Congratulations to Australian photographer Daniel Sly, whose ethereal shot of a Pot-bellied (also known as Big-bellied) Seahorse, taken off Bare Island in NSW, won The Nature Conservancy's 2024 Oceania Nature Photo Contest's overall Grand Prize.
"'Pot-bellied Seahorse Portrait' is an incredible celebration of nature," Dr Eddie Game, TNC's Regional Director of Oceania, said. "The picture is as much about the main large-bellied protagonist as it is about its fleeting environment, which makes the whole composition so atmospheric."
Mr Sly said he encountered the Pot-bellied Seahorse, who had sought refuge in a cluster of sea tulips, during an early morning dive in Sydney's Botany Bay, NSW.
"To capture the subtle movement of the sea tulips while keeping the seahorse in focus, I chose a slightly longer shutter speed. This allowed the gentle motion of the water to blur slightly, giving a sense of the underwater environment," Mr Sly said.
Daniel's picture wins the Grand Prize of the contest and a fantastic $5,000 camera kit or camera kit gift card. His fantastic shot also wins first prize for the "Water" category, scoring him and additonal $750 in prizes.
Judges Annette Ruzicka, Ben Buckland and Jarrod Boord had the difficult task of selecting winners across each of the six categories. Each highly acclaimed photographers in their own right, the judging process sparked much artistic debate, but the three were unanimous in deciding the Grand Prize winner.
Photographer and film maker Jarrod Boord said this year's photo competition has been nothing short of extraordinary.
"Across every category, each image brought something remarkable to the table, whether it was the raw power of the ocean, the intricate beauty of fungi, the sweeping landscapes, or the thought-provoking narratives of climate and wildlife," Mr Boord said. "The sheer quality of the entries was astonishing, showcasing not just technical expertise but a deep understanding of storytelling and the moments that make us stop and think," he added.
"Choosing the Grand Prize winner was no easy task," visual storyteller Annette Ruzicka said. "Mr Sly's image spoke to me on many levels. It was a candid, brief moment in nature that evokes a love for the natural world and depicts beauty and mystery. A winning image like this struck a visceral reaction from me, I seek moments of awe in my own work and this image does the same. Congratulations Daniel."
The 2024 Photo Contest sought entries from nature lovers residing in Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The call was heard loud and clear across the region, with the total response reaching a whopping 1,896 entries.
Australia took the lion's share with 1220 entries, followed by New Zealand (398 entries), Papua New Guinea (238 entries) and the Solomon Islands (40 entries). Remarkably, New Zealand photographers shared the podium for the Plants and Fungi category, with Kiwi nature photographers winning first, second and third prize.
"It is an absolute pleasure to see all four countries represented, celebrating the beauty of this unique corner of the earth. I am thrilled to see so many talented photographers embrace nature as their muse. On behalf of TNC and our amazing judges, congratulations to all category winners and participants. Thank you for sharing nature through your lens with the rest of the world, providing us with a stark reminder of the beauty of our region's biodiversity and of the critical need to protect its ecosystems for future generations," Dr Game said.
Congratulations to the following category winners:
People and Nature:
1st prize - "Salmon Surfer" by Duncan Macfarlane (Australia)
2nd prize - "Island Universe" by Peter Harlow (Australia)
3rd prize - "Into the Unknown" by Steve Genesin (Australia)
Plants and Fungi
1st prize - "Beneath the Glow" by Cristal Richardson (New Zealand)
2nd prize - "White" by Chin Kang Chia (New Zealand)
3rd prize - "Lacy Lichen" by Catilin Germanis (New Zealand)
Water
1st prize - "Pot-bellied Seahorse Portrait" by Daniel Sly (Australia)
2nd prize - "Vad" by Aayushi Khillan (Australia)
3rd prize - "Jelly blubber split" by Peter McGee (Australia)
Lands
1st prize - "Where there's Smoke…there's Food" by Michael S. Martin (Australia)
2nd prize - "Sand Forest" by Hamish Ashton (New Zealand)
3rd prize - "Time stands still" by Justin Tan (Australia)
Climate
1st prize - "Ice falls" by Scott Portelli (Australia)
2nd prize - "The Beast" by Darren Wassell (Australia)
3rd prize - "'Opuha" by Bailee Barton (New Zealand)
Wildlife
1st prize - "Roar of Anger" by Xiaoping Lin (Australia)
2nd prize - "Toss of Life" by Naidu Kumapatla (Australia)
3rd prize - "Duck Dive" by Stuart Attwood (New Zealand)
Category prizes:
1st prize - $750 gift card
2nd prize - $500 gift card
3rd prize - $250 gift card
Award-winning photographer and 2024 photo contest judge Ben Buckland encapsulated the spirit of this year's competition and the incredible part photography can play in conserving and protecting our planet.
"The extraordinary diversity of our region's landscapes and wildlife shone through in this year's entries. From towns and gardens, to seas, deserts and forests - the images were such a striking reminder of the resilience and adaptability of the natural world and that it often just takes a little patience and curiosity for amateur and professional photographers alike to go out and find it," Mr Buckland said.
