The world-renowned exhibition “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” opened on Wednesday, April 23 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH). The exhibit is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world for 60 years.

The competition receives entries from 117 countries and territories arund the world, highlighting its enduring appeal. This year’s award-winning images have embarked on an international tour that will allow them to be seen by well over a million people.

'Stormy Scene' by William Fortescue: Mating lions in the Namiri Plains, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.The exhibit, which is now in its 60^th year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, features exceptional images that capture fascinating animal behavior, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Using photography's unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images shine a light on stories and species around the world and encourage a future of advocating for the planet.

CMNH is the first venue in the United States to host “Wildlife Photographer of the Year.” Currently, it is simultaneously showing in Basel, Switzerland, Copenhagen, Denmark, in both Toronto and Victoria in Canada, as well as in London and Bristol, UK.

"It feels great because this is the 60th year of the exhibit and this addition has not been shown in the United States yet,” says Meenakshi Sharma, CMNH senior vice president and chief strategy officer. “ We are the first one in the country to have this.”

The exhibition's arrival in Cleveland aligns with the museum's focus this year on planetary health, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience world-class wildlife photography while fostering a deeper connection to nature and conservation efforts.

The competition began in 1965 in what is today BBC Wildlife magazine with just 361 entries in its first year. In 1984, the Natural History Museum London became involved with the competition.

The exhibition's growth has been extraordinary. This year, “Photographer of the Year” attracted 59,228 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories.

During an intense week at the Natural History Museum in London, entries were judged anonymously on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence by an international panel of industry experts.

Many renowned wildlife photographers and filmmakers launched their careers through this competition, though that wasn't the original intention.

"From very early on, the original intent was generating more public interest in wildlife,” explains Sharma. “It helps conservation, and people fall in love with natural world and care for its future.”

The exhibition, which opened on Earth Day, features 100 photographs displayed across three levels of the museum—in the museum’s Visitor Hall, Corning Gallery and Education Hallway. CMNH collaborated with the Cleveland Institute of Art's Digital Output Center to print and mount the images.

Visitor reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. "When we had the event, everybody was first of all surprised," Sharma notes. “Every single picture is so powerful. Every picture tells a story.”

The exhibition provides detailed information about each photograph, including technical specifications that appeal to both photography enthusiasts and casual visitors.

While Sharma says every photo is remarkable, she says "In the Spotlight," a photo of peacocks captured by a young photographer under 10 years old at Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, India, is particularly stunning.

"The family was in the nearby area and [the young photographer] saw this and she ran to her dad to get his camera and took the picture," Sharma shares. “It feels like, when you look at it, how sometimes in nature you are there and you feel like, ‘Oh, my God, this was the perfect capture.’ I think that maybe that's why it's named ‘In the spotlight.’”

The exhibition runs through Sunday, Oct. 26, and is included with general admission.