The Snappers (the '1904' Photographic Group) visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the M-Shed Museum, in Bristol on 15th February 2022.

For several years now the Snappers have kicked off their year with a visit to the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition that is always a feature of the M-Shed’s annual programme. This year the visit was delayed until February as there was a hope that the pandemic rules governing indoor activities might be a bit more relaxed. Unfortunately, the new date coincided with a day of incessant rain as such many of the visiting group arrived quite soggy in body but not in spirit. 

The M-Shed website invites you to:

 “Gaze through the lens of some of the world’s best wildlife photographers and marvel at the beauty of our planet. From curious underwater species to majestic soaring birds, immerse yourself in this year’s most remarkable nature photography and photojournalism. 100 powerful photographs tell the story of a planet under pressure, giving us a deeper understanding of the issues facing nature and the actions we need to take to protect it.

Now in its 57th year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind showcasing the world’s most astonishing sights. Launching in 1965 when it attracted just 361 entries, today the competition receives 49,000 entries from all over the world. Each exhibited image has been selected by a panel of international experts and the winning images are selected for their creativity, originality and technical excellence.”

During the post viewing coffee session the Snappers voiced their admiration, likes and dislikes, favourite images, and individual thoughts towards wildlife photography in general. However; the overriding consensus was for the high degree of excellence displayed in the collection.

The nine intrepid Snappers were: Bob Pigott; John Stone; Peter Jones; Tony Lavelle; Roger Bonner; Bill & Jenny Phillips; and Jonathan & Ruth Bolgar.