National Museum of Scotland To Premiere 51st Wildlife Photographer Of The Year

The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on tour from the Natural History Museum in London, will open at theNational Museum of Scotland on Friday 16 September 2016. This will be the only Scottish venue for the exhibition, which will feature 100 awe-inspiring images, from fascinating animal behaviour to breath- taking wild landscapes.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases the natural world's most astonishing and challenging sights for over 50 years. Launching in 1965 and attracting 361 entries, today the competition receives almost 50,000 entries from 95 countries highlighting its enduring appeal. The 100 images from the fifty-first competition have embarked on an international tour allowing them to be seen by millions of people across six continents.

Rosamund Macfarlane's striking image Snow Hare will be among the award-winning photographs on display. It took five hours lying on a snowy mountainside in the Cairngorms to capture this intimate portrait of one of Scotland's most beloved animals. Rosamund said:

"I'm delighted to be championing the snow hare in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. The image has now been shown in venues across the world and I am especially pleased that a photograph taken in the Scottish Highlands by a British photographer will go on display at the National Museum of Scotland."

Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrate Biology, said:

"We are thrilled that the National Museum of Scotland will host the 51st Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, from the Natural History Museum in London. This is particularly exciting as we are the only Scottish venue on the exhibition's international tour. These extraordinary images present a unique view of life on our planet that is sure to captivate and inspire our audiences."

Through the lens of wildlife photography, the exhibition captures the intrigue and beauty of our planet, giving us a glimpse of the natural world as it has never been seen before.

Chris Harte, Chief Executive at Morton Fraser, said:

"Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a breathtaking exhibition. It epitomises clarity, focus and excellence, which are all values we share at Morton Fraser. We are proud to support such a prestigious exhibition as it comes to Scotland."

David Watt, Arts & Business Scotland Chief Executive, said:

"Arts & Business Scotland is delighted to be supporting the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland through the New Arts Sponsorship Grants programme. The collaboration between National Museums Scotland and Morton Fraser is a fantastic example of the cross sector working to support top class cultural activity in Scotland."

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