The 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year collection is now on display at the WA Shipwrecks Museum in Cliff St, Fremantle, until Sunday 26 August.

It includes a visually striking image of a crowd of spider crabs (Leptomithrax gaimardii) and a predatory Maori octopus (Octopus maorum), which is the overall winner of the annual competition run by the South Australian Museum.

Aptly titled ‘Predatory pursuit’, Justin Gilligan from New South Wales captured the exact moment the octopus was selecting its prey at Mercury Passage between Maria Island and mainland Tasmania.

Mr Gilligan won $10,000 plus a trip to Antarctica.

He was also awarded first place in the Botanical and Our Impact categories for more outstanding images.

“These are remarkable and inspiring images of the wonders of our natural world,” said Alec Coles, CEO of the Western Australian Museum.

“The talented photographers who took the shots have captured the unique beauty of the flora, fauna and landscapes of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea bioregions.”

Director of the South Australian Museum Brian Oldman said Mr Gilligan’s overall winning photograph had been judged the winning entry among 2,174 photographs.

“The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition continues to grow, with 2017 seeing a record number of entries,” Mr Oldman said.

“We’re proud to produce such an exciting exhibition with each image highlighting the role museums play in educating people about nature.”

Western Australian photographer Jennie Stock, of City Beach, won the Animal Portrait category with her image of a windblown egret photographed at Herdsman Lake.

“He’s in breeding plumage, which makes him look really impressive,” says Jennie.

“I was following him for a while on a windy day and when he turned it was a lucky moment for me. He didn’t really like it, I think, having his feathers ruffled!”

The 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will be on display at the Shipwrecks Museum in Cliff St, Fremantle until 26 August.

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 regions.

http://museum.wa.gov.au/museums/shipwrecks/australian-geographic-nature-photographer-year-2017

Ends

 

The winners of the 10 categories are:

Animal Portrait

Jennie Stock (WA) for ‘Windblown egret’

Animal Behaviour

Scott Portelli (NSW) for ‘Devouring a home’

Animal Habitat

Jason Stephens (TAS) for ‘Happy wanderer’

Botanical

Justin Gilligan (NSW) for ‘Final stand’

Landscape

Julie Fletcher (SA) for ‘Spirit in country’

Monochrome

Brian Jones (ACT) for ‘Iceberg at Paradise Harbour’

Junior (photographers under 18 years of age)

Georgia Poyner (NSW), aged 16, for ‘The Dancer’

Our Impact (depicting human impact on nature)

Justin Gillgan (NSW) for ‘Gillnet’

Threatened Species (threatened, rare, vulnerable or endangered species)

Elizabeth Howell (NSW) for ‘Coming in for a drink’

Portfolio Prize (best portfolio of size or more images)

Julie Fletcher (SA)

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Images

High resolution images are available on request. Please note images with the photographers’ details watermarked in the corner must be used for all digital purposes. Copies of those images are available on request also.

 

Media contact

Hillary Henry

Media and Publicity Officer

Western Australian Museum

(08) 6552 7897 / 0466 304 807
hillary.henry@museum.wa.gov.au