AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE, CRACTICUS TIBICEN. Magpies have lots of character. There is always one clowning around and showing off, but here I think his mates are trying to ignore him. Victor Harbor Bluff, Victor Harbor, South Australia. Nikon D40X, Tamron 50-300mm, f/9, ISO 400, handheld

AUSTRALIAN EMPEROR DRAGANFLY, HEMIANAX PAPUENSIS. Australian emperor dragonflies are large, fiercely territorial and are found all over Australia. I spotted this individual sitting poised for take-off among the plants in my grandparents’ garden. Cootamundra, New South Wales. Nikon D3100, AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR + 20mm macro extension ring , 1/200, f/5.6 ISO 200, flash, handheld

GHOST GUM, CORYMBIA APARRERINJA. I took this photo of a ghost gum around
Windorah in gibber country. It was early morning and the rocks in the foreground cast big, long shadows. I like that the roots stick out like a person’s remains are there; it makes it a real ghost gum. Windorah, Queensland. Nikon D3000, 18mm, 1/250, f/10, ISO 100, handheld

I have become fascinated with astronomy, and what better way to show off the sky than capturing the movement of the stars? You can see here that as the Earth spins, our view of the heavens rotates around the South Celestial Pole. Harrogate, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Canon EOS 70D, Canon 17-55mm at 17mm, 145 x 30, f/2.8, ISO 200-400, tripod.

WESTERN GREY KANGAROOS, MACROPUS FULIGINOSUS. At the end of a hike in Dryandra Woodlands, we noticed two western grey kangaroos cautiously watching out for a bird of prey that was about. I took advantage of their posture and the lovely afternoon light to compose this picture. Dryandra Woodlands, Narrogin, Western Australia. Canon EOS 40D, 300mm, 1/125 f/5 ISO, 500, handheld

On a beach on Fraser Island, soldier crabs had created myriad different patterns with little balls of sand that all appeared to be the same size. The shadows enhanced the spreading effect flowing from the tunnel the crabs had dug. Fraser Island, Queensland. Canon PowerShot D10, fixed, 1/500, f/2.8, handheld

CICADA PSALTODA SP. I was taking photos of the Murray River at night when I noticed this cicada on a nearby tree. Preparing my camera, I waited for the perfect moment when the elegant cicada filled the frame. Torrumbarry, Murray River, Victoria. Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, 1/200, f/22,
handheld

LIGHT-BLUE SOLDIER CRAB, MICTYRIS LONGICARPUS. While photographing a passing Brahminy kite, this lone soldier crab caught my eye. It had separated from its numerous comrades as they scurried along in their armies assembled on the sand flats and it posed for a few snaps before it was off again to join again the troop of marching crabs. Front Beach, Bowen, Queensland. Nikon D3100, AF-S DX Nikkor 55–300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 110, handheld

DOUBLE DRUMMER CICADA, THOPHA SACCATA. Last spring my siblings and I spent a lot of time waiting for and watching cicadas. This double drummer was the first we saw climbing up a tree still in its shell, and we got to observe it coming out. The process is fascinating – I never tire of watching it. Wollombi, New South Wales. Panasonic DMC-TZ20 24mm, 1/125, f/4, ISO 100, handheld

COMMON BRUSHTAIL POSSUM, TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA. In the Tone-Perup Nature Reserve near Manjimup in south western WA, a common brushtail possum sleeps the whole day in an old unused oven. Every night, it comes out through a pipe in the wall to feed. One evening, we waited for it to come out so that we could watch it and shoot some pictures. Tone-Perup Nature Reserve, Western Australia. Canon EOS 5D Mk II, 70-200mm, 1/125, f/5.6, ISO 800, two flashguns – one with reflector, tripod