The BWPA 2013 judging panel
Heather Angel
Wildlife photographer and author
Fascinated by nature from early childhood, Heather had no ambition to be a photographer, so she studied zoology and became a marine biologist before embarking on a career in wildlife photography. After her first book appeared in 1972, she wrote for the photographic press and travelled extensively – from the poles to the tropics. Her great love for China resulted in 32 trips, three books on pandas and two on China's wildlife.
Heather communicates enthusiasm for the natural world via her talks, her workshops and her prodigious writing. Using the downtime at airports, in the air and at sea, she drafts her books – always in longhand, because she thinks faster than she can input. Major solo exhibitions of Heather’s work have been on show in London, China, Malaysia, and Egypt. Her most ambitious task is a long-term project on worldwide pollination mechanisms for Kew Gardens – for her 60th book out in 2014.
Heather was President of the Royal Photographic Society from 1984-86, Bath University awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1986 and she has been a Special Professor at Nottingham University since 1994.
Greg Armfield
Photographic and Film Manager, WWF-UK
Greg Armfield is the photographic and film manager for WWF-UK. He has worked in the photographic industry for ten years, combining both the NGO sector (National Trust and WWF) and private sector (Emap and Construction Photography). He has worked in all facets of the industry, from artistic director (Construction Photography), photographer, editor and commissioner. He has also worked for WWF for the last four years, originally heading up the photographic department but now also leading on film. He is responsible for all photo commissions.
Hilary Clothier
Picture Editor, Countryfile Magazine
Hilary has been working in the publishing industry as a Picture Editor for 15 years on a variety of quality publications and digital media. These include titles at News International, National Trust Magazine and Countryfile Magazine, all of which demand the highest standards of imagery. Hilary works closely with experts on wildlife and the environment for features and articles published in Countryfile Magazine, sourcing stunning imagery that is key to illustrating the magazine. Hilary also commissions specialist photographers to work to tight briefs and deadlines. The BWPA offers the opportunity to celebrate the talented photographers that capture the natural beauty of the British Isles, as well as educating about the world around us. Hilary is always keen to champion great photographic work and is thrilled to be a judge this year.
Charlie Hamilton James
Photographer, cameraman and film-maker
Charlie specialises in wildlife documentaries, which he makes for the BBC through Halcyon Media LTD, the company he runs with his wife Philippa Forrester. His last BBC series, Halcyon River Diaries, told the story of Charlie and his young family getting to know their wild neighbours on the river outside their house. Other films he has made include Giant otters of the Amazon, The Wild Wood, On the Trail of Tarka, Wye – Voices from the Valley and Heligan - Secrets of the Lost Garden, and he is currently filming vultures for another BBC programme. His passion, however, is still photography (he was twice Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year), which is another way of channelling his obsession with kingfishers and otters - he is currently working as a National Geographic photographer, his most recent article on otters featured in the February issue of the magazine. Charlie also works as a television presenter for shows including Springwatch and The Natural World.
Felicity Lanchester
Assistant Producer, BBC Natural History Unit
Felicity grew up in rural Cumbria, and inherited a love of photography and the natural world from her father. After graduating with a Zoology degree in 2004, she worked in Ecuador as a camera assistant, and in New Zealand as a production assistant before moving to Bristol and starting her career with the BBC's Natural History Unit.
Within the BBC she has contributed to the development of new film commissions, worked on Springwatch and Autumnwatch, The Great Rift, and Frozen Planet. She has spent the last 3 years working on the BBC's Africa series as Series Researcher, Field Director and Assistant Producer. Whilst on the project her experiences included being arrested in Sierra Leone, caving to the largest underground lake in the world and facing raging African grassland fires.
Andrew Parkinson
Wildlife Photographer
Andy is a contributing photographer to National Geographic magazine and is on the National Geographic Photographers Advisory Board. A multi-award winning wildlife photographer his images have featured in all of the major international wildlife photography competitions including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He has also been awarded 8 times in BWPA and was proud to win the Behaviour category in 2011. His images are represented by 9 top international agencies including Getty Images, Corbis and NaturePL and he has just been named the Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year for 2012. Andy works exclusively with animals that are wild and free and he'll often spend months, if not years working with one particular subject. He is also one of the most prolific contributors to BBC Wildlife magazine and has completed 7 photo features for them as well as being a proud member of the 2020VISION photo team. Andy has in recent years started leading tours for Northshots, one of the country's leading wildlife photography tour operators.
James Tims
Digital Assets Manager, AA Publishing
James has been a travel photographer for over 18 years. Published in books, magazines and websites across 5 continents he has an unfaltering passion for inspirational and emotive photography.
His relationship with AA Publishing as an image maker, buyer, editor and seller spans almost his entire career and at the end of 2012 was promoted to the position of Digital Assets Manager. His responsibilities now encompass design, imaging, proofing, picture library, digital products, and ultimately to provide a strong creative steer for all visual aspects of AA Media’s publishing programme.
Embracing the new technologies, challenges and demands that face the industry in this exciting new era of digital publishing, James is proud to be a part of the BWPA competition.
Mark Ward
Editor, Birds magazine: RSPB
Mark is the Editor of the RSPB’s Birds magazine. He has been writing about birds and nature from a young age - his first feature appeared in Birdwatch magazine when he was 15. Mark has enthused many people about wildlife through his writing in titles including Bird Watching, Natural World and Country Walking; his newspaper columns, and books including “Bird Identification and Fieldcraft: a Birdwatcher’s Guide” published by New Holland.
Mark is a very keen birdwatcher and has seen close to 500 species of birds in the UK. His passion extends to all nature though and his ambition is to see as many species of wildlife in the UK as possible in his lifetime. He has also travelled widely around the world in pursuit of wildlife, from Canada, Brazil and Ecuador to Kenya, India and Australia.
Mark lives in Cambridgeshire where he is currently enjoying transforming his new garden into a wildlife haven.
Steve Watkins
Editor, Outdoor Photography Magazine
Steve is an award-winning travel photographer, and writer and editor of Outdoor Photography Magazine. He has worked closely with the BBC in creating travel programmes and has written BBC books including 'Unforgettable Journeys to Take Before you Die'. Steve has walked on the wild side for twenty years as an adventurer and travel photographer. In the past eight years he has shot 120,000 images in 65 countries.
Paul Wilkinson
Head of Living Landscape, The Wildlife Trusts
As his role indicates, Paul Wilkinson leads on, and supports, the achievement of The Wildlife Trusts' vision to create A Living Landscape, which has the restoration of the natural environment at its heart. Paul's interest in wildlife photography was rekindled through this recovery plan for nature, championed since 2006, to create a resilient and healthy environment rich in wildlife. He is looking for the ultimate shot which captures the inextricable connection between people and the natural environment.
Paul previously worked as the Director of Regional Policy for The Wildlife Trusts in the East of England, during which time he was a member of the East of England Regional Assembly and chaired the region's Biodiversity Forum for six years. Paul is a Member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
