TORONTO, September 2, 2020 – The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) exhibition returns to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on November 21, 2020. This acclaimed photography competition from the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London, now in its 56th year, brings together 100 new images. The exhibition will make its North American debut once again at the ROM and the ROM will be the exclusive Canadian venue for this international photography contest.
Featuring captivating images ranging from fascinating animal behaviour to breathtaking wild landscapes, this exhibition brings visitors face to face with the power and beauty of nature. This annual photography competition draws entries from around the globe by amateur and professional photographers alike, with winning entries selected by a panel of international judges based on creativity, artistry and technical complexity.
This year’s exhibition includes four photographers from Canada who have been awarded special recognition for their work. In the Wildlife Photojournalism category, two images of oil extraction, World of Tar by Garth Lenz and The Price of Oil by Andrew S. Wright, were awarded status of “Highly Commended”. The ever-popular Youth Photographer category (for 15 to17 year-olds), includes two entries from Canada, both receiving “Highly Commended” awards: Snow Moose by Matthew Henry and The Perfect Catch by Hannah Vijayan.
"These photographs from the world’s best nature photographers will leave visitors with a deep appreciation for the stunning beauty of nature,” says Josh Basseches, ROM Director & CEO. “This extraordinary exhibition is a timely reminder of the precariousness of our natural world and the importance of preserving it for future generations.”
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will be on display in the ROM’s Third Floor Centre Block. Each image in the show is installed with custom-built LED light box frames creating a dramatic display that lets visitors reflect on the astonishing diversity and fragility of our natural world. Competition categories include Animals in their Environment, Urban Wildlife, Behaviour: Mammals, and Under Water, and many more, while a hard-hitting documentary section features two photojournalism portfolios.
“Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a very special exhibition each and every year,” says Dr. Burton Lim, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy and curator for the ROM’s exhibition. “Photography is a hugely important tool in conservation efforts, not just in this competition, but in the ROM’s programming and research efforts as well. These photographs convey to the viewer snapshots of times and places in an irreplaceable nature. It’s not just the visual information—it’s the emotion captured by the photographer.”
Today the competition receives nearly 50,000 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from around the globe.
The overall winners, including the prestigious Grand Title winners, will be announced on October 13, 2020.
The exhibition is on display at the ROM until May 2, 2021. Ticket information is available at rom.on.ca.
ROM Wildlife Photographer of the Year Programming
The ROM Wildlife Photographer of the Year Keynote lecture in February 2021 will feature acclaimed photographer Audun Rikardsen. Growing up in northern Norway he developed a love of the magnificent, always changing and unpredictable Arctic coastline. In addition to his photography, Rikardsen is a professor in freshwater and marine biology at the Universiy of Tromsø. This talk will be an online ROM Speaks lecture via Zoom.
ROM Photo Contest
The ROM Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest will return for a sixth year. For both amateur and professional photographers, adult or youth, Ontarians are invited to share their captivating images of the natural world for a chance to win prizes and the honour of displaying of the winning work at the Museum. Full contest details coming November 2020.
ROM Members Information
Members see it free and first. ROM Members will have the opportunity to see WPY first at the exclusive Member Preview held Friday, November 20, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, November 21, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. See visit www.rom.on.ca/members
Visiting the ROM – Health and Safety Measures
To make everyone’s visit to the ROM a pleasant and safe one, admission to the Museum will be limited and time-ticketed; buy tickets online to book a time slot for a visit. All visitors and staff are required to wear a face mask and respect social distancing (some exceptions apply). We have increased rigorous cleaning throughout the Museum and high touch areas will be cleaned frequently. For all Covid-19 safety measures in place, please see online at https://www.rom.on.ca/en/visit-us/visitor-info/visitor-policies
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
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