Cathy's Art Diary

Delightful exhibition at the Natural History Museum of the shortlisted entries in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. There were 100 images arranged in broad categories. The pictures were well displayed, back lit in a large format. Some of the works were amazing studies of patience with the photographers waiting weeks or months to get the shot they want. Each picture has a good commentary telling you about how and where it was taken. There were so many good images it’d hard to pick favourites. I’d include “The Alley Cat” by Nayan Khanolkor of a leopard in an enclosed alley looking right into the camera. Also the work used on the poster of a fox peeping over a wall called “Nosey Neighbour” by Sam Hobson. I liked the gruesome picture of the aftermath of a wildebeest stampede where the dead beasts are being eaten by hyenas and I smiled at “Puddle of Procreation” by Cyril Ruoso of randy frogs as my screen saver is a picture I took of happy frogs in a pond...

Fantastic exhibition at Brighton Museum of the best pictures in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. There were some stunning images such as “Feral Spirits” by Sam Hobson of parakeets   flying across a grave yard, wonderful splashes of colour against a largely grey background. It had a real sense of joy escaping from a place of sorry. Also “Hollywood Cougar” by Steve Winter of a big cat against the Hollywood sign, but UI felt the title had overtones of the ladies of Hollywood. Each picture came with a good commentary of what it was showing but also how the picture was taken. Also the museum took the opportunity to show the photos with items from their own natural history collection such as a monkey skeleton, various stuffed animals and insects. This gave an interesting contrast between the living specimens caught in a moment in time and the dead ones given new life in display.