ANIMAL & NATURE 2021: TOP 20
WINNER, ANIMAL & NATURE CATEGORY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2021
SIMONE MATUCCI, 'BLACKWATER'
Simone Matucci is a PADI Master instructor, originally from Florence, Italy. He says he discovered underwater photography when he was living between Australia and New Zealand working as an instructor and deckhand. His images in his series Blackwater were captured in the open ocean at night in Kona, Hawaii.
“There are three primary types of blackwater dives; open ocean, near reef, and bonfire,” he explained.
“We dive at an average depth of 10 metres, and the bottom is at 1500-2000 metres. During the night, thousands of organisms rise from the deep and you need to be lucky and skilled at the same time to find the most rare and beautiful creatures.
What I love about this style of diving is that each dive is so different. It's like flying in dark water surrounded by macro-organisms. Because of their small bodies, fast movement, and their ability to reflect the light, they can be quite challenging to photograph.”
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Tanya Stollznow: This portfolio of images stood out for a number for reasons. The photographer has given us a glimpse into the complexity and diversity of the underwater world with every fine detail on display. Strong visual impact has been achieved by photographing these sea creatures against a stark black background and lighting them beautifully to showcase their interesting shapes and form. These four images together as a portfolio create a narrative that evokes interest and wonder. Overall, this is a unique and expertly executed set of images.
Steve and Ann Toon: In wildlife photography the most compelling pictures are those that succeed in showing us something new, intriguing, and wonderful about a species or the natural world while at same time thrilling the eye. Simone’s technical and artistic wizardry here delivered a truly ‘out there’ portfolio that held us spellbound.
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RUNNER UP, ANIMAL & NATURECATEGORY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2021
HANNAH LE LEU, 'TURTLE HATCHLING'S JOURNEY'
Hannah Le Leu is a self-taught photographer, who captured these stunning, emotive and “extremely challenging” split-shots of Green Sea Turtle hatchlings on Heron Island.
“I had to continuously submerge the lens before taking shots to prevent any water droplets from ruining the images whilst attempting to keep track of the tiny, quick and erratic hatchlings,” she explained.
“My intention for this entry was to capture the unique and often challenging starts to life that turtle hatchlings have. Those first moments after hatching are extraordinarily eventful; from the first ever swim in the crashing waves, to evading a myriad of predators and beginning the hopeful journey into the vast ocean. This collection of images not only highlights the exquisite beauty and serenity of nature, but also the treacherous challenges hatchlings face with the odds stacked against them.
One of the hatchlings in my entry is noticeably encrusted; it was what the island biologist referred to as “overcooked” as it was unable to escape the nest for 10 days after it hatched, causing it to begin its journey with depleted energy.
Another hatchling can be seen battling a raging storm that brought out thousands of predator birds that blanketed the sky. In contrast, other hatchlings were exposed to perfect hatching conditions with optimal weather, high tides, and prime nest locations. Life is beautiful, complex, and often filled with luck, which is depicted through this portfolio.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Alex Cearns: Hannah’s A Turtle Hatchling’s Journey series is immediately eye-catching. The degree of difficulty and patience required to capture newly hatched, juvenile turtles swimming in the sea is commendable and I haven’t seen baby turtles photographed in this way before. The approach of photographing the scene from the perspective of half-above the water and half-below the water creates impact and emphasises the epic journey the turtles have in front of them. Technically the series is sharp, well exposed and has strong use of colour. A true standout and award worthy.
Shannon Benson: I loved this series of over-unders. Underwater photography is challenging and especially so when the subject is so small. These images give a us a glimpse into the hatchlings’ world from land to sea, along with the looming predators, the birds flying overhead, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The last image, which includes the setting sun gives the viewer hope this little hatchling has survived the day.
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TOP 20 FINISHERS, ANIMAL & NATURE CATEGORY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2021
3. Photo © James White. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
4. Photo © Will Lawler. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
5. Photo © Ketut Suwitra. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
6. Photo © Ivan Glasser. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
7. Photo © Clement Chua. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
8. Photo © Emma Jones. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
9. Photo © Guy Draper. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
10. Photo © Bruce Reardon. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
10. Photo © Christine Bairstow. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
12. Photo © Lucca Rodriguez Amorim. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
13. Photo © Linda Joseph. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
14. Photo © Trish Brown. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
15. Photo © Heather McNeice. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
16. Photo © Paul Irvine. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
17. Photo © Jeanete Zanotto. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
17. Photo © Harman Singh Heer. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
19. Photo © Lucca Rodriguez Amorim. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.
20. Photo © Dianne Galbraith. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2021.