The entries for the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year are in and the shortlist has been revealed. 

Each year, it encourages photographers to capture stunning images taken in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea.

And, in its 20th year running, this year is no exception. 

In 2023 the competition, which is owned and produced by the South Australian Museum, drew 2,182 entries from 550 photographers across 10 countries.

But the shortlist could only be made up of 95 images. 

South Australian Museum acting director Justine van Mourik said this year’s judges, Mike Langford, Adjunct Professor Wayne Quilliam and Jackie Ranken, faced an epic task.

And this year it was even harder, with a new category attracting awe-inspiring images. 

“This year we introduced the well-received macro category, with photographers submitting incredible larger-than-life-sized images of nature’s smallest scenes,” Ms van Mourik said. 

That meant there were 10 categories this year:

  • Animals in Nature
  • Urban Animals
  • Macro
  • Landscape
  • Threatened Species 
  • Monochrome 
  • Our Impact
  • Junior
  • Portfolio

The South Australian Museum will announce the overall winner, category winners, runners-up and the Portfolio Prize in August. 

Until then, here’s a look at the shortlisted images in the Animals in Nature, Macro and Urban Animals categories. 

Animals in Nature

Weaners by Andrew Peacock.(Andrew Peacock)
Talk to the hand by Asher Allison.(Asher Allison)
World’s Deadliest by Damien Esquerré.(Damien Esquerré)
Somewhere Under the Rainbow by David Robinson.(David Robinson)
A Bee-eater Rainbow by Gary Meredith.(Gary Meredith)
Goose Barnacles on the Beach by Keith Horton.(Keith Horton)
Estuarine Crocodile by Lewis Burnett.(Lewis Burnett)
Aftermath by Matty Smith.(Matty Smith)
Hang time by Nathan Watson.(Nathan Watson)
Neighbour’s Dispute by Ofer Levy.(Ofer Levy)
The Clown Coral Blennies by Pam Osborn.(Pam Osborn)
Blue Spot by Sputnik.(Sputnik)

Macro

Mellow Gecko by Alun Powell.(Alun Powell)
Adolescent Alien by Andy Wingate. (Andy Wingate)
Nectar of Life by Daniel Jones.(Daniel Jones)
A Home Among the Polyps by Daniel Sly.(Daniel Sly)
Turret by Garth Travis. (Garth Travis)
Hairy Harry by John Magee.(John Magee)
Mushroom cyclone by Liu Yang.(Liu Yang)
 Blue by Mary Gudgeon.(Mary Gudgeon)
Hover flies’ love dance by Merrick Bailey.(Merrick Bailey)
Mr Mohawk by Rosa Dunbar.(Rosa Dunbar)

Urban Animals

Galah Play by Angela Robertson-Buchanan.(Angela Robertson-Buchanan )
Cretaceous Stride by Ethan Mann.(Ethan Mann)
Frog in a Bog by Tom Owen Edmunds.(Tom Owen Edmunds)
Emergency exit – run, a giant spider! by Doug Gimesy.(Doug Gimesy)
Kerb-side snack by Douglas Gimesy.(Douglas Gimesy)
Ducks in a Row by Hamish Burrell.(Hamish Burrell)
Anyone for Tennis? by Natalie Murray.(Natalie Murray)
Marching to a Different Drummer by Raoul Slater.(Raoul Slater)
Window Shopping by Trevor Rix.(Trevor Rix)