Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Is Back And Brilliant

The Natural History Museum's wildlife extravaganza never fails to draw in the crowds, nor to leave them staring at images in wonder. We've been impressed every year we've attended, particularly with last year's iteration. As ever we find ourselves asking: can this edition live up to the legacy?

In a word, yes. 2015's exhibition is filled with imagery capturing life and death situations — close ups of delicate creatures and the cruelty they suffer. We were saddened by an image of stacks of ivory, standing next to one of a ranger shot by a poacher for trying to protect elephants. And it's nothing less than heartbreaking to see big cats drugged, defanged and declawed so they can perform in a circus.

What particularly impressed us with this year's crop is its originality. We've been to the last six annual exhibitions, but the photos at this one reveal aspects of the natural world we've never seen, and the photographers continue to be innovative; a butterfly is mummified in salt water; ice crystals form on a kitchen window; a meadow shimmers with spider webs at sunrise; a genet leaps between rocks, illuminated by the moonlight.

These are the kind of images that will stick in your mind until next year's exhibition.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 is on at Natural History Museum from 16 October until 2 May. Tickets are £15 for adults, concessions available.