The leopard seal is one of the biggest predators on the planet,
living in the most hostile place on the planet. During an expedition on a small sailboat, we explored the Antarctic Peninsula and had the opportunity to document its behaviour, which turned out to
be more curious than dangerous.
The Papuan jellyfish, nicknamed the golden Medusa, photographed in a jellyfish lake. The image was taken under the cover of darkness whilst hanging over the side of a small boat.
I would usually be swimming but due to a saltwater crocodile sighting in the previous days, we were not allowed in the lake.
Raja Ampat, West Papua Regency, Indonesia
Nikon D810, Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG diagonal fisheye, 1/2, f/8, ISO 100, single strobe flash
Photo Credit: Alex Kydd, Western Australia
THE GUARDIAN
HUMPBACK WHALE, Megaptera novaeangliae
A humpback mother and new calf. For the first 12 months of its life, this calf will be totally dependent on its mother’s nurturing skills. Her blubber reserves must sustain the calf with fat, rich milk during the
winter fast until she returns to the feeding grounds in Antarctic waters.
Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga
Canon EOS 5DsR, Canon EF 8–15mm f4L fisheye USM @14mm, 1/180, f/8, ISO 1000,
Nauticam underwater housing with Zen 100mm minidome, natural light
Photo Credit: Wayne Osborn, Western Australia
WYULDA
SCALYTAILED POSSUM Wyulda squamicaudata
Emerging upon nightfall from their rocky lairs, the shy and solitary scalytailed possums (known as yilangal by the Wunambal Gaambera people of
remote north-western Australia) hang from their specialised prehensile tail to reach food and forage throughout the structurally complex monsoon forest and vine-thicket habitat.
Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia
Canon EOS 7D MkII, Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro USM,
1/125, f/14.0, ISO 125, manual flash output, YN560 IV speedlite
with speedbox-40 so box, handheld
Photo Credit: Matt Clancy, Victoria
WE ARE HERE!
SILVER GULL Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
The water was perfect. The birds were busy calling. The silver gulls were busy doing what they do – calling and chasing each other, then, posing for a brief moment before carrying on.
Peel Inlet, Mandurah, Western Australia
Canon 1Dx, Canon 500mm f/4L + Canon 1.4x teleconvertor, 1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 400, handheld, 2/3 EV
Photo Credit: Les Imgrund, Western Australia
KANGAROO SILHOUETTE
WESTERN GREY KANGAROO Macropus fuliginosus
I wanted to support Yanchep National Park by camping there with friends after the area suffered a bushfire the month before. We went for a walk around the park at sunset and came across a group of kangaroos. I love the backlighting in this image.
Yanchep National Park, Western Australia
Canon EOS 1DX MkII, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, 1/2000, f/4, ISO 400, handheld, slight adjustments – contrast, exposure, highlight
Photo Credit: Lea Scaddan, Western Australia
LEOPARD ANEMONE
LEOPARD ANEMONE Antiparactis sp.
A leopard anemone floats into the deep blue, one of 15–20 species that had detached from the reef and were drifting – a migration presumably part of their life cycle. These anemones generally inhabit black coral and gorgonian fans on deep reefs out of recreational diving range.
Oculina Point, Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve,
New Zealand
Canon EOS 5D MkII, Canon 14mm f/2.8L II, 1/15, f/4.5, ISO
100, twin Ikelite DS 125 flashes, Aquatica 5D MkII housing
Photo Credit: Richard Robinson, New Zealand
MOTIONLESS
GREEN TREE P YTHON Morelia viridis
The green tree python remains motionless on the rainforest floor of Cape York Peninsula, where it waits for its prey to move close
enough so it can strike. Its fluorescent green colour makes it easy for the human eye to spot among the dried leaves, but it’s not so easy for its prey.
Cape York, Queensland
Canon 5D MkIV, Canon 16–35
f4L IS, 1/200, f/13, ISO 250, Canon 600EX flash
Photo Credit: Matt Wright, Queensland
GLOW FROM WITHIN
LEAF SCORPIONFISH Taenianotus triacanthus
I found this leaf scorpionfish on a rocky outcrop and discovered it didn’t mind my company. This gave me the perfect opportunity to carefully position a remote-controlled, high-powered torch fitted to a homemade arm behind the fish and create an X-ray-like image.
Tweed River, New South Wales
Nikon D810, Nikon 60mm AF-S micro, 1/250, f/11, ISO 125,
Sea & Sea MDX810 housing, subject backlit using a Weefine
6000 light fitted with a condenser and operated with a Weefine WFA03 remote control on a homemade arm system
Photo Credit: Andy Wingate, Queensland
KORORĀ – LITTLE BLUE PENGUIN
LITTLE PENGUIN Eudyptula minor
You may know them as little blue penguins, little penguins, blue penguins, or fairy penguins. Kororā is the name first bestowed on the birds by Maori. This is a white-flippered korora – identifiable by the margins on its wings, unique to birds that nest at Banks Peninsula. Kororareka, a village in the Bay of Islands, means ‘delicious little blue penguin’.
Rehabilitation Centre of the National Aquarium of New Zealand, New Zealand.
Canon EOS 1DX, Canon 16–35mm 2.8L II @ 16mm, 1/200, f/11, ISO 100, twin
Canon 600EX II RT speedlite flashes and umbrellas
Photo Credit: Richard Robinson, New Zealand
SATIN SPOTLIGHT
SATIN BOWERBIRD Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
I spent the afternoon at a friend’s birdbath waiting for the male satin bowerbird to show up. By the time he did, the light was a bit patchy and so, rather than
filling the shadows with flash, I decided to expose for the sun and let the shadows drift into darkness. This created a spotlight effect, enhancing his crazy eye.
Mulgoa, New South Wales
Canon EOS 5D MkIV, 500mm f4L IS II, 1/800, f/8, ISO 1250, tripod
Photo Credit: David Stowe, New South Wales
THE SMALLEST POSSUM
WESTERN PYGMY POSSUM Cercartetus concinnus
This adorable western pygmy possum was feeding amongst the shrublands surrounding Lake Cronin. Although small, their eye-shine is very noticeable
and they are relatively easy to find. They often sit still if they feel threatened and jump away at the very last second.
Lake Cronin, Western Australia
Canon 5D MkIII, EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM, 1/80, f/10,
ISO 100, handheld di used Canon 580 EX flash
Photo Credit: Jannico Kelk, Queensland
HomeTopicsWildlifeAG Nature Photographer of the Year 2020: Animal portrait shortlist
AG Nature Photographer of the Year 2020: Animal portrait shortlist
By AG STAFF•26 June 2020
THE SMALLEST POSSUM. WESTERN PYGMY POSSUM (Cercartetus concinnus). This adorable western pygmy possum was feeding amongst the shrublands surrounding Lake Cronin. Although small, their eye-shine is very noticeable and they are relatively easy to find. They often sit still if they feel threatened and jump away at the very last second.Image credit: Jannico Kelk, Queensland
In this category, 30% of the frame had to be taken up by the animal. Creatures of the land, air and sea all feature in this stunning shortlist. These photos will be exhibited at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide from Friday 28 August until Sunday 15 November 2020.