CROSS DRESSER

GIANT CUTTLEFISH, SEPIA APAMA

Male cuttlefish posture and fight to mate with females. Three large males surround what they think is a female in the foreground, but they’ve been deceived. It’s a smaller male mimicking a female to avoid confrontation and sneak up on females unnoticed. His concertinaed and patterned nearside lower arm gives his sex away.
Whyalla, South Australia

Nikon D810, Nikkor 16–35mm f/4 VRII, 1/125, f/16, ISO 250, two INON Z240 strobes, Aquatica digital water

PLAY FIGHTING

WESTERN GREY KANGAROOS, MACROPUS FULIGINOSUS

The light was low in the wandoo bushland where I watched these young western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus). At this age, they often engagein play fighting where they throw their heads back, put their arms up and occasionally even kick. In between, they stop to have a scratch before starting again.

Julimar, Western Australia

Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM II, 1/800, f/5.6, ISO 3200, handheld

THE COURTING GAME

GREAT BOWERBIRD, CHLAMYDERA NUCHALIS

A magical moment in time, capturing the courting game between these two beautiful
birds, as the male great bowerbird used various trinkets to entice the female into the bower. It often seemed like the male looked to me to seek assurance on the selection process.

Mount Carbine, Queensland

Nikon D610, AF-S Nikkor 200–500, 1/200, f/5.6, ISO 640,
Promaster CPL, Manfrotto Promaster tripod

DEATH OF FUSILIER

DARK-BANDED FUSILIER, PTEROCAESIO TILE

Its red tailfin is the only visible sign of its struggle as a dark-banded fusilier (Pterocaesio tile) dies, engulfed in the tentacles of a predatory squid. Mirror-smooth, the under surface of the Banda Sea reflects every detail of this life and death, late-night drama.

Wakatobi, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Canon EOS 5DSR, EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM, 1/90, f/8, ISO 100, twin Inon Z240 strobes, Nauticam underwater housing, handheld

CAUDAL LURING

PILBARA DEATH ADDER, ACANTHOPHIS WELLSI

This Pilbara death adder has perfectly positioned its white tail tip next to its face to mimic a worm or insect and attract unsuspecting prey. This behaviour is known as caudal luring and when coupled with perfect camoufl age makes up the main hunting technique of this incredible species.

Pilbara, Western Australia

Canon EOS M5, Canon 24–105 f/4L IS USM, 1/100, f/11, ISO 800, handheld using EF-M to EF adaptor

REVERED

BRUMBY, EQUUS CABALLUS

My fingers were numb, my viewfinder frozen. I took a moment to warm them as the blizzard continued and missed capturing the sudden commotion, stallion vs stallion. But he galloped towards me, victorious and wounded, and in that moment I saw the silver brumby of my childhood dreams.

Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Olympus OMD EM5, M. Zuiko Olympus pro lens 40–150, 1/4000, f/4, ISO 640, handheld

POSING BLACK-FRONTED DOTTERELS

BLACK-FRONTED DOTTEREL, ELSEYORNIS MELANOPS

These two black-fronted dotterels seemed to want to pose for me, but I think they might have had something else in mind.

Charleville, Queensland

Nikon D800, Nikon 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 converter, 1/400, f/5.6, ISO 500, tripod

BABY CROCODILE REFLECTION

FRESHWATER CROCODILE, CROCODYLUS JOHNSTONI

Little freshwater crocodiles are commonly found floating in swimming holes in the Northern Territory at night. Approaching them can be difficult beacuse they are very shy, but this one stayed still long enough for me to take a quick photograph. I like the reflection on the surface because it momentarily confuses the viewer.

Small public swimming hole, Northern Territory

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, EF 16–35 f/2.8L II at 35 mm, 1/100, f/16, ISO 200, single Ikelite DS161, Ikelite 5D Mk III housing with Zen underwater 9-inch dome port, handheld

YELLOW-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO PREENING

YELLOW-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO, CALYPTORHYNCHUS FUNEREUS

This female yellow-tailed black cockatoo roosts preening her feathers to perfection, displaying the technique of running her beak along worn tail feathers. Using the lower tree canopy for cover, I shot up through the foliage to the family of cockatoos roosting on a weathered tree.

Blacksmiths Beach, New South Wales

Nikon D810, 200–500mm, 1/400, f/7.1, ISO 320, handheld

THE POLLINATOR

NEW HOLLAND HONEYEATER, PHYLIDONYRIS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE

Honeyeaters are especially vulnerable when sipping nectar from large, tubular flowers. This New Holland honeyeater was heavily dusted with pollen from the flowers it had visited. I was amazed to capture the unique sunburst of pollen surrounding its head when it swiftly withdrew from the flax lily.

Phillip Island, Victoria

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 200–400mm f/4L IS USM EXT, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 800, handheld

BREATHE

GREEN SEA TURTLE, CHELONIA MYDAS

Photographing the sunset from the lagoon on Lady Elliot Island’s eastern side was a beautiful experience. Getting the right sky and tides is half the battle – then you need to fi nd a friendly green sea turtle. When everything comes together it creates a moment you will never forget.

Lady Elliot Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Canon 5D4, 14mm 2.8L, 1/200, f/11, ISO 800, flash 550EX, Aquatech surf housing and flash housing

THE TUI BIRD

TUI BIRD, PROSTHEMADERA NOVAESEELANDIAE

At the start of a sunset walk around Lake Matheson, several tui birds were feeding among the flax plants in the late afternoon light. Luckily, they were more interested in their dinner than me, so I could change to my long lens and capture this image.

Lake Matheson, New Zealand

Canon 5D Mk III, Canon EF 70–300mm f/4–5.6L IS USM, 1/250, f/8.0, ISO 1600, handheld

The AG Nature Photographer of the Year Awards are sponsored by Coral Expeditions.