Wildlife Photographer of the Year show keeps it natural

Alone in the dead of night, deep in the Costa Rican rainforest, Bence Máté could focus on nothing but the scuttling of the leaf-cutter ants through the undergrowth. Silently, he watched the giant-jawed insects hack the greenery into tiny pieces before carrying them away. The ritual is one of the most fascinating of the natural world – and the resultant photograph a deserved winner of the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010, which opens today at the Natural History Museum.

The exhibition is one of the year's most spectacular, and with its majestic views of misty waterfalls, cheetahs on the hunt and haunting forest fires, it is a must see.

The remarkable efforts of the photographers – whether lying for hours in the jungle canopy or venturing deep underwater to snap monstrous whales – are almost as impressive as the images, which range from the beautiful to the incredible.

There isn't a weak shot amongst this year's crop, though the Photojournalist of The Year series, particularly Mark Leong's shots of animal exploitation, are a standout.

So whether you are an animal lover, a photography enthusiast or looking for something fun to do this weekend, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is a good option.

The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010 exhibition runs 22 October2010 – 11 March 2011 at the Natural History Museum. Adults £9, children £4.50 (including Gift Aid), children under 4 years go free.