BAITBALL FRENZY
Story Behind The Shot:
For a short time every year on the Ningaloo Reef, bait balls form and birds, sharks and pelagic fish feast. While searching off the back of the reef for whale sharks, we came across this tightly packed ball. The birds were going crazy on the surface while some shy sharks were hanging down deeper. It was an incredible feeling to be in the middle of this feeding frenzy and to capture such a spectacle on camera.
ROUGH PLAY
honorable
mention
Story Behind The Shot:
Australian Sea Lions are the most endangered sea lion species in the world, with only 11,200 individuals remaining. These two were carelessly playing right in front of my lens while keeping a curious eye on me.
honorable
mention
MY
UNDERWORLD
Story Behind The Shot:
There is a lot of information, warnings, instructions, rules and stresses keeping our minds busy this year and my escape is below the waves. The silence and calm is something I cannot find anywhere else on this world and it keeps me sane in a world of insanity.
2020
Underwater Photography Guide
Ocean Art Photo Competition
"Safe Under The Sea"
2020
MARINE LIFE BEHAVIOUR
2nd place
TAILMATES
Story Behind The Shot:
While searching for wildlife in the blue waters off Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, the unmistakable long yellow shape of a sea snake came into view. I slipped in the water and edged closer, hoping it wouldn’t dive before I got there. It soon became clear that I was actually looking at two snakes - a male wrapped around a female, intertwined during the mating process. I had to focus on getting the shot but my mind was exploding with excitement, knowing I would probably never see this again. In the big blue ocean, when sea snakes find their mate, they interlock and don't separate until it's all over. They must surface for air during this time, but it's the female who is in control. The male holds on and tries to gasp enough air before she decides to dive. After a few minutes, this lady snake descended, pulling the determined male along behind her. I couldn't help but think of the odds they had to overcome to find each other in a vast ocean, just like soulmates.
2020
WHALE SHARK WINDOW
Shortlisted
A cloudy day on the Ningaloo Reef, WA, still yields special opportunities if you're in the right place at the right time. On this day the water was crystal blue and the whale shark was slowly swimming right under the surface.
BLENDING IN
Finalist
A dusky whaler on the Ningaloo Reef slowly swims through a tightly packed ball of bait fish, trying to blend in and not scare them with sudden movements. It was fascinating behaviour to watch as I have seen them many times torpedo through the ball trying to catch the fish by surprise.
PLAYTIME
Shortlisted
Two individuals of a remaining population of only 11,200 Australian Sea Lions play right in front of me while keeping a cautious eye.
Vincent O’Brien National Underwater Photography Competition 2018
1st place
Foreign Image category