The finalists’ and winners’ entries for the 2016 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition will go on display at the Museum of the Goldfields this weekend.

A remarkable image of an orange-eyed tree frog (Litoria chloris) won the competition. Piercing Headache by Matthew McIntosh of Queensland captures the male frog being bitten by bloodthirsty mosquitoes.

Museum of the Goldfields Regional Manager Zoe Scott said she hopes the exhibition’s visitors will be inspired by the beauty and intricacy of our natural world.

“Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year is a stunning exhibition which allows you to see places and the kind of features you may never see in person,” Ms Scott said.

“It’s an exhibition which is breathtaking in the detail and variety of nature that is shown in the images.”

One of the finalists of the Our Impact category is Peter Blakeman from New South Wales for his photograph Filling the Hole. It shows an open cut pit at the Gwalia Mine, south of Leonora.

The Portfolio Prize was awarded to Western Australian photographer Georgina Steytler for entering the best portfolio of six or more entries.

The 2016 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will be on display at the Museum of the Goldfields from 1 July until 27 August 2017.

The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition is a partnership between the South Australian Museum and Australian Geographic. Open to photographers of all ages, skill levels and nationalities, the competition asks people to submit images of fauna, flora or landscapes in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea region.

South Australian Museum Director Brian Oldman said judges worked through a record 2,171 photographs for the 2016 competition.

“The spectacular images entered to the competition reveal the region’s diverse and stunning beauty, and the exhibition of finalist entries highlight the roles that museums play in helping all people connect with the natural world,” Mr Oldman said.

The exhibition is free. Entry to the Museum of the Goldfields is by donation.

http://museum.wa.gov.au/museums/museum-of-the-goldfields/australian-geographic-nature-photographer-year-2016

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