World’s best wildlife photos on display in Christchurch
Showcasing everything from elephant matriarchs to the tragedy of poaching, the world’s best wildlife photographs have arrived in Christchurch.
The 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition launches at the Canterbury Museum on Saturday on loan from London’s Natural History Museum. It is open until November 18.
Judges whittled down 50,000 images to select the top 100 to be featured in the competition’s 53rd consecutive annual exhibition.
It closed in London at the start of July, before travelling to Christchurch.
Canterbury Museum director Anthony Wright said the exhibition highlighted nature photography ‘‘as an art form’’ but also ‘‘challenged viewers to consider some of the natural world’s big issues’’.
The show includes the 2017 winning photograph, of a recently shot and de-horned black rhino, taken by South African photojournalist Brent Stirton.
Stirton was part of an undercover investigation into the illegal trade in rhino horn in South Africa’s Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.
Judging chair Lewis Blackwell said the shock of Stirton’s image was justified by exposing the ‘‘tragic, stupid waste of a poacher’s work’’.
‘‘There is a horrible intimacy to the photograph, it draws us in and invites us to explore our response and responsibility,’’ Blackwell said.
The exhibition also features work by New Zealand born photographer David Lloyd, now based in London. His image, The Power of the Matriarch ,isa detailed look at the face of a female elephant in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, in Kenya.
According to the exhibition website, Lloyd spends at least three months a year leading photo safaris in Africa.
Wright said Canterbury Museum founder Julius von Haast was ‘‘passionate about bringing natural wonders from around the world to Canterbury’’.
‘‘We’re proud to continue that tradition – in a more modern, sustainable way – by displaying these stunning wildlife images,’’ he said.
The museum is running the youth photography competition Amazing Animals! to coincide with the international exhibit, open to children aged 15 and under.
It runs until November 18, when winners would receive prizes and their work displayed in the museum. Further competition details were available at the Canterbury Museum website.