2011 Portfolio Prize Winner

Alan Kwok, New South Wales

Winner, Junior, ANZANG 2011

Silky brown petals layering over long, feathery petticoats of soft white points. Nefertiti herself was not more finely adorned than this tiny flower.
Bradbury, South Australia
Canon Powershot TX1, 6.5mm (39mm equivalent to 35mm film), 1/200, f5, ISO 80

Runner up, Junior, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Our Impact, ANZANG 2011

Smoke clouds rise above a logging coupe that has been lit by napalm-like incendiaries dropped from a helicopter. Such ‘regeneration burns’ emit massive amounts of carbon pollution, on average 700 tonnes/hectare. Such logging and burning devastates the natural forest and its wildlife.
Weld Valley, southern Tasmania

Canon 5D, Canon 16–35mm f2.8L lens, 1/60, f11, ASA 100, tripod

Runner up, Our Impact, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Interpretive, ANZANG 2011

A 3-minute time exposure added a beautiful softness to what is one of the wildest beaches in Tasmania. The rainbow was a bonus.
South Cape Bay, Tasmania

Canon 1DS MkIII, 24mm lens, 3 minutes, f11

Runner up, Interpretive, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Black & White, ANZANG 2011

This was shot from a high viewpoint called Bennet’s Bluff, looking along Lake Wakatipu. There was a very strong north-westerly wind blowing, creating a lot of dust at the head of the lake. Combined with the contrasting light, I thought this would make an interesting black and white image.
Lake Wakatipu towards Pigeon Island, Otago, New Zealand

Nikon D700, Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8 VR lens, 1/4000, f4.5

Runner up, Black & White, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Threatened Species, ANZANG 2011

After photographing the sunset, a couple of Yellow-eyed Penguins returned from the sea. I exchanged my wide-angle lens for a telephoto to capture some of their behaviour. The seabed they were standing on is petrified wood, remnants of an ancient forest. Who would have thought one could ever see a penguin on a tree?
Curio Bay, Catlins, New Zealand

Canon 5D MkII, Canon 300mm f/4L IS lens, 0.4 seconds, f5.6, ISO 800, Gitzo tripod

Runner up, Threatened Species, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Wilderness, ANZANG 2011

First light filters through an early winter’s mist, highlighting the shapes of the eucalypts. Behind lies the southern slopes of Mt Rufus, clothed in tall forest.
Navarre Plains, south of Lake St Clair, Tasmania
Ebony 5x4 View camera, Schneider 65mm lens, 2 seconds, f22, Fuji Velvia

Runner up, Wilderness, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Underwater, ANZANG 2011

Tube worms are common but often dismissed as photographic subjects given that they are shy and will retract if disturbed. With their delicate feather-like appearance, they can be quite spectacular up close. In this instance a dark blue sponge provides the backdrop, creating contrast and highlighting the worm’s bright colours.
Port Hughes jetty, South Australia

Canon Ixus 980, 2 stacked Inon macro lenses, 1/60, f16, ISO 100

Runner up, Underwater, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Botanical, ANZANG 2011

While photographing wildflowers in Kings Park, we noticed this Climbing Sundew (Drosera macrantha) eating a fly. The fly looked almost paralysed in its entrapped state, slowly being devoured by the carnivorous plant.
Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm lens, 1/200, f5, ISO 200

Runner up, Botanical, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Animal Portrait, ANZANG 2011

This is an opportunistic photograph – I was on the beach taking landscape scenes when I noticed this crab, a species I had not seen before, nor have I since. With a small camera I was able to show a crab’s view of the world.
Home Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Nikon Coolpix P4, 1/12, f6.8, ISO 50

Runner up, Animal Portrait, ANZANG 2011

Winner, Animal Behaviour, ANZANG 2011

While searching for a different species, I noticed a car coming towards thsi group of roosting Avocets. Knowing that the birds would flush, I positioned myself in the hope they would fly towards me. Seconds later I had this image, capturing the apparent chaos inside a wheeling flock of shorebirds.

Wester Treatment Plant, Victoria

Canon 20D, 500mm f/4L IS lens, 1/4x TC, 1/2000, f5.6, ISO 200

Runner up, Animal Behaviour, ANZANG 2011

Overall Winner, ANZANG 2011

Grey-headed Flying Foxes drink in a unique way. They swoop low, skimming the water with their belly. They then lick the wet fur as they fly and continue licking when perched nearby. This behaviour usually occurs at dusk and night, but when the temperature reaches 35 degrees and above they will drink during the day. In order to get this image I stood in chest-deep water with the camera and lens mounted on a tripod.

Parramatta Park, New South Wales

Canon 1D MkIV, Canon 600mm f/4L lens, 1/3200, f5.6, ISO 1000

2010 People's Choice, ANZANG 2010

Mallee Emu-wrens spend virtually all their lives among clumps of Porcupine Grass. I captured this image after following a pair, occasionally being in a position to take a clear shot. This adult male was momentarily resting while the day's last few rays of sunlight filtered trhough the low mallee canopy.

