This Cathedral Cove is located on the Hahei coast of New Zealand’s North Island, about
two hours south-east from Auckland. I got there early, close to 4:30am, and spent the next two hours photographing – trying to capture the magic transition from starry night to dawn.
Hahei Beach, North Island, New Zealand. Nikon D800e, Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, 2-30, f/2.8-f/16, ISO 100 – ISO 1600, GT2531EX Gitzo DF6X Explorer 2 tripod,
BH-55 ball

EASTERN WATER DRAGAN, ITELLAGAMA LESUEURII LESUEURII. The sine curve of the swimming animal, its bow wave, its wake and small eddies capture the beautiful physics of the eastern water dragon’s motion in a fluid medium. Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales. Nikon D800, Nikkor 200-400mm 4/4 at 400mm, 1/250, f/4, ISO 800, handheld

STARRY CUP CORAL, ACANTHASTREA LORDHOWENSIS. Starry cup coral shows its colouration at high magnification under full-spectrum lights. Corals, similarly to numerous other tropical marine invertebrates, owe their remarkable colours to special fluorescent pigments. Fluorescent colours become apparent only under natural underwater illumination.
Brisbane, Queensland. Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon MP-E 65mm, 1/30, f/4, ISO 200, mounted

This place has rarely been seen because it isn’t generally accessible. I raced against time in order to take my shots in this location–I waited until the tide was low enough to get there, and had to get out of there before the tide rose high again. It was a full moon, and these rock stacks were lit by moonlight coming from behind me. West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. Nikon D800E, Nikkor AF-S 14–24mm f/28G ED, 6-10, f/2.8, ISO 2000–2500, GT2531EX Gitzo DF6X Explorer 2 tripod, BH-55 ball head

This aerial view of the low tide formed by salt lakes, tidal mudflats, mangrove swamps, hidden creeks and rivers exposes the heart of the Cambridge Gulf’s landscape on the north coast of Western Australia. This entire vista appeared more like an artist’s abstract painting than a landscape. Cambridge Gulf, Western Australia. Canon EOS 5D Mk II, EF24-70mm F/2.8L USM, 1/250, f5.6, ISO 200, handheld

Venus, Mercury and Saturn can be seen here, as well as the Milky Way and the Southern Cross. The crystal clear reflections are bouncing from the salty surface of Lake Eyre, with the water depth at about 7cm. Salt bubbles can be seen forming at the water’s edge. Lake Eyre, South Australia. Nikon D800, Nikon 14-24mm, f/2.8, 20, f/2.8, ISO 3200, tripod

Soaring seabirds show the massive scale of the landscape and swell at Tunnel Beach. The water motion from several exposures has been blended together to underscore the scene. Tunnel Beach, Otago, New Zealand. Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6L, 1/400, f9, ISO 200, Really Right Stuff TQC 14 tripod, BH-30 ball head

GREY-HEADED FLYING-FOX, PTEROPUS POLIOCEPHALUS. Australia’s largest bat, the grey-headed flying-fox, is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. I wanted to capture the bats’ fluttering frenzy as the colony left its roost after dusk to travel about 50km to feed. Balgowlah, New South Wales. Canon EOS 5D Mk II, EF8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM + EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM, 1/6-1,f/6.3-f/14, ISO 250- ISO 640, Canon 580 EX II Speedlite, Manfrotto tripod

BOX JELLYFISH, CARYBDEA RASTONI. This lone box jelly drifted past us as we began our dive. The visibility was poor, but I loved the elegant positioning of the jellyfish, so decided to play around with the image in Photoshop. After adjusting numerous components, and experimenting with different filter and blur effects, I was finally happy with this. The species of box jelly was later identified as Carybdea rastoni. Wool Bay, Yorke Peninsula,
South Australia. Canon EOS 500D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm, 1/100, f/7.1, ISO 100, handheld, Ikelite housing

SALTWATER CROCODILE, CROCODYLUS POROSUS. The saltwater crocodile represents both fear and beauty. Despite being one of Australia’s most dangerous predators, it’s impossible not to admire its ancient design and armour-like skin. East Alligator River, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Sony Nex-5, 70-210mm at 210mm, 1/250, f/4.5, ISO 200, handheld