Entitled “Station Squabble,” a photo capturing two mice fighting over a food crumb in London’s Underground was chosen from more than 48,000 images as the winner of the 2019 Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People’s Choice award.
Sam Rowley of Bristol, England, visited multiple subway platforms every night for a week, laying in wait for the perfect shot. His patience paid off when two mice battled over a leftover crumb, the encounter lasting only a split-second before one ran off a winner.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Rowley’s entry garnered 28,000 votes from nature photography fans in the worldwide contest now in its 55th year. Entries came from more than 100 countries.
“I’m so pleased to win this award,” Rowley said in the museum’s news release. “It’s been a lifetime dream to succeed in this competition in this way, with such a relatable photo taken in such an everyday environment in my hometown. I hope it shows people the unexpected drama found in the most familiar of urban environments.”
Said Sir Michael Dixon, director of the Natural History Museum: “Sam’s image provides a fascinating glimpse into how wildlife functions in a human-dominated environment.”
Added Mike Owen, Professional Imaging marketing manager from Panasonic LUMIX UK, “Incredible photography is a combination of patience, luck and skill – Sam has managed the rare feat of pulling all three together in this single shot. The simultaneously recognizable and unknown world Sam has captured draws the viewer into the image. It makes me stop and do a double take, seeing something new every time I look at it.”
Four other photos earned “Highly Commended” LUMIX People’s Choice Awards:
“Losing the fight” by Aaron Gekoski, U.K./Wildlife Photographer of the Year
“Orangutans have been used in degrading performances at Safari World, Bangkok – and many other locations – for decades. The shows were temporarily stopped in 2004 due to international pressure, but today the shows continue – twice a day, every day – with hundreds of people paying to watch the orangutans box, dance, play the drums and more.”
“Spot the reindeer” by Francis De Andres, Spain/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
“The conditions for photographing at the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard are extreme, but wildlife has adapted to the environment and its freezing temperatures. Francis found this composition of white arctic reindeer, which were observing him, both curious and charming.”
“Matching outfits” by Michel Zoghzoghi, Lebanon/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
“Michel was in the Pantanal, Brazil photographing jaguars. One afternoon, as he was on the Três Irmãos River, a mother and her cub crossed right in front of his boat. He watched mesmerized as they left the water holding an anaconda with a very similar pattern to their own.”
“The surrogate mother” by Martin Buzora, Canada/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
“Elias Mugambi is a ranger at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. He often spends weeks away from his family caring for orphaned black rhinos like Kitui here. The young rhinos are in the sanctuary as a result of poaching or because their mothers are blind and cannot care for them safely in the wild.”
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