This night was the most amazing display of lightning that I have ever seen, with constant flashes of lightning lasting hours. For the composition, I decided to focus on a man standing at the edge of the water
with an umbrella to add a sense of scale to the image.
Fingal Bay, New South Wales
Canon EOS 5D Mk lll, Canon 17–40mm f4 L, 15, f/4, ISO 200, tripod
Photo Credit: Floyd Mallon, New South Wales. Age 17
UNDER THE SPIKES
SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNA Tachyglossus aculeatus
On the way back from the Murray River we saw this echidna crossing the road. It hid its face and I knew it wasn’t coming out, so I decided to take a close-up. That was the best shot I took.
Near Blanchetown, South Australia
Nikon Coolpix B700, 4.3–258mm, 1/100, f/3.3, ISO 100, handheld
Photo Credit: Isaac Wilson, South Australia. Age 10
MORNING CATCH
EASTERN REEF EGRET Egretta sacra
One morning at sunrise I noticed this eastern reef egret standing in the shallow rock pools. As I was admiring the beautiful warm light, the egret suddenly flicked a fish out of the
water and caught it in its beak. It then stood proudly displaying its catch before swallowing the fish whole.
Lady Elliot Island, Queensland
Sony ILCE-6000, Sony FE 70–200mm F4 G OSS, 1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 200, handheld
Photo Credit: Jack McKee, Queensland. Age 17
BREAKING FREE
FLAMBOYANT CUTTLEFISH, Metasepia pfefferi
It was incredible to witness this tiny, flamboyant cuttlefish break free from its egg and rise up to begin its new life.
The eggs, inside an old coconut shell, contained cuttlefish in various stages of development and I noticed this one moving around. I patiently waited until it emerged.
Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 macro USM, 1/250, f/5.6, ISO 100, twin Inon Z240 strobes,
handheld
Photo Credit: Jack McKee, Queensland. Age 17
TIME FOR LUNCH!
ROBBER FLY
UNKNOWN SPECIES
I had been quietly observing this common robber fly hoping that it would sit still for a photograph. I watched, captivated, as it caught lunch then perched right in front of me and posed as it devoured its meal.
Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Sony A57, Sigma 18–250mm f3.5–6.3, 1/400, f/6.3, ISO 2000, handheld
Photo Credit: McKinley Moens, New South Wales. Age 13
THE HUNT
VARIABLE LYNX SPIDER Oxyopes variabilis
I found this variable lynx spider eating its lunch on one of the lavenders
in our garden. I used two macro extension tubes – they enable you to
photograph things in extraordinary detail – which allowed me to capture
this unusual sighting in an impactful way.
Redlands, Queensland
Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon EF-S 18–200mm f3.5–5.6 IS, 1/640, f/10, ISO 400, Canon Speedlite 430EX II, handheld, Kenko automatic extension tubes (20mm and 36mm)
Photo Credit: Miré Cloete, Queensland. Age 15
GREEN CATBIRD EATING GRAPE
GREEN CATBIRD Ailuroedus crassirostris
I found a branch with a lovely bracket fungus to use as a perch at the permanent birdbath we have set up at home. Only a few species of bird came to drink during a wet spell, so I lured catbirds down with half-a-dozen grapes each morning.
Pomona, Queensland
Canon 6DII, Sigma 150–500mm, 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 3200, Wimberly tripod mount bolted to permanent hide
Photo Credit: Naomi Slater, Queensland. Age 9
HIDDEN DRAGON
BEARDED DRAGON Pogona barbata
I chanced upon this bearded dragon camouflaging on a log while bushwalking. I was amazed at how its colouration so closely matched the colour of the log. By using an off camera flash, low angle and a close perspective I tried to capture an image that showcased it in its habitat.
Ironbark Station Conservation Property, Blackbutt, Queensland
Canon EOS 1DX Mk II, Canon EF 8–15mm f4L fisheye USM, 1/250,
f/10, ISO 160, Canon Speedlight 600EX II RT flash and transmitter,
handheld
Photo Credit: Robert Irwin, Queensland. Age 15
BREACH
HUMPBACK WHALE Megaptera novaeangliae
A breaching humpback whale photographed while out boating
near Montague Island. Every year these giants travel past our home on their long journey north, where they calve. It’s always such a special experience to see them, especially
when they’re playing and breaching.
Montague Island, New South Wales
Canon EOS 7D, EF70–300mm f4–5.6 IS II USM, 1/1250, f/5.0, ISO 160, handheld
Photo Credit: Tess Poyner, New South Wales. Age 16
TASTING THE AIR
KEELBACK SNAKE Tropidonophis mairii
We set out one morning searching for snakes. I was excited to see this gorgeous keelback snake – it had the most intricate and beautifully coloured scales. They’re a non venomous species, noted for their ability to eat cane toads. The experience was extra special
because it was my first time seeing this species.
Daintree Rainforest, Queensland
Canon EOS 7D, EF-S60mm f2.8 macro USM, 1/80, f/16, ISO 100, handheld
Photo Credit: Tess Poyner, New South Wales. Age 16
The AG Nature Photographer of the Year Awards are sponsored by Coral Expeditions.
HomeTopicsWildlifeAG Nature Photographer of the Year 2019: Junior shortlist
AG Nature Photographer of the Year 2019: Junior shortlist
By AG STAFF•June 27, 2019
HIDDEN DRAGONBEARDED DRAGONPogona barbataI chanced upon this bearded dragon camouflaging on a log while bushwalking. I was amazed at how its colouration so closely matched the colour of the log. By using an off camera flash, low angle and a close perspective I tried to capture an image that showcased it in its habitat.Ironbark Station Conservation Property, Blackbutt, QueenslandCanon EOS 1DX Mk II, Canon EF 8–15mm f4L fisheye USM, 1/250,f/10, ISO 160, Canon Speedlight 600EX II RT flash and transmitter,handheldImage credit: Robert Irwin, Queensland. Age 15
This shortlist showcases the finest nature photography from entrants under the age of 18. The beauty of the shots contained is indicative of the talent in our budding Australian photographers. These photos will be exhibited at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide from Friday 16 August until Sunday 10 November 2019 and the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney from Friday 16 August until Sunday October 20