Now in its landmark 20th year of competition, the annual search for the best wildlife and landscape photographs taken across Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea regions invites photographers of all ages, nationalities and experience levels to submit their best shots. In 2023 the competition, which is owned and produced by the South Australian Museum, drew 2,182 high-calibre entries from 550 photographers across 10 countries.

Acting Director of the South Australian Museum Justine van Mourik said this year’s judges, Mike Langford, Adjunct Professor Wayne Quilliam and Jackie Ranken, faced an epic task in turning this sprawling field into a shortlist of just 95 images.

“From cute creatures and captivating celestial skies, to unflinching scenes that capture the reality of humanity’s impact on nature, the 2023 shortlist showcases a wide variety of images that illustrate the beauty, fragility and power of our natural world,” said Ms van Mourik.

“Building on the competition’s sustained growth and popularity over two decades, this year we introduced the well-received Macro category, with photographers submitting incredible larger-than-life-sized images of nature’s smallest scenes.”

The first crop of Macro finalists have risen to the challenge, from Queensland photographer John Magee’s shot of a wisp-like Hairy ghost pipefish (Solenostomus sp.) while diving along the Great Barrier Reef (“At about 12m I came across a patch of red algae and an eye looking at me,” Magee says), to New South Wales-based Merrick Bailey’s third-wheel view of a ‘Hover flies’ love dance’.

First-time finalist Coco Moens, a 12-year-old photographer from New South Wales, also embraced the possibilities of macro photography with her entry in the Junior category. “I love macro photography because it allows me to get up close and capture details that are hard to see with the naked eye,” Moens said of her up-close photograph of an Enamelled spider (Plebs bradleyi).

Moens’ two shortlisted photographs marks her first appearance in the Australian Geographic Photographer of the Year Awards, joining her 17-year-old sister McKinley, a repeat finalist who this year makes her sixth appearance in the annual shortlist. The home-schooled pair explore the florae and fauna of urban and regional New South Wales, showing admirable skill, patience and attention to detail.

The field of finalists also captures the scale and artistry of the natural world, such as Landscape category finalist Tania Malkin’s perspective-skewing aerial shot of an alluvial fan on the flood plains of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf rivers.

“Over the last 20 years it has been wonderful to see this competition go from strength to strength. Now more than ever it plays an important role in reconnecting people with nature and raising public consciousness on the urgent need to preserve our delicate ecosystems and the precious species they serve,” Ms van Mourik added. 

The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition comprises ten categories: Animals in Nature, Astrophotography, Urban Animals, Macro, Landscape, Threatened Species, Monochrome, Our Impact, Junior and Portfolio. 

On Thursday 24 August 2023 the South Australian Museum will announce the overall winner, category winners, runners-up and the Portfolio Prize for 2023.

Australian Geographic, Editor-in-Chief, Chrissie Goldrick said,

“It’s great to see the way this competition evolves year on year, adding new categories that invite photographers to look at fresh ways of documenting the natural world and engaging the viewer. Nature has never been at greater risk than now and the talented photographers who participate in the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year have a golden opportunity to help focus attention on the precious things we stand to lose. Congratulations to all who have been shortlisted and I would also like to commend all who entered for your passion and dedication to your craft.”

The resulting exhibition will open to the public at the South Australian Museum from Saturday 26 August 2023 until Sunday 29 October 2023.

For further information and to view the shortlist, visit: www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/c/npoty/gallery

Image: David Robinson, 'Somewhere Under the Rainbow', Animals in Nature finalist