A government-funded photography exhibition has won an award for raising awareness of climate change from a body whose patrons include energy giant Shell.
The show, called Exposed: Climate Change in Britain?s Backyard, received a Clarion Award from the International Visual Communications Association (IVCA), an organisation whose aims include promoting debate about ethical issues.
The exhibition was organised by the National Trust and Magnum Photos. It is funded through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Climate Challenge Fund.
One of the photographers featured in the exhibition is Joe Cornish who, speaking earlier this year, said his images prove there is ‘no question’ that the UK is experiencing shorter winters.
‘When I first moved to North Yorkshire in 1993 we would have snow on the ground many days during the year. Now we have none and that’s extraordinary,’ he told BBC Radio Four.
Joe, who lives in North Yorkshire, added: ‘I hope it is a wake up call ? One of the things that makes the British landscape memorable is the great four season climate that we have. For me there is a real kind of poignancy to losing that aspect of our weather? We are experiencing more extremes too.’
Commenting on the photo exhibition an IVCA spokesman said. ?Beauty, sophistication, innovation and impact are what make this well conceived and implemented initiative a worthy winner.
?By applying the fine art of photography to illustrate how a global challenge is having a damaging local impact, the National Trust not only brings climate change to life for its own visitors and members but also to a wider arts community.?
According to the IVCA?s website, its patrons include energy company Shell International Limited – a group that last year sparked protest from environmental campaigners who claimed Shell was attempting to ?greenwash? its reputation by sponsoring the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
London Rising Tide, a pressure group, called on the public to boycott the wildlife show which opened at The Natural History Museum in October 2006.
Shell hit back saying it does not operate in natural World Heritage Sites and seeks partnerships to both maintain ecosystems and ?make positive contributions to conserving global biodiversity?.
Fellows of the IVCA include actor Kevin Spacey and newsreader Moira Stewart who both spoke at the awards ceremony in central London on Friday.
Exposed: Climate Change in Britain?s Backyard is touring the UK and is due to visit Beningbrough Hall in Yorkshire from 6 October-1 November; City Museum & Art Gallery in Bristol from 10 November-9 December; before travelling to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland in January.
A ?poster show? of highlights from the exhibition are also due to be shown at certain National Trust properties. For details visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-climate_change_exhibition.htm
Pictures: Joe Cornish/NTPL
These two photos of Snowdonia were captured by renowned landscape photographer Joe Cornish who compares the snowy image he shot in 1996, with a snow-free one he recorded in January last year.
BEFORE
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