IN THE DARK

This night was the most amazing display of lightning that I have ever seen, with constant flashes of lightning lasting hours. For the composition, I decided to focus on a man standing at the edge of the water
with an umbrella to add a sense of scale to the image.

Fingal Bay, New South Wales

Canon EOS 5D Mk lll, Canon 17–40mm f4 L, 15, f/4, ISO 200, tripod

UNDER THE SPIKES

SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNA
Tachyglossus aculeatus

On the way back from the Murray River we saw this echidna crossing the road. It hid its face and I knew it wasn’t coming out, so I decided to take a close-up. That was the best shot I took.

Near Blanchetown, South Australia

Nikon Coolpix B700, 4.3–258mm, 1/100, f/3.3, ISO 100, handheld

MORNING CATCH

EASTERN REEF EGRET
Egretta sacra

One morning at sunrise I noticed this eastern reef egret standing in the shallow rock pools. As I was admiring the beautiful warm light, the egret suddenly flicked a fish out of the
water and caught it in its beak. It then stood proudly displaying its catch before swallowing the fish whole.

Lady Elliot Island, Queensland

Sony ILCE-6000, Sony FE 70–200mm F4 G OSS, 1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 200, handheld

BREAKING FREE

FLAMBOYANT CUTTLEFISH, Metasepia pfefferi

It was incredible to witness this tiny, flamboyant cuttlefish break free from its egg and rise up to begin its new life.
The eggs, inside an old coconut shell, contained cuttlefish in various stages of development and I noticed this one moving around. I patiently waited until it emerged.

Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 macro USM, 1/250, f/5.6, ISO 100, twin Inon Z240 strobes,
handheld

TIME FOR LUNCH!

ROBBER FLY
UNKNOWN SPECIES

I had been quietly observing this common robber fly hoping that it would sit still for a photograph. I watched, captivated, as it caught lunch then perched right in front of me and posed as it devoured its meal.

Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Sony A57, Sigma 18–250mm f3.5–6.3, 1/400, f/6.3, ISO 2000, handheld

THE HUNT

VARIABLE LYNX SPIDER
Oxyopes variabilis

I found this variable lynx spider eating its lunch on one of the lavenders
in our garden. I used two macro extension tubes – they enable you to
photograph things in extraordinary detail – which allowed me to capture
this unusual sighting in an impactful way.

Redlands, Queensland

Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon EF-S 18–200mm f3.5–5.6 IS, 1/640, f/10, ISO 400, Canon Speedlite 430EX II, handheld, Kenko automatic extension tubes (20mm and 36mm)

GREEN CATBIRD EATING GRAPE

GREEN CATBIRD
Ailuroedus crassirostris

I found a branch with a lovely bracket fungus to use as a perch at the permanent birdbath we have set up at home. Only a few species of bird came to drink during a wet spell, so I lured catbirds down with half-a-dozen grapes each morning.

Pomona, Queensland

Canon 6DII, Sigma 150–500mm, 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 3200, Wimberly tripod mount bolted to permanent hide

HIDDEN DRAGON

BEARDED DRAGON
Pogona barbata

I chanced upon this bearded dragon camouflaging on a log while bushwalking. I was amazed at how its colouration so closely matched the colour of the log. By using an off camera flash, low angle and a close perspective I tried to capture an image that showcased it in its habitat.

Ironbark Station Conservation Property, Blackbutt, Queensland

Canon EOS 1DX Mk II, Canon EF 8–15mm f4L fisheye USM, 1/250,
f/10, ISO 160, Canon Speedlight 600EX II RT flash and transmitter,
handheld

BREACH

HUMPBACK WHALE
Megaptera novaeangliae

A breaching humpback whale photographed while out boating
near Montague Island. Every year these giants travel past our home on their long journey north, where they calve. It’s always such a special experience to see them, especially
when they’re playing and breaching.

Montague Island, New South Wales

Canon EOS 7D, EF70–300mm f4–5.6 IS II USM, 1/1250, f/5.0, ISO 160, handheld

TASTING THE AIR

KEELBACK SNAKE
Tropidonophis mairii

We set out one morning searching for snakes. I was excited to see this gorgeous keelback snake – it had the most intricate and beautifully coloured scales. They’re a non venomous species, noted for their ability to eat cane toads. The experience was extra special
because it was my first time seeing this species.

Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

Canon EOS 7D, EF-S60mm f2.8 macro USM, 1/80, f/16, ISO 100, handheld

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