Footprints Robert Friel (United Kingdom) 'Walking along the wet sand at South Georgia, I noticed a king penguin edge towards my footprints. It was a quirky moment, but it has become a poignant reminder that, however brief and well managed our visits, we are intruding on their natural environment.' King penguins live on the remote sub-Antarctic islands, where the fluffy chicks stay in creches until they grow adult feathers. Vast colonies of king penguins live on the South Georgia Island – one of the most bleak and isolated wildernesses on Earth. Technical Details: Canon EOS-5D + Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens at 105mm; 1/250 sec at f4; ISO 50.

North American Premier 2009
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Competition and Exhibition

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition and Exhibition is organized annually by the Natural History Museum of London, U.K., and BBC Magazine.

An exhibition of winning images selected from among the competition entries is premiered at the Natural History Museum of London in late October each year.

A North American Premiere Exhibition will be open to the public beginning December 16, 2009, at the Detroit Zoo's Ford Education Center Exhibit Gallery.

Winning images are also featured in a special supplement to the November issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine and in a hardback commemorative portfolio by BBC Books.

For 44 years, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition and Exhibition has been the world's greatest wildlife photography contest and an international leader in the artistic representation of the natural world. Every year, it showcases the very best photographic images of nature to a worldwide audience, giving people an insight into the beauty, drama and variety of the natural world.

The competition is open to anyone with an appreciation of wildlife and a passion for fresh, innovative photography. Last year's competition was the most competitive ever and attracted more than 30,000 entries.