66. Into the Wild

2nd March 2014, Natural History Museum, Kensington, London

Again, I am not the most cultural of people.

But whilst my understanding for paintings and statues is lacking on oh so many levels, I can actually really appreciate some good photography.

Having wanted to go to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition since moving to London all those years ago but not getting around to it, I was thrilled when my favourite Yummy Mummy called me up to ask if I wanted to go hang with her and the Little Man at the Natural History Museum. Never mind having to trek to West London and hang out the crowded tourist hell that is South Kensington on a Sunday.

In the end, it was two Yummy Mummies, two toddlers and a 28 year old kinder gardener who rocked up at the museum one very cold Sunday afternoon. Seriously, why won’t grownups get how fantastic those dinosaurs are?! They’re like real life actual dinosaurs. Only kind of dead. Like space creatures who once walked this planet and who were here first. Show some respect.

After my excitement at seeing the skeleton of a Little Foot dinosaur and having had to explain who the hell Little Foot is I was ushered to the main event and the most fantastic photographs I have probably ever seen. How people can capture these beautiful things through a lens is beyond me.

The most amazing section of all was without a doubt the Young Photographer one. How can anyone be that God damn talented aged 11? The photographs were astounding and so creatively shot I just stood there staring for ages in awe of their work. Amazing photos of crocodile mothers caring for their babies, the destruction of the Amazons and flying squirrels caught playing mid-air. When I was 11 I still used colouring books. Well, strictly speaking I haven’t stopped using them, but you get the point.

 

Continuing through the exhibition I was more and more amazed by all the close ups of mountain lions having dinner in Russia, polar bears breaking through the ice from underneath it and thousands of birds painting the sky black.

 

Now this is wildlife I could get on board with.

Yep, that's the queue.