World-renowned Nature Photography Competition Announces 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winner
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Photography Exhibition opens at the ROM Saturday, December 16, 2017
TORONTO, October 18, 2017 — The winners of this year’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition were announced today. South African photographer Brent Stirton was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 by a panel of international judges for his image Memorial to a species. His image will be among the 100 photographs showcased in the world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which will be on display at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) from Saturday, December 16, 2017 to Sunday, 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 submissions from around the world. The winning images are selected for their creativity, originality and technical excellence. Stirton’s image exposed the tragic consequences of the illegal international trade in rhino horns.
“As one of Canada’s leading institutions of art, culture and nature, the Museum is committed to addressing important issues facing the world today,” says Dr. Mark Engstrom, Senior Curator and Deputy Director of Collections and Research. “Biodiversity and the understanding of conservation is a prominent field of study at the ROM. Through our collections and research expertise, our aim is to inspire in others a deeper appreciation of our natural world. ROM’s presentation of Wildlife Photographer of the Year helps build greater public awareness about the plight of endangered species and the importance of wildlife preservation.”
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.
On loan from the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind. Now in its 53rd year, the exhibition 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.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a separately ticketed exhibition, and will be on display until Sunday, March 18, 2018 in the Level 4 Roloff Beny Gallery. ROM members enjoy free admission and exclusive member previews of the exhibition, which will be held on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16, 2017. ROM memberships are available at rom.on.ca/members or by calling 416.586.5700.
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ABOUT THE ROM
Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. One of North America's most renowned cultural institutions, Canada's largest museum is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, palaeontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture, and archaeology, the ROM plays a vital role in advancing our global understanding of the artistic, cultural, and natural world. The Renaissance ROM expansion project (2007) merged the iconic architectural heritage of the original building with the Studio Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. A distinctive new symbol of Toronto for the 21st century, the Lee-Chin Crystal marked the beginning of a new era for the ROM as the country's premier cultural and social destination.
