NORTHERN QUOLL
Dasyurus hallucatus

Status: Endangered

Native hoya is common in the granite outcrops west of Cairns and, after completing surveys in the area earlier this year, I was determined to photograph a quoll in this beautiful setting. I used a camera trap for this shy species, and after many failed attempts I eventually got lucky.

Mount Emerald, near Mareeba, Queensland

Canon 7D Mk II, Canon 8–15mm f4, 1/250, f/13, ISO 800, Nikon SB28 flash (manual mode) with SMDV hexagonal softbox, DSLR camera trap with Camtraptions motion sensor, transmitter and receivers, separate tripods for camera, flash/diffuser and motion sensor

GREEN TURTLE
Chelonia mydas

Status: Endangered

Round, fast and easily hidden, this green sea turtle moves freely in the aquatic reserve just off the busy beaches of Manly. The waters are teeming with marine life that are unfazed by swimmers passing above. Hopefully in the future there will be more places like this that are protected and safe for everyone to enjoy. Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly, New South Wales

Canon R, Canon RF 24–105mm, 1/400, f/4, ISO125, handheld dive torch on a single breath dive

SPERM WHALE
Physeter macrocephalus

Status: Vulnerable

Bonds between members of a sperm whale pod are amongst the strongest in the animal kingdom, and each pod has its own dialect and culture. Moments like the one captured here were a common sight in the open ocean until commercial whaling decimated populations in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Timor Sea

Sony A7 III, Sony 16–35mm f4, 1/500, f/7.1, ISO 1600

GREAT WHITE SHARK
Carcharodon carcharias

Status: Vulnerable

To make this charismatic great white shot I needed a shark that showed non-aggressive behaviour to avoid risk to us both. I had initially used a fine mix of tuna oil and flake to lay a scent trail to attract the shark (licenced) but the shark was never actually fed.

South Neptune Islands, South Australia

Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor 14–24mm f2.8 S series, 1/1000, f/8, ISO 2800, Aquatica AD6/7 housing, Matty Smith 12″ dome port, Matty Smith remote pole

EASTERN CURLEW
Numenius madagascariensis

Status: Endangered

Critical that eastern curlews not be disturbed, I set myself up in a spot in
the wet sand near some mangroves and waited. Eventually some birds came past just before dusk, stopping for a nap right in front of me unperturbed, allowing me to get the shots I wanted.

Bribie Passage, Moreton Bay, Queensland

Nikon Z6II, Nikkor 200–500mm f5.6, 1/250, f/5.6, ISO 160, handheld

GHOST BAT
Macroderma gigas

Status: Vulnerable

A ghost bat exits its roost on dusk to forage. Ghost bats are a large and impressive cave-dwelling species. Unlike our other bat species, ghost bats feed on vertebrate animals. This includes other microbat species unlucky enough to be captured by these silent predators.

Northern Territory

Canon 5D Mk IV, Canon EF 24–70mm,
6, f/13, ISO 400, 5 Canon 430 speedlites, tripod, Cognisys range IR

REEF MANTA RAY
Mobula alfredi

Status: Vulnerable

A reef manta ray cruises the plankton- rich waters of the Ningaloo Reef. This particular ray was accompanied by an immense school of yellow tail scad fish. Many small fish species rely on the large rays as a nursery to grow. Without the rays, they too would be threatened with extinction.

Coral Bay, Western Australia

Nikon Z7II, Nikon 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye, 1/500, f/9, ISO 200, free diving at 8m depth, single breath

ABBOTT’S BOOBY
Papasula abbotti

Status: Endangered

Abbott’s booby, the largest of all booby species, nest high in trees on Christmas Island. Every evening the forest echoes with their calls as the parents return from a day out at sea fishing for food for the young ones. Their population has been greatly impacted by phosphate mining. Christmas Island

Canon EOS-1D X Mk II, EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, 1/800, f/8,
ISO 1600, handheld