New Academy Exhibit Celebrates the Beauty of the Natural World through Incredible Wildlife Photography

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 10, 2024) – Millions of orange monarch butterflies clustered on a sunlit patch of trees; a rapturous scene of gold-flecked tadpoles migrating to the surface of a lake; dozens of multihued sea anemones blooming as waves crash into the sunset; and a trail of fireflies dancing in the moonlight. These are some of the many images that will be featured in the Academy’s new exhibit showcasing the winners and finalists of the 11th annual BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition, opening Saturday, Sept. 28.

Featuring 48 images from photographers hailing from 25 countries, this year’s BigPicture exhibit is truly a global celebration of the natural world. Its theme, “Unusual Perspectives,” encouraged photographers to seek out new, unexpected, and innovative ways to highlight nature’s diversity and speaks to the Academy’s mission to regenerate the natural world.

“As the natural world comes under increasing pressure, what I’m most proud of is how the BigPicture photography competition highlights the importance of nature in our lives and motivates a global audience to act as its champion,” said BigPicture jury member and natural history editor Sophie Stafford. “This year, the new People’s Choice Award enabled everyone to be part of the jury and experience the challenge of choosing their favorites from among so many brilliant shots.”

In winter 2025, the BigPicture exhibit will also begin a tour to other museums as a result of a collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History. This traveling exhibition will feature winning images from the competition and insights from leading scientists and photographers, allowing audiences across the world to explore new landscapes and cultures from multiple angles.

Exhibit Opening

The BigPicture exhibit will open at the Academy Piazza on Sept. 28, and visitors and members of the press are encouraged to take a sneak peek at two preview events:

NightLife: Unusual Perspectives - Sept. 26

NightLife: Unusual Perspectives is a 21+ celebration of the new BigPicture exhibit, allowing guests to see the exhibit at night before it opens on the main floor. The event will include:

• Expert panels on nature photography, highlighting coral reefs and underwater shoots from 2023 Aquatic Life winner Kate Vylet and 2024 Aquatic Life finalist Fressia Peng
• Screen printing posters with the Haight Street Art Center featuring images from the 2024 competition
• Photography workshop in Tusher African Hall
• Nature Vendor Market near Claude’s swamp

Member’s Preview - Sept. 27

Members receive an exclusive first look at the BigPicture exhibit.

Exhibit Opens - Sept. 28

Academy visitors can view the 11th annual Big Picture exhibit in the Piazza, located on the ground floor, starting Sept. 28. The exhibit will remain open through April 13, 2025.

By the Numbers

World-class photographers representing nearly 70 countries submitted 7,393 images to this year’s BigPicture competition, with each submission capturing the awe-inspiring splendor of the natural world. For the first time, over 5,000 people voted for the People’s Choice Award, selecting a stunning image of a diving cape gannet, captured by Chinese photographer Wayne Lai. Guests will have the opportunity to view all People’s Choice-nominated images in a kiosk near the exhibit featuring an interactive matching game.

Awards from this year’s competition total $12,000 in cash prizes, with an additional $300 for the People’s Choice Award. Competition entries were judged by a distinguished panel including Jury Chair and renowned wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas, international photo editor Sophie Stafford, and award-winning nature and conservation photographers and filmmakers Jahawi Bertolli, Sandesh Kadur, Karen Kasmauski, Jo-Anne McArthur, and Kiliii Yuyan. This year’s photo essay category, “Unusual Perspectives,” shows how unusual perspectives help bring new insights into our lives on this ever-changing planet, highlighting artful angles, bird’s eye views, remote locales, and unique points-of-view.

Since launching in 2014, BigPicture has established a strong reputation within the photography community, receiving a four-star rating from 'The Photographer's Guide to Photo Contests' by Photo Shelter six years running. Winners and finalists in this year’s BigPicture competition have already been featured in news coverage from The Guardian, Science Magazine, Nature, Smithsonian Magazine, Nautilus, and in other outlets around the world. A gallery of this year’s winning images and select finalists was also published by bioGraphic, the Academy’s independent online magazine about biodiversity and the official media sponsor for the BigPicture competition.

In 2018, Chronicle Books released Wonders: Spectacular Moments in Nature Photography featuring more than 100 breathtaking images from the BigPicture competition. Last year, to coincide with BigPicture’s 10th anniversary, the Academy produced Seeing It All: Women Photographers Expose the Planet. With a foreword by renowned marine scientists and ocean advocate Dr. Sylvia Earle, Seeing It All is a dramatic photography book featuring 11 visionary women photographers from BigPicture.

Assets for Press:

• 2024 BigPicture award winners, as announced in bioGraphic. Please note: Photos and captions from the bioGraphic gallery are available upon request to any interested media outlets for syndication.
• A press release announcing all 2024 winners and finalists can be found here.
• The People’s Choice Award winner and finalists can be found here.
• All interview and media kit requests should be sent to press@calacademy.org.

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