Science or Art? Science Photography that Inspires

The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) has secured the rights to present the Royal Photographic Society’s prestigious, International Science Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Discover the beauty of raspberry mould, see eye-to-eye with a confused flour beetle, and get up close to the 500-year-old skull of King Richard III.

“We have selected 47 incredible photographs to share with New Zealand audiences. Yes, they’re fascinating scientific studies, but they are also powerful artistic statements too,” explains MOTAT’s Senior Exhibitions Curator, Simon Gould.

The annual international competition has just two entry categories; photographers aged over 18 years and the under-18 youth category.

Visitors will immediately appreciate the highly technical nature behind many of the images but it’s also worth noting that several entries, including the top award-winning photo for the youth category were shot using just a smartphone.

“We have carefully curated a range of images that we felt would resonate with our Kiwi visitors and our New Zealand aesthetic. But this is a global competition, so it’s certainly our hope that after visiting MOTAT there will be many Kiwis wanting to enter this prestigious competition in 2020 and beyond. There’s no lack of talent here, artistic or scientific!”

The Royal Photographic Society’s Science Photographer of the Year exhibition is on now at MOTAT’s Great North Road site. Visit www.motat.nz for more information.