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, north-western Victoria

2010 Portfolio Prize Winner

Chris Tzaros, Victoria

Overall Winner, ANZANG 2010

Elephant Seals are not a direct threat to Gentoo Penguins - unlike Sea Lions or Leopard Seals, they don't prey on them. Nonetheless, penguins can get understandably surly when a seal weighing several hundred kilograms decides to move through a creche with vulnerable chicks around.

Macquarie Island, Australia.

Winner, Junior, ANZANG 2010

On my way to Warriparinga Wetlands, I met and old man and we had a chat. He said to me, "it's three in the afternoon! You won't find any birds now. You see, it's a very hot day." I said, "you never know." Twenty minutes later I got my shot.

Warriparinga Wetlands, Sturt, South Australia.

Runner up, Junior, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Our Impact, ANZANG 2010

Unfortunately, I was unable to catch the Seagull, to save it from its uncertain fate.

Perth, Western Australia.

Runner up, Our Impact, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Interpretive, ANZANG 2010

Having spent most of the morning photographing this school of fish, I decided to take a new approach. Dialling down the shutter speed, I set the strobes to front curtain synch and spun the camera in my hands - resulting in a whirlpool of fish.

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Runner up, Interpretive, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Black & White, ANZANG 2010

This Barn Owl is a resident of the Alice Springs Desert Park and was used in the free flight display. The photograph was taken at the bird's perch away from the display area during non-display time.

Alice Springs Desert Park, Northern Territory.

Runner up, Black & White, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Threatened, ANZANG 2010

Central Victoria is a former stronghold for this species but only a handful of birds have been reported in recent years. Excitingly, two birds turned up in my home patch of Strathfieldsaye. I captured this image after spending the best part of a couple of days with the birds.

Strathfieldsaye, central Victoria.

Runner up, Threatened, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Wilderness, ANZANG 2010

Early morning fog has the ability to transform even an ordinary scene into something beautiful and magical. This is how I felt when I pressed the shutter. When I opened this image on my computer screen, it captured what I saw and felt that morning.

Western Australia.

Runner up, Wilderness, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Underwater, ANZANG 2010

It was our second dive in the Witu Islands group. On the first dive I had spotted a beautifully bright pink anemone surrounded by adorable orange Clown Fishes. I had never seen such a colourful display, so I convinced my buddy to return and we spent mopst of our second dive trying to get the right shot.

Witu Islands, Papua New Guinea.

Runner up, Underwater, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Botanical, ANZANG 2010

This image was taken from a helicopter above the Styx Valley at 5:30am as the morning mist floated among giant Eucalyptus regnans. These are the tallest flowering plants in the southern hemisphere and can grow to a height of over 100 metres. The forest shown here is zoned for logging in 2010.

Styx Valley, Tasmania.

Runner up, Botanical, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Animal Portrait, ANZANG 2010

This stunning bird was among a small party of Spledid Fairy-wrens that were engaged in some frantic pre-breeding activity. Two males were vying for dominant status, trying as best they could to impress the female through delightful song and dance performances

Near Margaret River, south western Australia.

Runner up, Animal Portrait, ANZANG 2010

Winner, Animal Behaviour, ANZANG 2010

While photographing a pair of Southern Scrub-robins in an opening within the malee, one of the birds became extremely curious and was attracted by my attempts to whistle its sweet musical call.

Gluepot Reserve, Murray Mallee, South Australia.

Runner up, Animal Behaviour, ANZANG 2010

Images of the ANZANG Nature Photography exhibition at the South Australian Museum.

2009 People's Choice, ANZANG 2009

My best mate passed away at 3am the morning I took this. I left his house about 6am and thought I would capture his last sunrise. I only took five shots as my eyes were full of tears. I believe the Pelican gave him his final salute. RIP mate.

Mandurah wetlands, Western Australia.

Congratulations to winners of the South Australian Museum's People's Choice lucky prize draw.  The following people have won copies of Australasian Nature Photography: B Woolford of Kimba SA, J Wells of Hazelwood Park SA, S Potter of Collinswood SA, A Walling of Two Wells SA, L Charrington of Casuarina NT.

Overall Winner, ANZANG 2009

The storms created by a ‘heat trough’ led to bushfires sparked by lightning. The strong outflow
winds from these storms drove the fires into inaccessible land, making firefighting on the ground
difficult. Dangerous spot fires were hammered by the vigilance of the aerial firefighting aircraft.
30 km north of Temora, south-western New South Wales.

2009 ANZANG Portfolio Prize Winner

Justin Gilligan, New South Wales

Winner, Animal Behaviour, ANZANG 2009

I was lying beside a small gravel scrape photographing the many birds coming in to drink in the heat
of the day. A male Goshawk landed close to another and they immediately began to size one another
up. As this escalated to wing lifting, I squeezed off a series of shots before the left-hand bird relented and moved away. The entire confrontation, resolved without contact, lasted less than two seconds!
Near Broome, Western Australia.

Runner up, Animal Behaviour, ANZANG 2009