Excited to be awarded the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the year 2024. This is the 2nd time I have been awarded overall winner of this iconic Australian competition, in 2021 and 2024. This is truly an honour and a privilege to be among such a high calibre of photographers. The launch of the exhibition showcases 90 pieces of work from an eclectic group of photographers across several genres.
Being awarded at the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year in London, the most prestigious photography competition in the world, is an honour and a privilege to say the least. I truly am ecstatic to be recognized for my work and humbled to be among such talented photographers, competing on the world stage. One of my proudest moments and career highlights. We enjoyed an unforgettable night as we dined in the great hall of the Natural History Museum under the impressive blue whale skeleton, stunning architecture, and great company, as the top 100 award winning images in the world chosen from over 40,000 submissions from 93 different countries, were revealed to a room full of excited photographers. This image has a very special meaning for me and to have it showcased to the world, truly is an honour and makes me so happy that the judges chose to award this photograph.
In the temperate waters of the southern parts of Australia, a truly unique wonder lies hidden, camouflaged by nature, an evolutionary chameleon of the ocean. Leafy seadragons inhabit shallow reefs and seagrass meadows from South Australia, across to Western Australia. As with much of our marine life, they are under threat from habitat loss, the impact of climate change warming our oceans and increased pollutants from human excess. Off Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia, a curious Australian sea lion came in close, rolling around in the kelp, shifting her gaze between me and the Leafy seadragon. This dual portrait captures a rarely seen interaction between these two elusive and endangered species showing the vulnerability of both.
Ocean Souls is a natural history documentary about the intricate lives of cetaceans and a collaboration of more than 100 film makers. I had the opportunity to be part of this project providing an extensive series of footage for the film. The film uses the best images from the world’s greatest marine photographers and filmmakers. It shows the largest diversity of cetaceans ever presented on screen. With perspective that include aerial, land and underwater footage, while showcasing on-camera celebrities, subject matter experts and scientists. The film to date has received more than a dozen accolades and continues to be one of the most prominent cetacean documentaries of its time.
You can see the film here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/oceansoulsenglish
I am so very honoured to be the 2021 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year. Being awarded in one of the most prestigious and respected nature photography competitions in Australia if not the world, is a privilege to say the least.
I am ecstatic to be recognized for my work and humbled to be among such a high calibre of photographers. This is one of my proudest moments.
Navigating a Covid-19 year has been difficult for many nature photographers, but it has taught us that we live in one of the most incredible natural wonders in the world. Australia’s coast, desserts, reefs, and rainforests hold a plethora of subject matter to discover, not to mention the diversity of wildlife above and below the surface.
I am passionate about the ocean and its inhabitants, and a lot of my work is centered around conservation and protection of various marine species. But I am a little obsessed with Seadragons, so I was very excited when I found out that my image of a Leafy Seadragon was selected as the overall winner. Not to mention that I was also the winner in the Endangered Species category with my image of the declining grey nurse shark.
