Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008

Last year's overall winning image by Ben Osborne.

Press Release:
Abandon the hide, pack up the waterproofs and start selecting the year’s best shots; only weeks remain to enter the world’s greatest nature photography contest.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2008 is open to anyone with an appreciation of nature and a passion for fresh, innovative photography. Entrants stand to win an impressive £10,000 prize if they are awarded the coveted title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 or share of a £23,550 prize fund if successful in one of the categories. Winning photographers will also have their images showcased in an international exhibition which debuts at The Natural History Museum, London, featured in a special supplement to BBC Wildlife Magazine and in a hardback commemorative portfolio by BBC Books.

Last year’s competition was the most competitive ever and attracted more than 32,000 entries from 78 countries. Ben Osborne from the UK was named Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007 for his image of a large bull elephant kicking and spraying mud in a waterhole. Elephant creation was judged to be the best picture of 2007 for its originality and unusual portrayal of a very familiar subject.

Mark Carwardine, zoologist, award-winning writer and photographer and chairman of the competition judging panel has some advice for entrants, "It’s not what you photograph - it’s the way you do it. Successful photographers work hard at their photography. They get down low, climb high, move backwards, crawl forwards, creep from side to side, think laterally, get up early and stay out late. They are passionate people, determined to get something different."

All images must be submitted by 24th March by post or 31st March online at the Natural History Museum website.