BWC 2012 Photo Competition

This years British Wildlife Centre Photographic Competition is now open for entries. For all the details check out the page tab above, or visit our website.

Following on from last years success, we have once again split the competition into 6 categories. 2 entries per category are allowed, to be submitted by Friday the 14th of November 2012.

Photographs will be judged by our judging panel. Winners and runners up will be displayed in our gallery through out 2013. Winners will also receive an annual membership to the centre.

The overall winner will win an exclusive photographic day here at the BWC. They will be accompanied for the day by Head Keeper Matt Bintead, giving unrivalled access to the animals including opportunities to photograph some animals not seen on our normal photographic days.

Below are this years categories, including the new "Fauna Fun", for funny moments captured on camera including a caption.

Animal Portrait

Capturing the character of the animal

Animals in their Habitat

Showing the animal within it's home

Animals in Motion

Showing the animal in action

Animals and their Keepers

Showing the connection between the animals and their keepers

Fauna Fun

Humorous images caught on camera with an accompanying caption

Junior

For those young photographers aged 16 years or under

Members Day

Thanks to all who came to our Winter's Members Day today and made it such a success! Luckily the weather held out for us, and although the wind got a bot too much for some of our smaller feathery friends, everything went according to plan.

We look forward to seeing you all again over the coming year when we open up for the March weekends onwards. In the meantime, keep an eye on the blog for more upcomming events at the BWC... Including the launch of out 2012 Photographic Competition!

BWC Photo Competition 2011: Overall Winner

Congratulations to Jamie Holme for his image of the Water Vole winning the overall photographic competition for 2011.

Jaime was only 11 years old when he took this fantastic photo of the water vole. It caught the eye of all the judges on the first sort through of all the entries, and was eventually selected as the winner of the "Junior" category with all the judges agreeing "it is one my favourites from the whole competition."

After looking back over the 6 winning images again, it was very difficult to chose just the one from 6 very different photos, all extremely good in their own right. But the judges eyes kept turning back to the water vole thinking it had a certain something to it.

"We saw many entries of the water vole this year, but when we first saw this one it leaped out to us as a contender. It was different to all the others, but still displayed all it needed to be a classic portrait photograph. The close crop works really well to add a different look at this adorable British mammal, with his paw holding the rush whilst eating really making it for us. An iconic, but sadly declining, British mammal "Ratty" the water vole shown off to great affection."

Many congratulations to Jamie again, who will be spending a day at the British Wildlife Centre later this year with multi award winning professional wildlife photographer, Andy Rouse.