Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife and environment are the most common subjects students tell me they are interested in. Photographing animals is tough; difficult places, hours if not days of waiting around and expensive equipment are all things that that make it difficult. Enjoying the work of those that can manage to hit all of these points is still enjoyable and this exhibition at the Natural History MuseumCromwell Rd, London, SW7 5BD This exhibition is on show until 3rd March

Paul Nicklen (Canada)

Bubble-jetting emperors

This was the image Paul had been so hoping to get: a sunlit mass of emperor penguins charging upwards, leaving in their wake a crisscross of bubble trails. The location was near the emperor colony at the edge of the frozen area of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. It was into the only likely exit hole that he lowered himself. He then had to wait for the return of the penguins, crops full of icefish for their chicks. Paul locked his legs under the lip of the ice so he could remain motionless, breathing through a snorkel so as not to spook the penguins when they arrived. Then it came: a blast of birds from the depths. They were so fast that, with frozen fingers, framing and focus had to be instinctive. ‘It was a fantastic sight’, says Paul, ‘as hundreds launched themselves out of the water and onto the ice above me’ – a moment that I felt incredibly fortunate to witness and one I’ll never forget.