A doubleheader swims through the vibrant and healthy coral gardens in the lagoon below Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower on Lord Howe Island.
Lord Howe Island, New South Wales
Canon EOS 5D MkIV, Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, 1/250, f/18, ISO 500, 2x INON Z-330 Strobes at half power, AquaTech Elite 5D4 housing, handheld
Photo Credit: Jordan Robins, New South Wales
COURTING ROYALS
SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS, Diomedea epomophora
A hotspot for albatross diversity, Campbell Island hosts the second-highest number of albatross species of any subantarctic group. It is the southern royal albatross’s main breeding ground, where they soar like pterodactyls over a remote and wild landscape.
This species breeds biennially, with about 8000 pairs each breeding year.
Campbell Island, New Zealand
Nikon D810, Nikon 28–300, 1/2500, f/180, ISO 640, polariser
Photo Credit: Justin Gilligan, New South Wales
GIANT FROGFISH
GIANT FROGFISH Antennarius commerson
A giant frogfish waits patiently in the hope that it won’t be noticed
by surrounding reef fish. In this perfect fishing spot it deployed a
modified rod from its dorsal fin, with a lure that resembles a small fish or shrimp, to attract curious fish close enough to gulp up.
Lord Howe Island, New South Wales
Nikon D810, Sigma 15mm + 1.5 x teleconverter, 1/30, f/16, ISO 100, Ikelite DS161 and snoot to focus light, nautical housing
Photo Credit: Justin Gilligan, New South Wales
STORM DRAGON
CENTRAL BEARDED DRAGON Pogona vitticeps
We were rushing to get to camp before the storm hit when we encountered this central bearded dragon, an iconic representative of the reptiles of central Australia. I could not forego the opportunity to capture this impressive animal with the ominous scene unfolding in the distance.
Tobermorey Station, Northern Territory
Canon 700D, Canon EF-S 10–18mm f4.5–5.6 IS STM, 1/160, f10, ISO 200, Yongnuo YN560-III mounted on hot shoe with 15cm circular diuser and a second YN560-III in a 40x40cm sobox, handheld, partner held the sobox to help with lighting
Photo Credit: Jari Cornelis, Western Australia
FROZEN MOBILE HOME
CRABEATER SEAL Lobodon Carcinophagus
Icebergs are dynamic kingdoms that support marine life and fertilise the oceans. They carry
nutrients and are responsible for life blooms by developing phytoplankton. They also influence the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon dioxide. Marine fauna like leopard seals, gentoo penguins, Antarctic fur seals and Weddell seals live in the fragile habitat – here crabeater seals live on the pack-ice.
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120km over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals.
Australian Claim, Eastern Antarctica
Nikon D810, Sigma 120–400mm, 1/2500, f/9, ISO 800
Photo Credit: Justin Gilligan, New South Wales
SHRIMP PERICLIMENES COLEMANI LIVING IN A FIRE URCHIN
SALTWATER SHRIMP Periclimenes colemani
FIRE URCHIN Asthenosoma varium
This pair of Periclimenes colemani are living among the painfully venomous spines of
the fire urchin. The shrimp clear spines from a small area on the urchin to form their ‘space’ and rid the urchin of parasites and algae, as well as feed on its soft tube feet and tentacles. The shrimp move freely, confident in their spiny protection.
A Top End burnoff attracted a swirling cloud of fork-tailed kites. With a whoop I dived into the conflagration. The autofocus wouldn’t work in the heat-shimmer so I approximated with the distance ring. A kite flew close enough to smell burning feathers. Hang on! That was my hair on fire!
During a trip to the Clare Valley for Christmas, I decided to put
my drone up over Sevenhill Oval to get a couple shots of where
I’d played cricket as a child. As I was flying the drone backwards to fit in the whole oval, I noticed a peregrine falcon fly into view and managed to take a quick photo.
Clare Valley, South Australia
DJI Mavic Air drone, 35mm equivalent of a 24mm lens,
1/850, f/2.8, ISO 100
Photo Credit: Toby Zerna, New South Wales
RODENT CONTROL
COASTAL CARPET PYTHON Morelia spilota mcdowelli
This coastal carpet python has taken up residence in my dad’s shed. This built habitat provides warm tin to bask against, nooks and crannies to take refuge in, and an abundance of rodents as prey.
n Sunshine Coast, Queensland
n Canon 7D MkII, Tamron 10–24mm f/3.5–4.5 Di II VC, 1/160,
f/7.1, ISO 250, Yongnuo 560 III flash, handheld, SMDV 60 speedbox
diuser, Yongnuo wireless controller
Photo Credit: Ethan Mann, Queensland
HomeTopicsWildlifeAG Nature Photographer of the Year 2020: Animal habitat shortlist
AG Nature Photographer of the Year 2020: Animal habitat shortlist
By AG STAFF•26 June 2020
FROZEN MOBILE HOME. Crabeater seal (Lobodon Carcinophagus). Icebergs are dynamic kingdoms that support marine life and fertilise the oceans. They carry nutrients and are responsible for life blooms by developing phytoplankton. They also influence the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon dioxide. Marine fauna like leopard seals, gentoo penguins, Antarctic fur seals and Weddell seals live in the fragile habitat – here crabeater seals live on the pack-ice.Image credit: Greg Lecoeur, France
In this category, we asked for photos showing animals in the environment in which they live – this environment could be natural or built, and the animal, either native or feral. The only rule was that the animal must not be captive and has claimed the habitat independently. This shortlist shows the beautiful variety of landscapes and animals we enjoy in Australia. These photos will be exhibited at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide from Friday 28 August until Sunday 15 November 2020.