After three days of snow storms I knew the warm sunshine would bring the wombats out into the open. They’re very stubborn and once on a path they will stick to it. I positioned myself in the wombat’s path– it headed towards me without a care in the world.
Guthega Main Range, Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales
Nikon D810, Nikon 50 mm f1.4, 1/8000, f/2.8, ISO 400
Photo Credit: Charles Davis, Yalcowinna, Cooma, NSW
In a sheltered swale behind the beach at Diamond Head, grass tree flowers rose like the spears of an ancient army. Their creamy yellow flowers attracted masses of parrots, including this scaly-breasted lorikeet. The shrill sound of parrots chattering and squabbling could be heard for miles.
Crowdy Bay, New South Wales
Nikon D7100, Sigma 150-500 mm at 250 mm, 1/640, f/9.0, ISO 320, handheld
Photo Credit: Chris Firth, New South Wales
Small penguins, big city
Little penguin, Eudyptula minor
A few kilometres from the centre of Melbourne lives a colony of little (fairy) penguins – the world’s smallest penguin species. Every night after sunset, adults come home to nest, occasionally standing on top of the rocks, calling for their mate, preening, or simply just watching the world go by.
St.Kilda breakwater, St.Kilda, Victoria
Nikon D750, Nikon 70-200 mm f/2.8, 1/20, f/2.8, ISO 4500, Gitzo mountaineer tripod with a Really Right Stuff ball head, cable release
Photo Credit: Doug Gimesy, Victoria
Happy Wanderer
Short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus
As I waited for sunset at Hanson’s Peak in the Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, an echidna appeared. He was happy wandering the mountains in search for dinner. I was happy to photograph him doing it. I’ve never seen an echidna this high in the mountains before or since.
Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania
Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8g, 1/100, f/16, ISO 400, handheld
Photo Credit: Jason Stephens, Tasmania
Arborek Jetty
Unidentified species
I spent about six hours under the jetty at Arborek in awe and wonder of the schooling fish, but this scene was only visible for a minute or so. As a boat pushed off from the jetty a beam of light highlighted the small patch of reef.
Arborek, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Nikon D3S, Nikon 16 mm fisheye, 1/250, f/9, ISO 320, Ikelite 161 strobe, Seacam housing
Photo Credit: Tracey Jennings, Singapore
Follow Me
Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas
On a recent trip to the Great Barrier Reef a friendly face greeted me as I snorkelled over coral. I lost track of time as we floated together, both of us consumed with curiosity. The local green sea turtle started down this sandy road as if to say, “Follow Me.”
Outer Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland
Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon 16-35 mm f/2.8L II, 16 mm focal length, 1/800, f/8.0, ISO 800, handheld, Aquatech Elite 5D underwater housing with eight inch dome port
Photo Credit: Andrew Caitens, Queensland
Penguin Palace
Adelie penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
From the ship on which I was working as an expedition doctor I photographed this small group of adelie penguins huddled on an enormous iceberg of multi-hued blues as we sailed past. Perched there they are protected from predators yet can easily enter the ocean to feed.
Ross Sea, Antarctica
Canon 5D Mk IV, Canon EF100-400 mm 4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400 mm, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 640, handheld
Photo Credit: Andrew Peacock, Queensland
Gliders by Night
Sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps
I set up a studio to photograph possums next to a tree I knew was being used because of the scratches up and down the trunk. I didn’t expect to see gliders, but by the end of the project, I had three coming to the tree each night to feed.
Yalcowinna, Cooma, New South Wales
Nikon D810, Sigma 15-30 f2.8, 10, f/5, ISO 2000, three Nikon SB700 flash, home-made camera trap with PRI sensor
Photo Credit: Charles Davis, New South Wales
Tree Hugger
Northern leaf-tailed gecko, Saltuarius cornutus
A northern leaf-tailed gecko relying on its lichen-like camouflage as it scans the rainforest canopy for unsuspecting prey.
Mossman Gorge, Queensland
Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16 mm, 1/250, f/16, ISO 100, twin flash 430 EXII, handheld
Photo Credit: Max Jackson, Queensland
Ice whale
Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) propels its 40 tonne body from the icy waters. A backdrop of glaciers and ice line the bay as a colony of gentoo penguins lay witness to these breaching giant. Antarctica provides the rich nutrients and source of food that Humpback whales gorge on in summer.
Antarctica
Canon 1DX Mk II, 100-400 mm, 1/500, f/29, ISO 500
Photo Credit: Scott Portelli, New South Wales
Below Bussleton Jetty
Old Wife, Enoplosus armatus
The refurbishment of the Busselton Jetty was completed in 2011 and saw around 50% of the 1.8 kilometre jetty replaced. A few years on, the jetty is buzzing with life with pylons covered in colourful corals, sponges and ascidians which attract countless species of marine animals.
Busselton Jetty, Western Australia
Nikon D7100, Tokina 10-17 fisheye, 1/320, f/10, ISO 200
Photo Credit: Tammy Gibbs, Western Australia
Spiders dew home
Unidentified species
Early one morning, I stood at the edge of Polblue Swamp watching the thick fog recede. Everything was covered in dew. As the sun came up over the mountains, it lit up the wet spider webs and transformed the swamp into a clutter of spider homes.
Polblue Swamp, Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales
Canon EOS-1D Mk IV, Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZE, 1/800, f/14, ISO 400, handheld
Photo Credit: Tobias Hayashi, Australian Capital Territory
HomeTopicsWildlifeAG Nature Photographer of the Year 2017: Animal habitat shortlist
AG Nature Photographer of the Year 2017: Animal habitat shortlist
In this category, we asked for photos showing animals in the environment in which they live – this environment could be natural or built, and the animal, either native or feral. The only rule was that the animal must not be captive and has claimed the habitat independently. This shortlist shows the beautiful variety of landscapes and animals we enjoy in Australia.
These photos will be exhibited at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide (11 August to 24 September) and the Australian Museum in Sydney (11 August to 10 December)