MOUNTAINS MEETS THE SEA

DOUBLEHEADER
Coris bulbifrons

A doubleheader swims through the vibrant and healthy coral gardens in the lagoon below Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower on Lord Howe Island.

Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

Canon EOS 5D MkIV, Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, 1/250, f/18, ISO 500, 2x INON Z-330 Strobes at half power, AquaTech Elite 5D4 housing, handheld

COURTING ROYALS

SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS,
Diomedea epomophora

A hotspot for albatross diversity, Campbell Island hosts the second-highest number of albatross species of any subantarctic group. It is the southern royal albatross’s main breeding ground, where they soar like pterodactyls over a remote and wild landscape.
This species breeds biennially, with about 8000 pairs each breeding year.

Campbell Island, New Zealand

Nikon D810, Nikon 28–300, 1/2500, f/180, ISO 640, polariser

GIANT FROGFISH

GIANT FROGFISH
Antennarius commerson

A giant frogfish waits patiently in the hope that it won’t be noticed
by surrounding reef fish. In this perfect fishing spot it deployed a
modified rod from its dorsal fin, with a lure that resembles a small fish or shrimp, to attract curious fish close enough to gulp up.

Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

Nikon D810, Sigma 15mm + 1.5 x teleconverter, 1/30, f/16, ISO 100, Ikelite DS161 and snoot to focus light, nautical housing

STORM DRAGON

CENTRAL BEARDED DRAGON
Pogona vitticeps

We were rushing to get to camp before the storm hit when we encountered this central bearded dragon, an iconic representative of the reptiles of central Australia. I could not forego the opportunity to capture this impressive animal with the ominous scene unfolding in the distance.

Tobermorey Station, Northern Territory

Canon 700D, Canon EF-S 10–18mm f4.5–5.6 IS STM, 1/160, f10, ISO 200, Yongnuo YN560-III mounted on hot shoe with 15cm circular di‹user and a second YN560-III in a 40x40cm soŽbox, handheld, partner held the soŽbox to help with lighting

FROZEN MOBILE HOME

CRABEATER SEAL
Lobodon Carcinophagus

Icebergs are dynamic kingdoms that support marine life and fertilise the oceans. They carry
nutrients and are responsible for life blooms by developing phytoplankton. They also influence the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon dioxide. Marine fauna like leopard seals, gentoo penguins, Antarctic fur seals and Weddell seals live in the fragile habitat – here crabeater seals live on the pack-ice.

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Nikon D500, Tokina 10–17mm, 1/250, f/9, ISO 250, 2x Ikelite DS161 flashes

LONE EMPEROR

EMPEROR PENGUIN
Aptenodytes forsteri

The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120km over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals.

Australian Claim, Eastern Antarctica

Nikon D810, Sigma 120–400mm, 1/2500, f/9, ISO 800

SHRIMP PERICLIMENES COLEMANI LIVING IN A FIRE URCHIN

SALTWATER SHRIMP Periclimenes colemani
FIRE URCHIN
Asthenosoma varium

This pair of Periclimenes colemani are living among the painfully venomous spines of
the fire urchin. The shrimp clear spines from a small area on the urchin to form their ‘space’ and rid the urchin of parasites and algae, as well as feed on its soft tube feet and tentacles. The shrimp move freely, confident in their spiny protection.

Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Nikon D700, Nikkor 60mm micro, 1/250, f/22, ISO 500, 2x Ikelite DS160 flashes, handheld, Subal underwater housing

FIRESTORM

BLACK KITE
Milvua migrans

A Top End burnoff attracted a swirling cloud of fork-tailed kites. With a whoop I dived into the conflagration. The autofocus wouldn’t work in the heat-shimmer so I approximated with the distance ring. A kite flew close enough to smell burning feathers. Hang on! That was my hair on fire!

Katherine, Northern Territory

Canon 6D II, Canon 300mm f2.8, 1/500, f4.5, 800ASA, handheld, manually focused

FALCON FOCUS

PEREGRINE FALCON
Falco peregrinus

During a trip to the Clare Valley for Christmas, I decided to put
my drone up over Sevenhill Oval to get a couple shots of where
I’d played cricket as a child. As I was flying the drone backwards to fit in the whole oval, I noticed a peregrine falcon fly into view and managed to take a quick photo.

Clare Valley, South Australia

DJI Mavic Air drone, 35mm equivalent of a 24mm lens,
1/850, f/2.8, ISO 100

RODENT CONTROL

COASTAL CARPET PYTHON
Morelia spilota mcdowelli

This coastal carpet python has taken up residence in my dad’s shed. This built habitat provides warm tin to bask against, nooks and crannies to take refuge in, and an abundance of rodents as prey.
n Sunshine Coast, Queensland
n Canon 7D MkII, Tamron 10–24mm f/3.5–4.5 Di II VC, 1/160,
f/7.1, ISO 250, Yongnuo 560 III flash, handheld, SMDV 60 speedbox
diŠuser, Yongnuo wireless controller