GALLERY: Winner of Wolverhampton Photography Competition announced

From the eight finalists, Liz Freeman was chosen as the winner by Express & Star chief photographer Tim Thursfield at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

The amateur competition coincides with the national Wildlife Photographer of the Year, which is considered the world's best nature photography exhibition and is currently showing at the art gallery.

Liz Freeman's photo of a frog will be shown alongside the Wildlife Photographer of the Year entrants.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery put out a request for photographers to enter the competition, with the criteria for entrants being that the images were of wildlife taken within the Wolverhampton area.

Mr Thursfield said: "There were some great entries in the competition.

"The winner had obviously thought about composition, and the benefit of using a long lens to blur the background which made the frog stand out.

"I also liked the quirkiness of the winning picture.

"Wildlife photography can be one of the hardest forms to capture, as a lot of the time it's down to the photographer choosing the decisive moment to shoot."

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a national exhibition in its 51st year and is visiting the city as part of a worldwide tour.

Founded in 1964, it is one of the longest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibits at Wolverhampton Art Gallery until Sunday, September 18. The exhibition follows a variety of displays at the gallery, including the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which runs until September 18.

The competition is in its 51st year and is stopping off in Wolverhampton before continuing on its world tour. Images submitted for consideration include dramatic shots of turtle mid-swim in the ocean, a baby elephant photographed through the legs of an adult elephant and the glowing red eyes of a monkey in silhouette.