Swimming in the crystal-clear water of the Kirra beach shore breaks can yield incredible displays of breaking waves. To capture them, you need to place yourself in very shallow, clear water and have the right wave break in front of you, without letting its force push the camera back into your face.
Kirra Beach, Queensland
Canon 1DX, 14mm 2.8L, 1/800, f/6.3, ISO 1000, Aquatech water housing, handheld
Photo Credit: Sean Scott, Queensland
LIGHT DAPPLED BILLABONG
This deep, billabong-like section of the river is able to sustain a large population of turtles. I loved the light filtering through the trees so I dived to the bottom and held my breath in wait for one of the many turtles to swim overhead – finally capturing this image.
Upper Orara River, Upper Orara, New South Wales
Canon 5D Mk III, Canon 8–15mm fi sheye, 1/160, f/16, ISO 400, two Ikelite 160 substrobes, Aquatica housing, handheld while freediving
Photo Credit: Richard Wylie, Queensland
TREE FERNS
SOFT TREE FERN, DICKSONIA ANTARCTICA
Despite Canberra’s dry climate, its botanic gardens host an impressive Tasmanian rainforest where a bridge crosses a gully filled with soft tree ferns. I jammed my little point-and-shoot camera against the railing and took a photo of surprising clarity. A conversion to monochrome highlighted the fractal magic of these plants.
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Canon SX 540, 24–1400mm (full frame equivalent) at 24mm, 1/40, f/8, ISO 400
Photo Credit: Raoul Slater, Queensland
BEETLE’S BIG DINNER
UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES
This beetle needs to store enough energy to live through the winter. The grass tree leaves may be one of its favourite foods and it is now eating a big dinner ready for overwintering.
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australian Capitral Territory
Nikon D90, Nikon 105mm f/2.8, 1/125, f/5.6, ISO 200, handheld
Photo Credit: Yicai Chang, China
BREATHE
DUSKY DOLPHIN, LAGENORHYNCHUS OBSCURUS
Dusky dolphins frequent the waters around Kaikoura and the deep, nutrient-rich waters provide a food source for the many cetaceans that frequent the area. Fast moving and curious, these dolphins are interactive creatures that engage with each other in large social communities.
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Canon 1DX Mk II, 100–400mm, 1/1000, f/5.6, ISO 500
Photo Credit: Scott Portelli, New South Wales
RISE ABOVE
CURRAWONG, STREPERA SP.
Currawongs will frequent tourist camps like this one to scavenge for holiday scraps. After a heavy snowfall blanketed the ground, I staked out the area and the birds quickly gathered. A piece of old bread tossed high into the air enticed the more confident birds to spring up in chase.
Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales
Nikon D810, Sigma 24 f/1.4, 1/1250, f/8, ISO 640, handheld
Photo Credit: Charles Davis, New South Wales
AWAITING THE BREEZE
DANDELION, TARAXACUM SP.
These silky dandelion seed heads give the impression of waiting in a queue for the next breath of air or a gentle breeze to help fl oat them away to a new destination.
Adelaide, South Australia
Canon 5D Mk II, Canon MP–E 65mm macro, 1/200, f/2.8, ISO 100, handheld
Photo Credit: Dianne Galbraith, South Australia
A CURIOUS ENCOUNTER
HUMPBACK WHALE, MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE
A humpback whale mother and neonate calf appear intrigued by this alien mammal with a camera. I like the curves and elegance of their extended pectoral fi ns – the ‘great wing’ recognised in their genus name, Megaptera. Eye contact with such charismatic megafauna is always beguiling.
Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga
Canon EOS 5DsR, Canon EF 8–15mm f/24L fisheye USM + 1.4 teleconverter (21mm), 1/180, f/8, ISO 400, Nauticam underwater housing, Zen 100mm mini-dome
Photo Credit: Wayne Osborn, Western Australia
JUNCTION FALLS – AFTER
In a matter of seconds, Junction Falls went from a trickle to a roaring wall of thundering stormwater on a wet afternoon. I was fortunate to be there to capture the amazing transformation. Shortly after this shot, the embedded log completely disappeared from view.
Junction Falls, Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Canon EOS 1DS Mk III, Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8, 0.6, f/8, ISO 100, tripod
Photo Credit: Peter Hill, New South Wales
The AG Nature Photographer of the Year Awards are sponsored by Coral Expeditions.
Photo Credit: Coral Expeditions
HomeTopicsWildlifeAG Nature Photographer of the Year 2018: Monochrome shortlist
AG Nature Photographer of the Year 2018: Monochrome shortlist
Stunning photos of landscapes and animals sit side by side in a gallery that may be without colour, but certainly isn’t without interest. Photographs could be sepia-toned or infrared. These photos will be exhibited at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide (24 August – 11 November 2018 ) and the Australian Museum in Sydney (24 August to 27 January)