Nature Photographer of the Year finalists revealed

18 June 2022

Finalists in the annual Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year have just been announced, with a shortlist of 98 images in the running to take out top honours. Started in 2004, the competition attracted the highest number of entries in its history with a total of 2,443 entries from 602 photographers across 10 countries.

© Matty Smith. Threatened Species, Finalist. Head On. To make this charismatic great white shot I needed a shark that showed non-aggressive behaviour to avoid risk to us both. I had initially used a fine mix of tuna oil and flake to lay a scent trail to attract the shark (licenced) but the shark was never actually fed.
© Matty Smith. Threatened Species, Finalist. Head On. "To make this charismatic great white shot I needed a shark that showed non-aggressive behaviour to avoid risk to us both. I had initially used a fine mix of tuna oil and flake to lay a scent trail to attract the shark (licenced) but the shark was never actually fed."

Entrants could submit images of fauna, flora or landscapes in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and New Guinea regions to the competition. Competition categories included Botanical, Junior, Landscape, Monochrome, Our Impact, Threatened Species, Astrophotography, Animals in Nature, Urban Animals, and the Portfolio Prize. 

© Justin Gilligan. Our Impact, Finalist. Highway Patrol. A red kangaroo lies dead on the side of an outback road. Despite being an iconic symbol, thousands share a similar fate annually. This kangaroo had been dragged from the impact site to reduce the chance of predators also becoming roadkill. During such accidents, a female’s pouch should be checked and wildlife care organisations contacted.
© Justin Gilligan. Our Impact, Finalist. Highway Patrol. A red kangaroo lies dead on the side of an outback road. Despite being an iconic symbol, thousands share a similar fate annually. This kangaroo had been dragged from the impact site to reduce the chance of predators also becoming roadkill. During such accidents, a female’s pouch should be checked and wildlife care organisations contacted.

Run in conjunction with the South Australian Museum, the director, Brian Oldman said that the last few years have offered photographers a unique period of reflection as the whole world grappled with the impacts of the pandemic. “The pandemic forced many of us to slow down and be inspired by nature, many of us reconnecting with it and being reminded of its beauty. As regular life returns, and the world opens up these images are the perfect inspiration to continue to deepen our relationship with the natural world and reflect on our impact.”

© Luke Tscharke. Astrophotography, Finalist. Star Fall. A roaring Pelverata Falls plunges off the moon-lit escarpment as the galactic core of the Milky Way rises above Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area, Tasmania.
© Luke Tscharke. Astrophotography, Finalist. Star Fall. A roaring Pelverata Falls plunges off the moon-lit escarpment as the galactic core of the Milky Way rises above Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area, Tasmania.

The overall winner, category winners, runners-up, and the portfolio prize will be announced on 25 August, and an exhibition will be held at the South Australian Museum from 27 August – 30 October 2022.

All the shortlisted finalists can be viewed at this link: https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/c/npoty/gallery

© Yan Zhang. Landscape, Finalist. Breaking Dawn. The eastern horizon has already started to glow, but the reflections of stars linger on the snow of the Tasman Glacier, still visible thanks to the lingering moonlight. This image was a product of my four-day expedition to the Tasman Glacier, where I climbed to the top of Hochstetter Dome (2834m).
© Yan Zhang. Landscape, Finalist. Breaking Dawn. The eastern horizon has already started to glow, but the reflections of stars linger on the snow of the Tasman Glacier, still visible thanks to the lingering moonlight. This image was a product of my four-day expedition to the Tasman Glacier, where I climbed to the top of Hochstetter Dome (2834m).

2022 judges

Nicky Catley

Nicky is Managing Photo Editor at Australian Geographic with over twenty years’ experience in Australia and the UK on major media mastheads and magazines. Starting with a Degree in History and Curatorship she moved from galleries to magazines and weekend supplements in the UK to the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review, where she worked as a photo editor in a team telling some of the biggest stories of our times, including the pandemic and catastrophic Black Summer bushfires.

Doug Gimesy

Doug is an award-winning professional conservation and wildlife photojournalist who focuses on Australian issues. A Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, his clients include National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Australian Geographic as well mastheads like The Guardian. Initially trained as a zoologist and microbiologist, he later completed a Masters of Environment and a Masters of Bioethics. His hope is that the images and information he shares, will inspire people to stop, think, and treat the world more kindly.

Prof Charlie Huveneers

Charlie is the Director of Flinders Marine & Coastal Research Consortium. Originally from Belgium, he attended the University of Southampton (England) and Macquarie University (Sydney) prior to moving to South Australia in 2009. His research focuses on shark and ray ecology with current interest in shark bite mitigation measures and sustainable wildlife tourism. Having experienced remote landscapes and interacted with many species, Charlie admires the ability of photographers to translate spectacular scenes and rare behaviours to viewers from any background.

© Jannico Kelk. Animals in Nature, Finalist. Night Light Dining. Each spring, the Great Dividing Range is treated to a magical event. After sunset, bioluminescent fireflies emerge from the darkest corners of the forest for a short time. However, they’re not entirely safe. Insectivorous dusky leaf-nosed bats leaving their roost capture fireflies mid-flight, displaying a stunning acrobatic aerial battle.
© Jannico Kelk. Animals in Nature, Finalist. Night Light Dining. Each spring, the Great Dividing Range is treated to a magical event. After sunset, bioluminescent fireflies emerge from the darkest corners of the forest for a short time. However, they’re not entirely safe. Insectivorous dusky leaf-nosed bats leaving their roost capture fireflies mid-flight, displaying a stunning acrobatic aerial battle.
© Wayne Osborn. Monochrome, Finalist. The Air Break. A mother humpback and new season male calf take a surface break for air in warm tropical waters. He is totally dependent on his mother’s nurturing skills and blubber reserves with her fat-rich milk during the winter fast until she returns to the feeding grounds in Antarctic waters.
© Wayne Osborn. Monochrome, Finalist. The Air Break. A mother humpback and new season male calf take a surface break for air in warm tropical waters. He is totally dependent on his mother’s nurturing skills and blubber reserves with her fat-rich milk during the winter fast until she returns to the feeding grounds in Antarctic waters.

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