Documentary wildlife photographer Nick Upton treated his audience to a selection of his work with British wildlife at the official opening of the British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition on 19 March. The exhibition, at Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood, features the best of thousands of stunning entries to these annual awards, all celebrating the beauty and diversity of British wildlife. It includes Nick’s category-winning sequence documenting a dormouse survey in Somerset.
Nick, who worked with David Attenborough on The Trials of Life, explained that it was that experience that taught him how engaging it can be to show people interacting with animals. “As a film maker I think I was always a frustrated cameraman,” said Nick. “Documenting wildlife with still photography allows me to continue to tell really important stories – using my own images.”
Since moving away from film-making two and a half years ago Nick has documented a variety of projects working with cranes, bustards, harvest mice, bats, seals and most recently beavers. Invited in by wildlife organisations working on release programmes, surveys and rescue work, he is frequently able to capture pictures previously unseen, and his illustrated talk highlighted the incredible work undertaken by these organisations as they work to protect British wildlife.
The British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition opens daily in the Visitor Centre at Moors Valley Country Park until 4 May. It is free to view. Parking charges apply. For more information go to www.moors-valley.co.uk or call the Rangers on 01425 470721.
The 2015 British Wildlife Photography Awards is now open for entries. Details can be found at www.bwpawards.org
