VORTEX OCEAN

Swimming in the crystal-clear water of the Kirra beach shore breaks can yield incredible displays of breaking waves. To capture them, you need to place yourself in very shallow, clear water and have the right wave break in front of you, without letting its force push the camera back into your face.

Kirra Beach, Queensland

Canon 1DX, 14mm 2.8L, 1/800, f/6.3, ISO 1000, Aquatech water housing, handheld

LIGHT DAPPLED BILLABONG

This deep, billabong-like section of the river is able to sustain a large population of turtles. I loved the light filtering through the trees so I dived to the bottom and held my breath in wait for one of the many turtles to swim overhead – finally capturing this image.

Upper Orara River, Upper Orara, New South Wales

Canon 5D Mk III, Canon 8–15mm fi sheye, 1/160, f/16, ISO 400, two Ikelite 160 substrobes, Aquatica housing, handheld while freediving

TREE FERNS

SOFT TREE FERN, DICKSONIA ANTARCTICA

Despite Canberra’s dry climate, its botanic gardens host an impressive Tasmanian rainforest where a bridge crosses a gully filled with soft tree ferns. I jammed my little point-and-shoot camera against the railing and took a photo of surprising clarity. A conversion to monochrome highlighted the fractal magic of these plants.

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Canon SX 540, 24–1400mm (full frame equivalent) at 24mm, 1/40, f/8, ISO 400

BEETLE’S BIG DINNER

UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES

This beetle needs to store enough energy to live through the winter. The grass tree leaves may be one of its favourite foods and it is now eating a big dinner ready for overwintering.

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australian Capitral Territory

Nikon D90, Nikon 105mm f/2.8, 1/125, f/5.6, ISO 200, handheld

BREATHE

DUSKY DOLPHIN, LAGENORHYNCHUS OBSCURUS

Dusky dolphins frequent the waters around Kaikoura and the deep, nutrient-rich waters provide a food source for the many cetaceans that frequent the area. Fast moving and curious, these dolphins are interactive creatures that engage with each other in large social communities.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

Canon 1DX Mk II, 100–400mm, 1/1000, f/5.6, ISO 500

RISE ABOVE

CURRAWONG, STREPERA SP.

Currawongs will frequent tourist camps like this one to scavenge for holiday scraps. After a heavy snowfall blanketed the ground, I staked out the area and the birds quickly gathered. A piece of old bread tossed high into the air enticed the more confident birds to spring up in chase.

Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales

Nikon D810, Sigma 24 f/1.4, 1/1250, f/8, ISO 640, handheld

AWAITING THE BREEZE

DANDELION, TARAXACUM SP.

These silky dandelion seed heads give the impression of waiting in a queue for the next breath of air or a gentle breeze to help fl oat them away to a new destination.

Adelaide, South Australia

Canon 5D Mk II, Canon MP–E 65mm macro, 1/200, f/2.8, ISO 100, handheld

A CURIOUS ENCOUNTER

HUMPBACK WHALE, MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE

A humpback whale mother and neonate calf appear intrigued by this alien mammal with a camera. I like the curves and elegance of their extended pectoral fi ns – the ‘great wing’ recognised in their genus name, Megaptera. Eye contact with such charismatic megafauna is always beguiling.

Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga

Canon EOS 5DsR, Canon EF 8–15mm f/24L fisheye USM + 1.4 teleconverter (21mm), 1/180, f/8, ISO 400, Nauticam underwater housing, Zen 100mm mini-dome

JUNCTION FALLS – AFTER

In a matter of seconds, Junction Falls went from a trickle to a roaring wall of thundering stormwater on a wet afternoon. I was fortunate to be there to capture the amazing transformation. Shortly after this shot, the embedded log completely disappeared from view.

Junction Falls, Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Canon EOS 1DS Mk III, Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8, 0.6, f/8, ISO 100, tripod

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