Wildlife photography

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 competition has attracted more than 40,000 entries from all around the globe. The international judging panel of well-regarded wildlife experts and nature photographers have selected the best photographs to be displayed at the Natural History Museum (until March 11 2012), before touring the UK and abroad. And there's certainly no talent lacking in the young, budding photographer’s category. Hui Yu Kim is the deserving winner of the 10 years and younger award with her strong portrait of a surreal-looking, tropical flat-faced longhorn beetle in Malaysia. Her close-up view of the strikingly vibrant insect implores audiences to respect all creatures no matter what their size. Other notable images include Corentin Graillot Denaix’s beautiful picture of a great tit positioned on a willow twig and Mateusz Piesiak’s photograph of American oystercatchers on a New York beach.

Image credit: Hui Yu Kim’s photograph, Alien. Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.