Prospect student Maya Hughes, 14, has scored a $500 cash prize for her image, Elegance, taken on a winter’s day, at the granite rocks, while visiting relatives on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Maya has entered the prestigious photography competition twice before, but this is her first win. She has been a keen photographer since the age of five!

“The shortlisted images are amazing, and so, I am honoured to be among the finalists,” said Maya, who is also a wildlife rescuer. “The picture is one of many Australian pelican photographs I’ve taken at Encounter Bay and has always been a favourite.

“It shows a delicate, graceful and unique side to this magnificent bird. I love the shape of the head and neck and how the sunlight highlights the intricate feathers.

“I hope to raise awareness of the beauty of nature through my images, plus encourage conservation and protection of all forms of wildlife, flora and the environment.”

Hughes is among a high-calibre field in this annual exhibition, which opened to the public at the South Australian Museum on Saturday 31 August.

Now in its 21st year, the competition and exhibition – which is owned and produced by the South Australian Museum – drew 1856 entries from 442 photographers across 12 countries in its search for the best wildlife and landscape photographs taken across Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea regions.

Other categories in the competition include Animals in Nature, Aerial, Macro, Landscape, Threatened Species, Monochrome, Our Impact, and Astrophotography. There is also a People’s Choice prize, voted by visitors to the exhibition, and an overall winner.

Queenslander Oliver Lacey, 15, was a runner-up in the Junior category with his photo, Nest of Silk.

Of the image, Lacey said: “I found this female green jumping spider in my backyard and struggled to get her in focus as she scurried back and forth, carefully weaving her silk into a nest. Once complete, this nest will be used as a shelter to rest in and potentially lay her egg sacs.”

McLaren Vale’s Arlo Wallace, 10, was a Junior finalist with his image, Burrowing Beauty. “I was invited to [South Australia’s] Boolcoomatta Reserve to help ecologists research the impact of destocking on the recovery of native wildlife. With good rainfall while we were there, we were lucky to see many Sudell’s frogs. This species of burrowing frog spends much of its time underground in arid environments, surfacing with rain.”

His mother, Rebecca, also captured an image of Arlo taking the shortlisted shot!

Meanwhile, Western Australian photographer and tour operator Scott Portelli claimed the competition’s overall prize, with his picture of two humpback whales ‘bubble-net feeding’ in Antarctica. As the overall winner, Portelli receives $10,000 and a holiday prize generously provided by Coral Expeditions.

South Australian Museum Chief Executive Dr David Gaimster congratulated all this year’s winners. “The world around us has always been a natural subject for photographers. But the advent of photography has also coincided with nearly two centuries of unprecedented biodiversity loss,” Dr Gaimster said.

“This makes the work of nature photographers all the more urgent and inspiring, and once again, the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition and exhibition has brought together another stunning group of finalists capturing nature at every scale, and in every corner of our unique bioregion.”

Australian Geographic Group Picture Editor Nicky Catley said: “Each year, I especially look forward to seeing how the newest practitioners of the craft are experimenting with nature photography.

“Photographing nature can be costly, wilderness areas and endangered animals hard to access, and accumulating the necessary expertise to understand species’ behaviours can take years. But every year, our junior category grows as more emerging photographers gravitate to environmental, non-human and natural themes, aware that it’s their future at stake.”

The exhibition is open to the public at the South Australian Museum from Saturday 31 August until Sunday 3 November 2024. Tickets are available now via Humanitix.

For further information and to view the winners, runners-up and finalists, visit samuseum.sa.gov.au/c/npoty/gallery.

School Holidays Photography Workshops

In conjunction with the 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition, the South Australian Museum is thrilled to offer an exciting series of school holiday workshops designed for aspiring young photographers!

Young people aged 6-15 will have the opportunity to put their new skills into practice by photographing the museum’s exhibits. Plus, you’ll get to select your favourite shot for professional printing, courtesy of Atkins Lab.

Don’t miss this unique chance to learn from the pros, have fun, and leave with a tangible reminder of your photographic adventure. Book your spot now and take your photography to the next level!

More details and information about the workshops is available online.

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For more information or to organise an interview, please contact: 

Marketing and Communications

South Australian Museum

0466 389 019 | media@samuseum.sa.gov.au  

About the South Australian Museum

The South Australian Museum has been committed to making Australia’s natural and cultural heritage accessible, engaging and fun for over 165 years.

It is a place where families can learn and grow together. Today the Museum is one of the most visited museums in Australia and holds collections of national and international significance.