The Western Australian Museum tour of The Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will kick off in Albany on December 6.

The Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year showcases the unique natural beauty of the Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea region via the winning works of the world’s best amateur and professional photographers.

Western Australian Museum  Regional Manager Rachael Wilsher-Saa said the Museum is delighted to once again share the competition’s incredible images with the region’s strong arts and natural sciences community.

“ANZANG has always been an absolute favourite for our visitors, many of whom tell us they are photographers themselves and have been inspired by the exhibition to explore the wonderful landscape of the Great Southern,” Ms Wilsher-Saa said.

West Australian wildlife photographer David Rennie beat the 1828 photographs of 457 photographers from 12 different countries to take out the top prize for his incredible snap of an osprey and spoonbill above Mandurah’s wetlands.

The judges praised the photo for its almost surreal quality and strong contrast between the birds and the moody sky.

Mr Rennie, a past ANZANG People’s Choice Award winner, said winning the overall prize is his greatest career honour to date, and as such has now retired from the pastime.

“Since its inception, I have considered ANZANG the pinnacle of what I do. To win it is like winning an Olympic Gold medal, or being named the Nobel Peace Prize winner - for me it means that much,” Mr Rennie said. 

The exhibition will be on display at the Western Australian Museum – Albany from December 6 to February 2 before travelling to the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton later in the month and the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder in May.

The Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year is owned by the South Australian Museum.

Near Miss By David Rennie, WA – Winner Overall Prize

“A young osprey (Pandion cristatus) was learning to fish, and this was her sixth try one morning. She came out of the water and looked back at her talons to see why she was missing her prey. The spoonbill (Platalea sp.) was coming in to land. The Osprey looked up and, well, a ‘near miss’ was captured.” Taken at Mandurah Wetlands, Western Australia

‘Face in the Ice’ by Andrew Peacock, QLD – Portfolio Prize Winner

“The incredible shape and multi-hued blues of this iceberg attracted my interest as I paddled around this beautiful area. Then I saw ‘the face’ – can you? Luckily the lens I had mounted was a super-wide angle, allowing me to manoeuvre close to the iceberg and compose a dramatic image.” Taken at Paradise Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula

Coy Cockatoos by Keith Lightbody, WA – Animal Portrait Runner-Up

“Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) are regular visitors at the Eyre Bird Observatory within the Nuytsland Nature Reserve near Cocklebiddy, Western Australia. Apart from being one of our most beautiful birds, they are also fun to watch – whether preening, clowning around in flight or hanging upside down on a perch.” Taken at Eyre Bird Observatory, Nuytsland Nature Reserve, Western Australia

 

 

Whip Goby by Shannon Conway, WA – Underwater Subject Runner-Up

“I came across this extraordinarily large Whip Coral with a small host goby while diving in the notoriously stiff currents at Black Rock in Komodo. I used the coral for good negative space and a wide aperture for macro to create bokeh (aesthetic blur).” Taken at Black Rock, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

King Penguins and Reindeers By Peter Lambert, WA – Animal Behaviour winner

“On a typical grey and overcast day in South Georgia, I was photographing the countless King Penguins when a small herd of introduced reindeer decided to run through them. This is probably a historic photograph now, as many of the reindeer have been culled.” Taken at St Andrews Bay, South Georgia

Media contact:
Niki Comparti
Western Australian Museum
6552 7805
Niki.comparti@museum.wa.gov.au