Wildlife Photography of the Year 2011

Event: Wildlife Photography of the Year 2011
Location: Oxford Science (and other locations across the UK)

Every year, we go to the Wildlife Photography of the Year exhibition. I'm not sure how the tradition started. It must have been that we accidentally stumbled upon it once at the Natural History Museum, and then ever since, we would make an effort to catch it annually.

Interestingly, this show goes on tour after a few months, and we caught it in Bristol last year, and Oxford this year.

My friend already gave it a good review, but to add to that, it is absolutely fascinating how good photography can really make people interested in the most common of things.

I love the unique perspectives and close-ups: for example, this beautiful image of a bee and flower is simple yet stunning. This exhibition also makes a point to award young photographers, good story-telling, and those who draw people's attention to endangered species and environmental disasters.

Undoubtedly, we purchase the wildlife postcards every year just because the photos are too beautiful to forget. This time, however, something funny happened - my friend started juggling some random balls in the gift shop, and when we were about to pay for the postcards, the cashier (manager?) gave him some real juggling balls to perform for a bit. Obligingly, my friend did a few tricks, and then the cashier let us have the postcards for free! Haha!

A herd of musk oxen in Victoria Island, Canada. Photograph: Eric Pierre

The tour is still going on now, you can catch it at various locations across the UK, including Yorkshire, Wales and Cumbria.