Overall winner – Inside-out view of a cauliflower gentle coral. Named for its attribute look that resembles a cauliflower, with quite a few small, rounded, bump-like polyps that give it a puffy texture. This distinctive perspective was made doable by the Nauticam EMWL, an underwater model of the probe or insect eye lens. | Ross Gudgeon
A psychedelic inside-out macro view of a cauliflower gentle coral has been named the winner of the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.
The {photograph} taken by Western Australian photographer Ross Gudgeon was captured within the waters of Lembeh Strait, off North Sulawesi, in Indonesia.
The coral is called for its attribute resemblance to a cauliflower, with quite a few small, rounded, bump-like polyps that give it a puffy texture.
Gudgeon was in a position to obtain the distinctive perspective through the use of a Nauticam prolonged macro vast lens (EMWL), an underwater model of the probe or insect eye lens.
For his achievement, Gudgeon obtained the general winner’s prize of $6,530 (10,000AUD) and a cruise with Coral Expeditions. Winners within the competitors’s 10 classes additionally obtained $980 (1,500AUD) every.
Animals in Nature
Winner of Animals in Nature class. Each yr, on the total moon, tens of 1000’s of spider crabs collect to shed their shells. At this time, they change into gentle and susceptible to predation from sharks and huge rays in order that they bunch up in epic numbers to guard themselves. This Port Jackson shark was cruising over the hoard. | Charles DavisEtienne LittlefairChris YoungBrandon PasowiczBernie Shore
Threatened Species
Winner of the Threatened Species class. Ghost bats are uncommon and elusive, with strict roost necessities. After years finding out these nocturnal predators with thermal optics, I’ve found a handful of often frequented areas within the escarpment surrounding my house. This picture was captured on 1 January 2025 – an unimaginable solution to usher within the New Year. | Etienne LittlefairAlex PikeLewis BurnettMichael Eastwell
Our Impact
Winner of the Our Impact class. Discovered in a brick wall at house, a small backyard skink was trapped in a gap. I felt helpless because the lizard thrashed its physique back and forth in an try to flee. Thankfully, it was ultimately in a position to get itself free. | Sara CorlisJoanna Kelly
Astrophotography
Winner of the Astrophotography class. An amphitheatre of pandani watch on because the galactic core, swathed in airglow, rises over an alpine lake, nestled in a rugged Tassie mountain vary. Lady Aurora dances beneath the Magellanic Clouds. This picture was captured on a crisp night time in considered one of Tasmania’s extra rugged and majestic multi-day walks. | Marley ButlerWilliam GowardKavan Chay
Landscape
Winner of the Landscape class. I like the uncooked energy and great thing about storms. Watching this extreme storm making its solution to me, I used to be crammed with pleasure and anticipation. To seize the one CG (cloud-to-ground) bolt to come back from this superb shelf cloud was absolute bliss. Once once more, thanks Mother Nature! | Darren WassellScott LeggoWilliam Patino
Monochrome
Winner of the Monochrome class. Orca WA007 joyfully leaps out of the Bremer Canyon after devouring a Cuvier’s beaked whale, her prey’s intestines subtly hanging from her mouth like a festive ornament. Around 300 of those mammalhunting orcas have been recorded on this distant Southern Ocean hotspot, with unfolding analysis suggesting they might be their very own ecotype. | Rachelle MackintoshMichael SnedicFranco Tulli
Aerial
Winner of the Aerial class. This just isn’t a lifeless leaf; it’s a results of large tides retreating over mudflats. I considered a lifeless tree and a chook as we flew over the flats within the chopper. As this blacknecked stork flew in direction of the drainage, we banked onerous simply in time to seize them collectively. | Charles DavisAshley SykesWilliam Patino
Macro
Winner of the Macro class. Vertical migrations are among the most exceptional on the planet. Billions of animals conceal in deep waters then journey to the floor at night time to feed beneath the duvet of darkness. This paper nautilus hitched a journey on a passing jellyfish – a really distinctive and magical encounter on one of many world’s biggest vertical currents. | Talia GreisPeter McGeeMary GudgeonFrancois Brassard
The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competitors is produced by the South Australian Museum. An exhibition will run on the South Australian Museum till February 1, 2026.
The exhibition will even go on show on the Australian Museum in Sydney from October 25, 2025, to February 15, 2026. The full gallery of images from this yr’s competitors could be discovered here.