The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious nature photography worldwide. The event was staged once again at the Luciana Matalon Foundation (Foro Buonaparte 67, Milan) between 4th October and 22nd December 2019. Organised by the Cultural Radicediunopercento of Roberto Di Leo and sponsored by the City of Milan, the event is always highly anticipated. It presents 100 images which have been awarded at the 54th edition of the photography competition organised by the Natural History Museum, London. A total of 45,000 shots (taken by professional and non-professional photographers, from 95 different countries) were selected by an international jury of experts. The selection was based on the creativity, artistic value and technical complexity. One can admire the winner’s photos which portray rare animals in their natural habitat, their unusual behaviours and the images of surprising psychological introspection. The photos are complimented with an incredible visual experience with the composition of colours that pierce the eyes from a remote corner of the desert, the depths of the seas or from the detailed green jungle. Dutch photographer, Marsel van Oosten won the coveted Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 title for his extraordinary shot of The Golden Couple (Animal Portraits category). The portrait depicts two golden-nosed monkeys in the temperate forest of the Chinese mountains of Qinling
(the only habitat for such endangered species). The portrait also captures the beauty and the fragility of life on earth as well as a glimpse of some of the extraordinary livings of the planet. Skye Meaker, aged 16, won the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 award for his fascinating Lounging Leopard shot (a leopard waking up from sleep in the Mashatu Game Reserve, in Botswana). Six Italian photographers namely, Marco Colombo conquered the victory of the Urban nature category with his Crossing Paths shot: the protagonist is a Marsican bear who ventured overnight in the streets of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. Special mentions: Emanuele Biggi author of Eye to Eye in the Animals and their environment category; Valter Bernardeschi with Mister Whiskers in Animal Portraits; Lorenzo Shoubridge with Sinuous Moves in Amphibians and Reptiles, Stefano Baglioni with A Rock in a Hard Place in Plants and Mushrooms and Georg Kantioler with two shots – Dolomites by Moonlight and Ice-Cave Blues in Ambienti della terra. New to this edition was the Rising Star award. The awarded photographer, Michel d’Oultremont, won this award for his constant ability and quality. The Lifetime Achievement award was won by the reporter Frans Lanting, one of the most naturalistic photographers, for his thirty-year contribution to the conservation of the wildlife. The assignments for the National Geographic magazine led him to carry out pioneering works which raised essential environmental issues in Madagascar and Botswana. Lanting inspired a sense of wonder and concern for our planet. In the Cinema space projection section one can watch a short clip of his photographs, as well as a choice of shots which have been voted extra by the public. The cultural association Radicediunopercento proposed evenings of study and the presentation of books with the renowned nature photographers that will be held at the House of Culture (via Borgogna, 3). The program included: – November 23rd; Marco Urso (wildlife and travel photographer) with the theme African cats – Differences, curiosities of behavior, dangers for the future. – November 30th; Marco Colombo (naturalist and photographer), with the theme Bestial Landscapes.
– December 14th; Lorenzo Shoubridge (naturalist photographer) presented the book Apuane terre selvage. – December 21st; Stefano Unterthiner (nature photographer) spoke about his book An assignment – A wild life. A highly trained and award-winning naturalist from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Marco Colombo will also be available for guided tours of the exhibition at the Matalon Foundation, every Friday from 19.30hrs onwards (by reservation). Exhibition itinerary In addition to the two highest awards; Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 and Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018, the exhibition itinerary illustrated all the winning images divided into the below categories: – Amphibians and reptiles; – Birds, Invertebrates, Mammals, Animals and their environments; – Plants and Mushrooms; – Earth Environments; – Underwater & Urban Nature; – Animal Portraits; – Black and White; – Creative Visions; – Portfolios; – Youth (photographers up to 10 years old, 11 to 14 years old and 15 to 17 years old). Other important sections included the documentary categories below: – Wildlife Photojournalism Award; – Single Image and Wildlife Photojournalist Award; – Photo Story (which brings attention to the human’s impact on nature); – Cinema Space Projection section.
The captions and texts describe the technical requirements of photography and the story and emotions which motivated the author/s into taking the shot, together with scientific data on the species photographed. To accompany the exhibition, one had the chance to experience the “immersive virtual reality “, with an RV viewer of the latest generation which takes the viewers into fascinating and natural environments. Available at the bookshop, is the exhibition catalogue with all the awarded images including the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 28. This was published by the Natural History Museum and edited by Rosamund Kidman Cox (English version; €35). In addition, the 2018 Magazine WPY Highlights Book with the winning images and those voted by the public, jury, amongst all the participants of the competition (€12) is also available. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 54 4 October – 22 December 2019 Luciana Matalon Foundation Foro Buonaparte 67 – 20121 Milan (near the Teatro dal Verme) INFO Tel: +39 348 2506498 Email: [email protected] Website: www.radicediunopercento.it
OPENING HOURS Monday: Closed All day Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday (incl. holidays): 10.00hrs – 19.00hrs Friday: 10.00hrs – 22.00hrs *Saturday 16th November & Saturday 14th December – closing at 18.00hrs Ticket closing: 30 minutes before
TICKETS Adults: €11
Children (6-14years) & Adults (65 years+): € 9 + Membership card (€1) Children (0-5 years): Free entrance **Family friendly promotion: with 2 paying adults, free for 2 children (6-14 years) will get a free entrance.
GUIDED TOURS WITH MARCO COLOMBO Every Friday from 4th October 18.30hrs onwards: €5 (+ exhibition ticket) Reservations are mandatory Bookings are also required for alternative dates and timings for groups of a minimum of 15 people and schools (excluding Saturdays and Sundays)
MEETINGS THE PHOTOGRAPHERS House of Culture on Saturday at 21.00hrs (via Burgundy 3 – MM1 San Babila). November 23rd – Marco Urso; The African big cats – Differences, curious behaviour, the dangers for the future. November 30th – Marco Colombo; Landscapes bestial. December 14th – Lorenzo Shoubridge; Apuane Terre selvagge book. December 21st – Stefano Unterthiner; book On assignment – A wild life. **All meetings include a free admission upon presentation of the exhibition tickets. PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP During the exhibition, the Cultural Association Radicediunopercento organised theoretical courses and practical photography workshops at its educational site in Via Stresa 13, as well as two seminars on Natural Sciences. The tutors are the famous Naturalist photographers Marco Colombo, Marco Urso, Stefano Baglioni and Paolo Taranto. For dates, programs and fees please follow this link: www.radicediunopercento.it
ORGANIZED BY: Radicediunopercento Cultural Association WITH THE PATRONAGE OF: Municipality of Milan PROPERTY: Natural History Museum of London EXHIBITION CENTER: Luciana Matalon Foundation www.fondazionematalon.org
