Founded in 1853, the Royal Photographic Society is the world’s most established photography organisation. With more than 11550 members worldwide, the membership of the society brings together a wealth of incredible talent from all areas of photography – professionals and passionate amateurs alike. The RPS Members’ Biennial Exhibition represents the broad interests of the current membership, and features some of the most respected names in photography with work from a selection of The Society’s Honorary Fellows, including Bryan Adams, John Swannell, and Jason Bell.

The Members’ Biennial takes the form of a competition, with images selected by a panel of experts, made up of award-winning journalist and photographer Ben Brain ARPS, and photographers Andre du Plessis, Steve Smith, Maria Falconer and Tony Bramley, all RPS Fellows. World-renowned photographer Joe McNally FRPS selected Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners from the shortlisted entries.

The Gold medal is awarded to Scotland-based wildlife photographer Michael Durham FRPS for his astonishing image Predator and Prey. A professional photographer for over 10 years, Durham gained his Fellowship from The RPS in 2013. Based in Dumfries, South West Scotland, his medal-winning image, capturing a fleeting moment in which a young male sparrow hawk swoops in to grab its prey, was shot in his own garden. In selecting the image for Gold, Joe McNally said “This is the moment, plain and simple. Tack sharp, peak action, good light, and well managed background.”

Martin Castellan receives Silver for his image Gascon Cattle Climb the Pyrenees. Part of an environmental project highlighting the financial crisis in livestock farming in the Pyrenees, Castellan has documented the migration of farmers and their livestock to high altitude pastures in the mountains where they spend the summer months. The Bronze medal goes to Paul Mann ARPS for his striking black and white night shot of Krafla Power Station in Iceland.

The three winning images will feature alongside the other selected images in the 2017 RPS Members’ Biennial Exhibition, available to view in the the Royal Albert Hall’s Ampitheatre corridor when attending performances between Wednesday 8 November and Thursday 7 December, or on the following free open days:

Sunday 12 November 2017: 10am – 1pm
Saturday 18 November 2017: 10am – 12pm
Sunday 19 November 2017: 10am – 12pm
Saturday 25 November 2017: 10am – 4pm