Step out of the winter cold and into a world of beauty, power and impact
The world-renowned exhibition, now in its sixtieth year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, will open at the Australian National Maritime Museum on May 15, featuring exceptional images that capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Using photography's unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images shine a light on stories and species around the world and encourage a future of advocating for the planet.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world for nearly 60 years. Launching in 1965, today the competition receives entries from 117 countries and territories all over the world, highlighting its enduring appeal.
This year's competition attracted an astounding 59,228 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories. Entries were judged anonymously on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence by an international panel of industry experts.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Canadian Marine Conservation Photojournalist, Shane Gross, was awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 for his image The Swarm of Life, a breathtaking photograph that shines a light on the magical underwater world of western toad tadpoles.
A near threatened species due to habitat destruction and predators, these tadpoles start their transition into toads between four and twelve weeks after hatching, but an estimated 99% of them will not survive to adulthood.
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas from Germany was awarded Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 for his up-close image Life Under Dead Wood, depicting the fruiting bodies of slime mould on the right and a tiny springtail on the left.
Alexis quickly rolled over a log to take the intriguing image, moving fast as springtails can jump many times their body length in a split second. Alexis used a technique called focus stacking, where 36 images, each with a different area in focus, are combined.
A Global Stage
The two Grand Title winners were selected from 18 astounding category winners that showcase the wonder and richness of biodiversity on our planet, whilst also, in many cases, shining a light on the numerous challenges wildlife across the globe faces today. In an intensive process, each entry was judged anonymously by an international panel of experts on its originality, narrative, technical excellence and ethical practice.
3 Australian photographers were category finalists
Jannico Kelk won the Animals in their Environment category with his image Hope for the Ninu, showcasing a greater bilby (Ninu) in a fenced reserve, a method that has eradicated predators so that the greater bilby can thrive.
Justin Gilligan (Australia), Winner of Oceans: The Bigger Picture with A Diet of Deadly Plastic, creating a mosaic from the 403 pieces of plastic found inside the digestive tract of a dead flesh-footed shearwater.
Matthew Smith (UK / Australia), Winner of Underwater, Under the Waterline, photographing a curious leopard seal beneath the Antarctic ice.
Australian National Maritime Museum CEO and Director Ms Daryl Karp AM said, 'Each year we welcome the finest wildlife images from the world's finest wildlife photographers. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a perennial favourite with audiences here. These are powerful, beautiful and perfectly timed images that surprise, inspire and amaze. There is no better space to lose and immerse yourself in this planet's natural world. Step out of the winter cold and into a world of beauty, power and impact.'
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
The exhibition opens at the Australian National Maritime Museum on May 15 and runs until October 19.
