Wildlife Photographer of the Year Opening November 23, 2013

(Toronto, Ontario – November 20, 2013)  Details of the North American premiere of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) exhibition were unveiled at an event this morning at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The Museum hosts the exhibition from November 23, 2013 to March 23, 2014 in the ROM’s Level 3, Centre Block.  The exhibition is based on an internationally recognized photography competition, a partnership between BBC Worldwide and London’s National History Museum (NHM). Originating 49 years ago, the WPY is nowone of the NHM’s  most successful and longest-running exhibitions.  Canadian Geographic is a media sponsor and programming partner for the ROM engagement.

“The artistry, imagination and skill on show reveal that wildlife photography can be a true art form,” said Rosamund Kidman Cox, Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. “Congratulations to the Centre of Biodiversity at the ROM on their North American debut of this important exhibition.”

“The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition demonstrates excellence in science communication, with breathtaking images and profound commentary by the world’s best photographers,” says Dave Ireland, Managing Director, ROM Biodiversity.  “The Centre of Biodiversity at the ROM is proud to present the North American premiere of the show, and we’re excited to engage Canadians.”

“We look forward to co-presenting workshops, lectures and other engagement opportunities with ROM Biodiversity, Canadian Geographic and others exclusively for the WPY exhibition,” states Neil Ever Osborne, iLCP Conservation Photographer and Environmental Visual Communication Program Director.  “This exhibition provides an important platform to explore the connections between art, science, and academia for our students, faculty and ROM visitors."

“At Canadian Geographic, we are excited about our partnership with the Centre of Biodiversity at the ROM toward engaging Canadians about this prestigious international exhibition,” said  André Préfontaine, President and Publisher, Canadian Geographic. “Given the range of stunning photographic art and  impressive visitor engagement experiences, the WPY exhibition is a must-see for conservation and nature enthusiasts.

Participating in the media event as well was Vancouver resident Connor Stefanison, WPY Photographer, a Canadian finalist, and 2013 WPY Special Prize Winner.   Kidman Cox and Stefanison were not on site at the ROM, joining remotely via a special “Google+ Hangout on Air”.  The event took place in the Earth Rangers Studio, located in the ROM’s Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity.

Awardees and Winners

A highly accomplished wildlife photographer, 22 year old Stefanison has five stunning images included in the WPY display at the ROM.  In addition to Stefanison’s work, images captured by international competitors from over 90 countries are included in the WPY exhibition. Similar to the other WPY international venues, the ROM’s exhibition features over 100 images, from a pool of over 43,000 international entries received in 2012.  Depicting landscapes, wildlife, and marine life, the ROM display, consisting of custom made LED light boxes, is divided into sections covering 11 adult categories, four special award categories, and three children’s categories.  This year’s Grand Title winner is Essence of elephants by Greg du Toit from South Africa,  and the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand title winner is Mother’s little headful by Udayan Rao Pawar of India.

 Programming

Complementing the WPY exhibition, the ROM is pleased to present Museum-wide and off-site experiences throughout the exhibition’s engagement period. This includes offerings from the ROM and its partners.

Calling all Canadian nature photographers!

Wildlife photography enthusiasts, from beginners to budding pros, are encouraged to share their own wildlife and wild spaces images.  Using the hashtag #ROMWPY, submit your photographs (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook), and see them displayed on video screens via an exclusive Sharypic Photo Wall at the ROM and on various online platforms, including the ROM and Canadian Geographic websites. Photo submissions will be aggregated when shared with #ROMWPY, which is now live and runs the duration of the exhibit. 

Winter Photography Workshops

Workshop #1: Instagram 101 - Saturday, January 11

Free

Join us for a workshop covering the basics of mobile phone photography and social media photo-sharing platforms, and progress toward more advanced tips and tricks. Led by Sabrina Doyle, Social Media Editor at Canadian Geographic Magazine, participants will learn how to take incredible photos with phones and other mobile devices, and get a chance to practice around the museum.  This workshop is sponsored by Canadian Geographic.

Workshop #2: Get To Know Your DSLR Camera - Saturday, January 18

$80 public/$72 members

Bring your DSLR camera and learn your way around its buttons, menus, and functions. Neil Osborne and Brennan Caverhill from the ROM’s Environmental Visual Communication program introduce DSLR camera operation for still and video capture, guiding participants through fundamental technical skills for more confident photographing.

Workshop #3: Professional Workflow Management for the Photographer - Sunday, January 26

$495 public/$445.50 members

Take your photography to the next level and learn from industry experts as they share their knowledge, tips and tricks in managing workflow and increasing image quality from capture to post-production.  Professionals will be on hand for this limited capacity workshop featuring Walter Borchenko.  An accomplished photographer, Borchenko is an author, international speaker, and proponent of better digital photography.

ROM visitors have an array of exciting opportunities to participate during the ROM exhibition of WPY. This includes the Friday, November 22, 2013 edition of #FNLROM, a special edition of Curator’s Corner featuring the best curatorial photographs from the field, November 30, 2013 - ROM Photographers of the Year, a winter wonderland of wildlife photography in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity during ROM for the Holidays, and weekend Discovery Corners, where wildlife art will be featured for families and children. 

Experience the stunning Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition for only $5 over the price of ROM general admission.  Admission is free for ROM Members.  Exhibition hours are the same as general ROM hours: daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and Friday from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm, and until 9:30 pm during the installments of #FNLROM. Last entry to this exhibition takes place an hour and a half prior to Museum closing.

Visit www.rom.on.ca  for full WPY exhibition details, full programming information, and tickets. The ROM’s e-newsletter is free and can be subscribed to at www.rom.on.ca/en/newsletter.  
 

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