Three Kiwis are in the running for one of Australia’s top photographic awards. The shortlist for the 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year has been announced by the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, a major partner in the awards. For more than 20 years, the competition has attracted photographers of a range of ages, skill levels and experience to submit images from the Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea bioregion.
This year 1856 photographs from 442 photographers across 12 countries were submitted. Dr David Gaimster, director of the South Australian Museum, says to whittle that list down to 92 finalists was no easy task. “From jaw-dropping landscapes, curious creatures and celestial skies, this year’s shortlist captures nature in its rawest and most vulnerable form,” Gaimster said.
“The competition has grown and evolved over the past two decades and this year we introduced the well-received aerial category capturing never before seen moments from above.” The shortlisted Kiwis are all professional photographers specialising in natural history. William Patino, who specialises in landscape photography from his base in Te Anau, used his experience and understanding of his local environment to capture an image of a rainbow over Manapouri.
“On this morning, I was confident in the emergence of a rainbow, which soon graced us with its presence not long after the sun made its ascent over the opposite horizon,” Patino said about hi.
