KING PAIR CONVERSATION

KING PENGUIN
Aptenodytes patagonicus

An enormous king penguin colony is overwhelming to all of one’s senses. Photographically, it pays to sit and watch for a while to find moments of penguin interaction. Flipping the
frame upside down and black-and-white processing allows for a different and creative interpretation of a common scene.

Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island

Canon EOS 7D Mk II, EF 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 L IS II USM, 1/800, f/10, ISO 400, handheld

SONG BREATH

AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE
Cracticus tibicen

On cold mornings, I noticed that when the local magpies sang, you could see hot air coming from their beaks. They usually stand on my outside table so I set up a black-covered box behind them because I wanted to try and illuminate the ‘smoke’. It took lots
of attempts!

Ashfield, New South Wales

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm, 1/320, f/4.5, ISO 4000, handheld

BIG STEP, LITTLE STEP

COMMON WOMBAT
Vombatus ursinus

This mum and baby wombat emerged from their hole up the hill with purpose, and made their way down  he hill, straight for another wombat’s hole. Rocky, the mum, was large and strong and powered through the deep snow like a bulldozer. Pebbles, her five-month-old baby, was light enough to walk on top without sinking.

Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales

Nikon D850, Nikon 200–400mm f4, 1/3200, f/4.0, ISO 160

THE MOONLIT FOREST

GREATER GLIDER
Petauroides volans

Listed as vulnerable on a national basis, the once-common greater
glider (Petauroides volans) is now facing serious decline. The gliders’
nesting hollows (found in old trees) are being lost in land clearing and industrial-scale logging operations. Gliders need several large, hollow branches in different trees to survive.

Wadbilliga National Park, Tathra, New South Wales

Nikon D500, AF-S Nikkor 200–500mm f5.6 500mm, 1/125, f/5.6, ISO 4000, Manfrotto tripod

MANTA SERENADE

MANTA RAY
Mobula alfredi

A male manta ray (Mobula alfredi) follows a larger female during a courtship ritual photographed at
Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, Western Australia. The species is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Mating and birthing locations remain uncertain throughout its range and these behaviours are rarely observed in the wild.

Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, Western Australia

Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, Canon EF
16–35mm f4 L IS, 1/250, f/10, ISO 200, Nauticam underwater housing, handheld while freediving

ON ICE

WHITE-BELLIED STORM PETREL
Fregetta grallaria

White-bellied storm petrels are one of the smallest seabirds on the planet. Clocking in at 48g, they are a tricky subject to capture. Lord Howe Island is the only place they breed in Australia. With one foot in the smooth water, this storm petrel reminds me of a skater on ice.

Near Balls Pyramid, Lord Howe Island Group

Sony A9, Sony100–400 GM 4.5–5.6, 1/5000, f/7.1, ISO 640, handheld

LURKING IN THE DARK

COMMON STINGAREE, Trygonoptera testacea

As the sun sets over Jervis Bay and the darkness of night creeps in, these small common stingarees actively patrol the shallow sand flats in search of their next meal. Panning as I took the photo created a wave-like appearance as water moved across the surface of my dome.

Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay, New South Wales

Canon EOS 5DsR, Canon EF 8–15mm f4 L fisheye, 1/200, f/14, ISO 320, two INON Z-240 strobes, AquaTech Elite
5D4 water housing, handheld

TEXTURE

HONEYCOMB MORAY EEL
Gymnothorax favagineus

MAZE CORAL
Leptoria SP.

I came across this amazing juxtaposition of a honeycomb moray eel and a textured brain coral. It screamed monochrome to me, but one
of the significant disadvantages of shooting under water is that you
cannot just change your lens to suit the subject. Still, I slowly moved as close to the eel as possible, increased the depth of field, and adjusted my strobes to light up the coral and the eel.

Banda Sea

Nikon D850, Nikonos 13mm RS, 1/200, f/16, ISO 400, Seacam housing, Ikelite 161s strobe

HUMPBACK IN A HURRY!

HUMPBACK WHALE
Megaptera novaeangliae

With barely a sidelong glance at the camera, a male humpback swims in pursuit of a female whale. But other males are pursuing her too. If he is to convince her that he would be a worthy mate, he must demonstrate his speed and endurance. There is no time
to waste!

Vava’u Archipelago, Kingdom of Tonga

Canon 5DSR, EF 24–105mm f4 IS USM, 1/250, f/8, ISO 500, Nauticam underwater housing

PEAK PERSPECTIVE

UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES

Gently and lovingly, the wind is blowing. The bug is climbing steadily up to the top of the flower. It is hard but staying strong, little buddy. You will definitely get through it. Congratulations! Enjoying your success. Enjoying your moment.

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT

Nikon D750, Nikon 105mm macro f2.8, 1/320, f/4.8, ISO 100, handheld

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