By Doreen Marion Gee

An early Christmas treat for me this season was savouring the artistic genius of the best wildlife photographers in the world. This was my own personal heaven as I stood transfixed in a world of luscious eye candy. On every wall there were dazzling pictures of insects and wildlife up close and personal. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Royal BC Museum is a wonderland of exquisite photography - the 'best of the best' around the globe.

These skilled photographers had me under their spell. As soon as I entered the room, I was ambushed by a giant red longhorn beetle. Ferocious jackals leapt at me off the wall. Then I was drowning in the ocean facing a massive polar bear. I felt like a Peeping Tom leering into the bedroom of two flies making alien love. What a wild rapturous roller coaster ride!

This extravaganza shows the winning works in the world's most respected wildlife photography competition. The exhibit boasts the best 108 images out of 41,000 entries from 95 countries. There are 17 categories, showcasing the work of gifted amateurs, professionals and young photographers with photos of insects, birds and animals on land and underwater.

The winner in the "10 years and under" group is "Alien" by Hui Yu Kim from Malaysia. She captured the image of a longhorn beetle in a tropical rainforest. The only winning entry from Canada was Martin Cooper's extraordinary photo of a coyote on a railway track in Burnaby, BC. Cooper had lain on the tracks in the light of an October sunrise and got that perfect shot, that dream photo that every budding photog hopes for once in a lifetime.

I was struck by the sheer talent and skill of these artists. Photos by children could rival those of any seasoned adult professional. Creative gifts seem to come at any age. This show honours the cream-of-the-crop. Some call it the Oscars of wildlife photography. It is a must see for anyone seeking a drug-free high.

Contact : . The exhibit runs until April 9, 2012.