2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year announced and the exhibition is coming to the ROM

Crab surprise. Justin Gilligan, Australia. Winner 2017, Behaviour: Invertebrates. Nikon D810 + 15mm f2.8 lens; 1/100 sec at f14; ISO 400; Nauticam housing; two Ikelite DS161 strobe. Photo courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum. 

The prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition winners were announced recently with South African photographer Brent Stirton named as Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 for his image Memorial to a species. 

His image will be among the 100 photographs showcased in the upcoming exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) from December 16, 2017 to March 18, 2018. 

Stirton's winning image of a dehorned Black Rhino, killed by poachers in South Africa's Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve was chosen from among almost 50,000 submission from around the world. His image exposed the tragic consequences of the illegal international trade in rhino horns. Stirton explained "The killers were probably from a local community but working to order. Entering the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve at night, they shot the black rhino bull using a silencer. Working fast, they hacked of the two horns and escaped before being discovered by the reserve's patrol. The horns would have been sold to a middleman and smuggled out of South Africa." For the photographer the crime scene was one of more than 30 he visited in the course of covering this tragic story. As a senior correspondent for Verbatim and Getty Images, Stirton shoots mainly for Natinoal Geographic magazine. He also works regularly for Human Rights Watch, The New York Times Magazine, LeFigaro and GEO magazine. He is also a long-time photographer for WWF. He chooses to tell stories about 'issues that matter', focusing on wildlife and conservation, global health, diminishing cultures and sustainability. 

Memorial to a species. Brent Stirton, South Africa, Grand title winner 2017. Canon EOS-1DX + 28mm f2.8 lens; 1/250 sec at f9; ISO 200; flash.Photo courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum. 

Canadian Josiah Launstein, from Pincher Creek, Alberta, was also recognized in the 11 to 14-year-old category for his photo The hairy raincoat. The 12-year-old photographer made his Wildlife Photographer of the Year debut as a finalist in 2015 with two entries in the 10-year old and under category.

The hairy raincoat. Josiah Launstein. Finalist, 11–14 Years Old. Nikon D7100 + AF-S 200–500mm f5.6 lens at 500mm; 1/200 sec at f7.1 (+0.3 e/v); ISO 640; monopod. Photo courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum.

"It rains a lot in Thailand in the summer, " says Josiah. But that didn't stop him exploring and discovering large monkey moth caterpillars crawling down the trees by his motel - probably on their way to hiberate in the ground- with raindrops hanging jewel-like on their long defensive and rain proofing hairs. Josiah and his father were in the mountains in northern Thailand, where Nikon was making a short film about the 11 year old's passion for wildlife photography. He hadn't brougt a macro lens with him and so to focus, he got as close to the caterpiller as his 200-500mm lens allowed him and crouched down to silhouette it against the bright overcast sky. "I wanted the picture to be all about the raindrops in its hair." said Josiah. 

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind. Now in its 53rd year, the exhibition (on loan from the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London) is based on an international competition with entries from 92 countries. Selected by a panel of six judges, the exhibition features 100 of the best photos, two grand title winners, and winners in several categories including youth categories from photographers as young as 10 and under.  This will be the fifth consecutive year that the exhibition will be presented at the ROM.

The ROM will complement the exhibition with additional programs and a photo contest for adults and youth. A ROMSpeaks keynote lecture will be delivered by acclaimed wildlife photographer Joel Sartore on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. Sartore will share his multi-year quest to document the world’s wildlife for the National Geographic Photo Ark project.

For more information on the upcoming exhibition visit www.rom.on.ca