Photography win for scientist – College of Auckland

Dr Edin Whitehead says her picture of an Antipodean albatross chick that possible succumbed to hunger is a stark reminder that not each chick develops right into a fledgling robust sufficient to take flight.

The photograph, captured on the Antipodes Islands by the organic sciences analysis fellow, was named winner of the wildlife class on the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year awards ceremony on 23 October.

Although she had been a finalist in earlier years, and Young Photographer of the Year in 2014, she says she was stunned by the win.

“It was a bit embarrassing – I actually cried. I never go in expecting anything; that’s just my approach to life … and you appreciate everything that you get.”

Edin says it meant so much to win the award for a photojournalistic picture that carried a powerful message, advocating for the plight of seabirds. It was captured whereas she was working as a discipline assistant for the Department of Conservation’s Conservation Services Programme on the Antipodes Islands, situated 860km southeast of Rakiura/Stewart Island.

Scientists have monitored the Antipodean albatross inhabitants on the islands for the previous 30 years. Between 2005 and 2007, hen numbers crashed because of excessive feminine mortality charges and low chick manufacturing, and a 2024 survey discovered numbers nonetheless remained far beneath pre crash ranges.

Edin spent final summer time monitoring the colony’s inhabitants with analysis ecologist and zoologist Kalinka Rexer-Huber and remembers how she captured the successful shot.

“The light was really nice one evening and I was planning on walking back to our hut to make dinner, but Kalinka was like, ‘No, no, you stay here with your camera. I’ll go back’.”

That’s when she discovered one of many chicks, lifeless on the bottom.

“We had kind of been anticipating it. As soon as we get to the island, we go around the study area and find all of the chicks from last season, we map all the nests, see who’s been successful, who hasn’t been successful.”

They had seen apparent indicators of chicks in misery, which happens when the dad and mom can’t present enough meals, or have ended up as fishing bycatch by longline fisheries, leaving their younger weak.

Edin’s love for the pure world stems from her dad and mom, each medical medical doctors (her mom is now retired), who formed her curiosity and creativity. Father Tony Whitehead launched his daughter to birdwatching and handed on his photographic skills; he was additionally a finalist in the identical class of this yr’s awards, and has been a finalist in earlier years.

“In another life, Dad would have had my career. He’s an obsessive and amazing photographer, so he’s responsible for me being the way I am! Mum’s responsible for the side of me that loves to document and write everything down, which is useful for both research and outreach.”

Growing up in Rotorua, she spent summers by the ocean at Mt Maunganui and Ōhope.

“My brother and I are each first-generation New Zealanders, however we frequently visited household in South Africa. That grew my love for being out in nature; I did a whole lot of birdwatching with my dad and granddad.

“I’ve managed to get Dad out into the field with me working on seabirds occasionally, and it’s super special sharing that side of my life with him.”

Father and daughter additionally run a wildlife pictures masterclass on Otago Peninsula.

At the awards ceremony, the phrases of photographer, storyteller and awards’ choose Qiane Matata-Sipu struck a chord with Edin; Qiane talked concerning the ‘why’ that drives folks to seize photographs and inform tales. Edin initially launched into a conjoint Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts diploma however pivoted as her curiosity to ask questions concerning the world in a “science-y kind of way” endured.

It’s a path that’s led to discovering her personal ‘why’, now researching the impacts of local weather change on seabirds, and capturing such award-winning photographs alongside the way in which.

“The story of Antipodean albatrosses and their trajectory towards extinction has been a big part of my life for the past two years,” she says.

“These birds are disappearing, and if my work can help people see and care about that, then it’s worth every moment.”

Kim Meredith