These 70 Incredible Nature Photos Have Been Shortlisted For A Prestigious Photography Award

Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)

Huddled in a Zodiac boat in icy waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, I waited patiently for an Adélie penguin to propel itself from the water to the safety of an iceberg. Persistence delivered as I captured this penguin in an almost levitational-like state, as if posing for the camera.

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)

There’s a small window in early spring when adult southern elephant seals are on land nursing their pups. Each youngster feeds for just three weeks before its mum heads back to sea. It was intriguing to watch two cranky females explain to this little fella that the milk bar was closed – permanently!

Brown sabre tooth blenny (Petroscirtes lupus)

Beneath the surface of Sydney Harbour, a brown sabretooth blenny shelters inside a discarded glass bottle, now transformed from careless waste into a vital sanctuary. Hundreds of eggs cling within as the parent stands guard, repurposing debris into a refuge for the next generation.

Sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)

The quirky courtship ritual of sooty terns involves the birds cocking their head to one side, dropping their wings and goose-stepping around each other in unison, flicking sand with their feet as they go. I was delighted to get this shot showcasing their wonderful dance.

Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron), Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Capturing the last limbs of light touching the shallow reef, I saw a large shape moving through the milky water of the tidal estuary. As I came closer, I noticed the spectral shape of the critically endangered green sawfish moving towards and through a group of sea turtles, before disappearing into the depths.

Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

As light rain began to fall on a spring morning, a juvenile tawny frogmouth stirred to life. It stretched its wings wide, momentarily cloaking its siblings. With its mouth open in what felt like a joyful expression, the scene revealed a tender, unexpected moment of warmth, resilience, and quiet connection in the wild.

After forecasts predicted a 10–15-foot swell, I woke at 3 am to make the 3-hour drive south from Sydney through heavy rain. As the storm cleared at sunrise, a narrow break in the clouds briefly illuminated a perfectly formed wave breaking over the reef.

Red-and-white jumping spider (Cytaea alburna)

I came across this tiny jumping spider navigating a maze of fallen leaves within a low bush. I paused, watched and waited for the perfect moment. Eventually, it climbed to the very edge of a leaf—poised like a performer on a stage or a tiny king surveying its kingdom.

Spider ants (Leptomyrmex sp.), Pony ant (Rhytidoponera sp.)

Spider ants surround and immobilise a pony ant on the rainforest floor. They will carry their unfortunate prey to their nest, where they will feed it to their sister larvae.

Huntsman spiderlings (Neosparassus sp.)

We spotted a faint yellow blob nestled in the grass; tiny spiderlings clustered after hatching. They do this to stay safe while they absorb egg nutrients and complete their first moult. Something had disturbed them, as a small clump of spiderlings dangled by a thread – not unlike a small piñata!

On a hot, dry January day, a diesel water pump sparked a fire on a nearby farm. Wind swept it into the surrounding native forest, and the eucalypt oils turned the dark, billowing smoke-clouds orange. Incredibly, and bravely, a water bomber flies straight into the heart of this inferno.

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Due to unabated land clearing, with huge tracts of koala habitat removed to make way for massive housing developments, koala numbers are rapidly deteriorating across Australia. Being forced out into suburbia, koalas are regularly killed by cars or chased by dogs, like this individual, which sought refuge up a telegraph pole.

Superb fairywren (Malurus cyaneus)

The colour of the kangaroo paw caught my eye first. So, I made my way over and less than a minute later, he arrived – perched just long enough for a few frames before flying off. In that moment, he seemed proud, showing off the brilliance of his new season plumage.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

Incongruously, a single king penguin chick stands atop a rock surrounded by adults in the world’s largest breeding colony of this species. ‘Oakum Boy’ is a historical nickname given by sailors because the chicks’ appearance reminded them of oakum, a pine-tar-soaked flax fibre used to seal gaps in wooden ships.

Spiny leaf insect (Extatosoma tiaratum)

The spiky silhouette of a spiny leaf insect reveals how well-defended these phasmids are from predators. I discovered it on a tree in my backyard one evening, backlit by a living room light. This image goes to show that you don’t always have to travel far to see extraordinary creatures.

Bronze orange bug nymphs (Musgraveia sulciventris)

Translucent green nymphs of the bronze orange bug cluster near their emptied egg raft after hatching. During this first instar stage, they remain aggregated before dispersing following moulting. Their pale green colouration provides effective camouflage, making them difficult to detect. They are often mistaken for other insect species.

Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)

While camping in Queensland, I noticed an opportunistic brush turkey foraging for food through the rubbish bin.

Great egret (Ardea alba), Bony bream (Nematalosa erebi)

As flooding from the Lachlan River subsided, large numbers of waterbirds were feeding in a drying waterhole. When this great egret plucked a fish from the water and lifted it high as he walked away, I was able to create a striking image, showing off the egret’s long, spear-like neck and bill.

Blue spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus caeruleomaculatus), Mud crab (Scylla sp.)

I had this image in mind before my second trip to Broome. I wanted to observe and photograph a unique interaction between the species vying for space in the mudflats. After three days, I was lucky to witness a mud crab lift a mudskipper right out of the water.

Superb fairywren (Malurus cyaneus)

While observing a group of superb fairywrens at a wetland reserve, I watched as this female suddenly landed on a lower stem with a tiny ladybug. In the soft, fading light, she paused just long enough for me to capture this quiet, handheld moment.