FISHING SHARKS

WHALER SHARK, CARCHARHINIDAE

I was flying my drone over a huge bait ball with loads of bronze whaler sharks feeding when I saw them start to move closer to shore. I quickly grabbed a long lens, fi red a few test shots and on the very next wave these two sharks almost washed onto the beach.

Red Bluff , Quobba Station, southern tip of Ningaloo Reef Marine Park

Canon 5D4, 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM, 1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, handheld

CUTTLEFISH EMBRACE

GIANT CUTTLEFISH, SEPIA APAMA

The Australian giant cuttlefish aggregation is truly one of nature’s great events.
Thousands of cuttlefi sh congregate in the shallow waters around the Spencer Gulf in South Australia to mate and perpetuate the species. The cuttlefish, like alien beings, display an array of patterns and textures.

Whyalla, South Australia

Canon 5D Mk III, 16–35mm, 1/200, f/14, ISO 320

APPROACH

EASTERN GREY KANGAROO, MACROPUS GIGANTEUS

As I arrived at the picnic area the snow had just started to fall again. The kangaroos were huddled away in the trees but this male was bold. He made a beeline towards me to see if I had any food to share, like so many tourists to this area.

Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales

Nikon D810, Nikon 105 f/2.8, 1/1250, f/2.8, ISO 640, handheld

TURTLE GARDEN

GREEN SEA TURTLE, CHELONIA MYDAS

An expansive field of foliose coral in the Komodo Marine National Park provides an ideal resting place for a juvenile green sea turtle. The iridescent shell of this turtle seemed beautifully matched to the vibrant surrounding corals.

Komodo Marine National Park, Indonesia

Nikon D7200, Tokina 10–17mm fi sheye zoom, 1/200, f/8, ISO 100, two Inon Z240, manual power (–0.5 stop), Nauticam NAD7100 housing, 230mm optical dome port

WAKE UP SLEEPY HEADS

I had to sneak in to this spot before the birds became aware of my presence and took off . The quieter I tried to be, the louder I was, and as the branches I stood on snapped, a few more birds would wake and take fl ight. The thick fog just added something special to this shot.

Duck Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Nikon D800, Nikon 70–200mm, 1/125, f/5.6, ISO 400, RRS tripod

ENCHANTED

WHITE’S SEAHORSE, HIPPOCAMPUS WHITEI

Low evening sunlight backlights White’s seahorse. Many of this species can be found living on the shallow shark nets beneath the boardwalk in Mosman, Sydney Harbour.

Mosman, New South Wales

Nikon D810, Nikkor 8–15mm F3.5–4.5 E ED, 1/125, f/29, ISO 160, two INON Z240 strobes, Aquatica digital water housing and 4-inch glass port

NOT ANOTHER SUNSET

While everyone else was enjoying sundowners on the deck of the boat, I enjoyed the sunset in silence, with only the fish for company.

Arborek Jetty, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Nikon D3S, Nikon 16mm, 1/250, f/6.3, ISO 250, Ikelite 161 strobe, Seacam housing

FACING OFF WITH AN ANEMONEFISH

PINK ANEMONEFISH, AMPHIPRION PERIDERAION

A pink anemonefish faces off with the photographer as she slowly moves in closer. The transparent anemone, recovering from the 2017 mass bleaching event, gives the scene an ethereal feel.

Fitzroy Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 macro, 1/160, f/13.0, ISO 200, two Inon Z240 strobes with diffusers, Olympus PT-EP11 underwater housing and Zen underwater 714 WA-100-EP pen dome, handheld

THE TURTLE TWIST

GREEN SEA TURTLE, CHELONIA MYDAS

As the sun sets over the lagoon, a green sea turtle gracefully glides through the crystal-clear water on the Great Barrier Reef. There is a real sense of peace and calm below the water’s surface, which contrasts with the raw, windy and wild conditions above.

Lady Elliot Island, Queensland

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 16–35mm f/4, 1/125, f/18, ISO 1000, two INON Z240 strobes set to ¼ power, AquaTech Elite 5D3 water housing, AquaTech 8-inch dome port, handheld

DUNE RUN

EMU, DROMAIUS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE

As evening rapidly approached, the sun started its descent towards the horizon. The shadows of two stray emus can be seen in the middle of the image, just two pinpricks in the vast expansiveness of this pristine dune network that runs along Eyre Peninsula.

Coff n Bay National Park, South Australia

DJI Phantom 3, DJI FC300C, 1/1700, f/2.8, ISO 100

The AG Nature Photographer of the Year Awards are sponsored by Coral Expeditions.