Our planet has been blessed with its rich and wonderful wildlife, so it is the eternal source of art and beauty. Therefore, just a short visit to the nearest woods can offer a photographer a great opportunity to make a fascinating photoshoot!
The best wildlife photographer of the year 2020 was announced in February, and the public chose photographer Sam Rowley’s image, Station Squabble.
Station Squabble shows a couple of mice fighting over a scrap of food at a London tube station.
Rowley said:
‘I am so pleased to win this award. It’s been a lifetime dream to succeed in this competition in this way, with such a relatable photo taken in such an everyday environment in my hometown. I hope it shows people the unexpected drama found in the most familiar of urban environments.’
According to Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Museum:
‘Sam’s image provides a fascinating glimpse into how wildlife functions in a human-dominated environment. The mice’s behavior is sculpted by our daily routine, the transport we use, and the food we discard.
This image reminds us that while we may wander past it every day, humans are inherently intertwined with the nature that is on our doorstep. I hope it inspires people to think about and value this relationship more.’
Rowley explains:
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been lucky enough to have a fascination with the natural world. I’ve always, either consciously or subconsciously, wanted to share this passion with others. From primary school, I quickly learned that the best way to do this was to steal my Dad’s camera and go and photograph wildlife in the most exciting way I could possibly think of.
Soon, I picked up filmmaking -- another tool for me to share my enthusiasm with the world. This journey has enabled me to have had some extraordinary experiences with wildlife all over the world, and has culminated in my dream job working at the BBC Natural History Unit as a researcher, camera assistant, and drone pilot.”
Here is the winning photo, together with the 25 finalists of its LUMIX People’s Choice Award:
1. “Station Squabble”, Sam Rowley, UK
2. “The Surrogate Mother”, Martin Buzora, Canada
3. “Winter’s Tale”, Valeriy Maleev, Russia
4. “Mother Knows Best”, Marion Vollborn, Germany
5. “Tender Play”, Steve Levi, USA
6. “Trustful”, Ingo Arndt, Germany
7. “Inquisitive”, Audun Rikardsen, Norway
8. “What A Poser”, Clement Mwangi, Kenya
9. “The Unwelcome Visitor”, Salvador Colvée Nebot, Spain
10. “Training Session”, Stefan Christmann, Germany
11. “Matching Outfits”, Michel Zoghzoghi, Lebanon
12. “Teamwork”, Jake Davis, USA
13. “A Suitable Gift”, Marco Valentini, Italy
14. “Dressed For Dawn”, Csaba Tökölyi, Hungary
15. “Spot The Reindeer”, Francis De Andres, Spain
16. “Family Get-Together”, Michael Schober, Austria
17. “The Humpback Calf”, Wayne Osborn, Australia
18. “Beak To Beak”, Claudio Contreras Koob, Mexico
19. “Big Ears”, Valeriy Maleev, Russia
20. “Captive”, Marcus Westberg, Sweden
21. “A Pulsing Sea”, David Doubilet, USA
22. “Bon Appétit”, Lucas Bustamante, Ecuador
23. “Ocean´s Signature”, Angel Fitor, Spain
24. “Meeting Place”, Yaz Loukhal, France
25. “Losing The Fight”, Aaron Gekoski, UK
Sources:
www.nhm.ac.uk
www.theguardian.com
www.sam-rowley.com
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