Wildlife Photo 2012

The 2012 Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has been won by Canadian Paul Nicklen with this explosive photo Bubble-jetting Emperors, which also won the Underwater Worlds category. He had to snorkel in freezing Antarctic waters as the emperor penguins rocketed toward the edge of the ice to avoid leopard seals hunting them. Releasing the bubbles trapped in their plumage helps them accelerate from 10km/h to 30km/h. (What's that in English money? Fast.) The exhibition of the top 100 photos opens tomorrow at the Natural History Museum in London. This year they will be shown in "a dramatic cinematic setting" (CLICK). Entry costs £10. CLICK for a BBC slide show instead.