57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition

Images from the 57th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year, run by the Natural History Museum in London, are now on display in an exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. The exhibition features over 100 images revealing fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species, and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Follow this link to book tickets.

Top row: Beautiful bloodsucker © Gil Wizen (Israel Canada), Deep feelers © Laurent Ballesta (France), Ice bear as sea bear © Martin Gregus (Canada).
Bottom row: Lynx on the threshold © Sergio Marijuan (Spain), Out of the black © Cristobal Serrano (Spain), Stardust © Christian Spencer (Australia).
Beautiful bloodsucker © Gil Wizen (Israel Canada).
Deep feelers © Laurent Ballesta (France).
Ice bear as sea bear © Martin Gregus (Canada).
Lynx on the threshold © Sergio Marijuan (Spain).
Out of the black © Cristobal Serrano (Spain).
Stardust © Christian Spencer (Australia).
Top row: Beautiful bloodsucker © Gil Wizen (Israel Canada), Deep feelers © Laurent Ballesta (France), Ice bear as sea bear © Martin Gregus (Canada). Bottom row: Lynx on the threshold © Sergio Marijuan (Spain), Out of the black © Cristobal Serrano (Spain), Stardust © Christian Spencer (Australia).

The 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year was French underwater photographer and biologist Laurent Ballesta for his image, Creation. The image, that captures camouflage groupers exiting their milky cloud of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia

Australian wildlife photographer Justin Gilligan took out the Plants and Fungi category with his portrait, Rich Reflections, which depicts a marine ranger admiring seaweed off the coast of Lord Howe Island.

Adam Oswell won the Photojournalism category, with his image, Elephant in the Room, of a young elephant performing underwater for crowds in Thailand.

© Adam Oswell (Australia). Elephant in the room. Adam Oswell draws attention to zoo visitors watching a young elephant perform under water. Although this performance was promoted as educational and as exercise for the elephants, Oswell was disturbed by this scene. Organisations concerned with the welfare of captive elephants view performances like these as exploitative because they encourage unnatural behaviour. Elephant tourism has increased across Asia. In Thailand there are now more elephants in captivity than in the wild. The COVID-19 pandemic caused international tourism to collapse, leading to elephant sanctuaries becoming overwhelmed with animals that can no longer be looked after by their owners.
© Adam Oswell (Australia). Elephant in the room. Adam Oswell draws attention to zoo visitors watching a young elephant perform under water. Although this performance was promoted as educational and as exercise for the elephants, Oswell was disturbed by this scene. Organisations concerned with the welfare of captive elephants view performances like these as exploitative because they encourage unnatural behaviour. Elephant tourism has increased across Asia. In Thailand there are now more elephants in captivity than in the wild. The COVID-19 pandemic caused international tourism to collapse, leading to elephant sanctuaries becoming overwhelmed with animals that can no longer be looked after by their owners.

Australians receiving Highly Commended awards included Caitlin Henderson (Behaviour: Invertebrates), Douglas Gimesy (Behaviour: Mammals), Juergen Freund (Plants and Fungi), Christian Spencer (Natural Artistry), Douglas Gimesy (Photojournalism).

Check out the category winners from the 57th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year at this link.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

November

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Sydney: The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

Perth: Until 18 May 2025. Henry Roy – Impossible Island draws on 40-years of recollections and observations as it brings together 113 photos taken from 1983 to 2023.

December

Melbourne: Until 31 January. Prepare to be transported into the picturesque world of Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition—an Instagram sensation and New York Times best-selling book brought to life!

Sydney: 5 December – 1 February. Photofields presents the Southern Sky Astrophotography 2024 exhibition, the 20th edition of the David Malin Awards.

Melbourne: until 16 Feb 2025. Petrina Hicks works with photography to create large-scale photographs that draw from mythology, fables, and historical art imagery to reframe the contemporary female experience.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.