Australian Geographic
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
“A Humpback Whale carcass found on the ocean floor in Coral Bay, Western Australia, stripped clean of its flesh by surrounding sharks. This sub-adult whale died while making their annual migration north along the Ningaloo Reef. A harsh act of Mother Nature, However an important part of the natural ecosystem.”
NATURES PREY
HUMPBACK WHALE (MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE)
TIGER SHARK (GALEOERDO CUVIER)
The judges were united in selecting this powerful image as the overall winner and praised Ms Jansen’s photography skills.
“The beauty of the image lies in its artful circular composition, seen in the curves of the whale’s skeletal ribs mirroring the patterns in the sand, keeping our eye within the frame moving between the living and the dead,” they said.
Mr Brian Oldman, Director of the South Australian Museum, said that Ms Jansen’s photograph has been judged the winning entry out of a field of 2,443 entries – the highest number of entries in the competition’s history.
“Each year I am amazed by the quality of entries we receive for this competition, with entrants capturing incredible moments in time that inspire us to deepen our relationship with the natural world, whilst also challenging us to reflect on our impact,” Mr Oldman stated.
“Ms Jansen’s photograph beautifully depicts the circle of life and the intense reality of the animal food chain - that every living animal is food for another.”
“Remarkable and thought-provoking photographs like Ms Jansen’s are what make us so proud to produce this competition and resulting exhibition each year,” he concluded.
Ms Chrissie Goldrick, Editor-in-Chief, Australian Geographic said:
“This year’s winning image by Ashlee Jansen is a powerful statement about the circle of life and the interdependence of species. It reminds us that all creatures, no matter how large or small, rare or common, need our protection to maintain the fragile balance of nature. It’s amazing how often marine subjects enjoy success in this competition. It bears witness to the vital role the oceans play in the lives of those who call the vast bioregion that includes Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea, home.”
