From under the sea to a bush toilet, the beauty of nature can be found everywhere as these talented photographers have revealed. 

Winners from across Australia have been celebrated for their stunning shots in the 2023 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year. 

Marking 20 years of the competition, Australian Geographic picture editor Nicky Catley said the images also depicted the “fragility of our natural world”.

“The competition has become a record of our changing world, an earth in perpetual transformation, and this year we recognise that photography is more important than ever in showing us what is at risk of being lost,” Ms Catley said.

There were 11 categories this year, including: 

  • Overall winner 
  • Animals in nature 
  • Urban animals
  • Macro 
  • Landscape 
  • Threatened species 
  • Monochrome
  • Astrophotography 
  • Junior 
  • Our impact
  •  Portfolio 

Here’s a look at the breathtaking images.

Overall winner: My Country Burns by Samuel Markham 

bushfire picture

My Country Burns.(Samuel Markham )

Animals in nature: Aftermath by Matty Smith 

Picture of a squid

Aftermath. (Matty Smith )

Urban animals: Frog in a Bog by Tom Owen Edmunds

Frog in a toilet

Frog in a Bog.(Tom Owen Edwards )

Macro: Nectar of Life by Dan Jones

A bee on a blue flower

Nectar of Life. (Dan Jones )

Landscape: Intricate by Tania Malkin

Picture of alluvial fan on the flood plains

Intricate.(Tania Malkin  )

Threatened species: Golden Seahorse by Peter McGee 

yellow seahorse

Golden Seahorse.(Peter McGee )

Monochrome: Desert Tower by Luke Tscharke

black and white photo of a tree

Desert Tower.(Luke Tscharke )

Astrophotography: Mungo by Jason Perry

Picture of space above mountains

Mungo.(Jason Perry )

Junior: Hidden Courage by Isabella Alexis

picture of a spider zoomed in

Hidden Courage.(Isabella Alexis )

Our impact: Swamped Skies by Joshua Rozells

picture of the sky at night with lights

Swamped Skies.(Joshua Rozells )

 Portfolio: Aerial Oceans by Lewis Burnett

picture of a saltwater crocodile

Saltwater crocodile. (Lewis Burnett )

Green sea turtle picture

Green sea turtle. (Lewis Burnett)

picture of doilphins swimming in group

Risso’s dolphins.(Lewis Burnett )

Great hammerhead shark picture

Great hammerhead shark. (Lewis Burnett )

Pygmy blue whale picture

Pygmy blue whale. (Lewis Burnett)

Reef manta ray picture

Reef manta ray. (Lewis Burnett)