such a massive difference in humans and animals when it comes to the simple things in life. In winter, Japanese macaques in the Jigokudani Valley of central Japan congregate in the hot-spring pools, to stay warm and to socialise. The colder it gets in the mountains, the more of them head for the pools, as do humans.

The exhibition opened my eyes to the ever fascinating natural world, one that can be so easily missed or forgotten about living in busy old London.