The winners of the Australian Geographic Character Photographer of the Calendar year 2021 have been announced, with NSW-centered photographer Scott Portelli named as this year’s in general winner. 

© Scott Portelli – Total Winner – Australian Geographic Mother nature Photographer of the Yr 2021

Scott has taken out the title with his underwater however of a Leafy Seadragon titled Leafy Evening. As winner, he walks away with $10,000 as nicely as a Coral Expeditions getaway. 

© Georgina Steytler – Animal Habitat Group Runner-Up – Australian Geographic Character Photographer of the Year 2021

Formerly recognized as ANZANG, the Australian Geographic Character Photographer of the Calendar year 2021 is a prestigious photographic award that is hosted annually by the South Australian Museum.

© Christian Spencer – Animal Habitat Classification Winner – Australian Geographic Character Photographer of the 12 months 2021

The competition, which is open up to photographers of all ages, ability stages and nationalities, is concentrated on celebrating pictures that depict fauna, flora or landscapes in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea areas. 

© Ashlee Karas – Landscape Class Runner-Up – Australian Geographic Mother nature Photographer of the Calendar year 2021

The Successful Shot

The judging panel, which was produced up of photographers Narelle Autio, Trent Parke and Stavros Pippos, unanimously selected Portelli’s impression as the overall winner.

© Douglas Gimesy – Our Impact Classification Winner – Australian Geographic Mother nature Photographer of the Calendar year 2021

Portelli’s underwater photograph was captured at a reef situated alongside South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula through March 2020, just as vacation restrictions across Australia had been out of the blue coming into effect.

As a final result of the nation-broad lockdown, Portelli observed himself trapped at a tiny campground on the Fleurieu Peninsula for six months, which he has explained as “a blessing in disguise.”

© Callie Chee – Botanical Class Winner – Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the 12 months 2021

Portelli shared, “Over the study course of the six weeks I experienced the option to dive often, getting common with the terrain, acquiring to know the dive website and recognizing a few particular person Seadragons. I became acquainted with the resident dragons of 2nd Valley and this is how I managed to get the shot.”  

“After numerous encounters with a person distinct Seadragon it appeared to grow to be unperturbed by my existence and I was ready to compose a shot that tightly captured its eyes, features and appendages entrance on.” 

© Douglas Gimesy – Animal Portrait Group Winner – Australian Geographic Character Photographer of the Calendar year 2021

“The photograph reveals the intricate details of the Leafy Seadragons in a diverse way, I desired to seize the essence of this sensitive and vulnerable species that are only discovered in the South of Australia.” 

© Franco Tulli – Animal Behaviour Classification Runner-Up – Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2021

“The more we have an understanding of the ocean and its inhabitants the far more folks will experience related and consider action to shield our ocean creatures.” 

Class Winners

Animal Portrait: 

Winner: A White-capped at Sunset, Doug Gimesy (VIC) 
Runner-up: Howling at the Moon, Mike George (NSW) 

Animal Behaviour 

Winner: Following Era, Tammy Gibbs (WA) 
Runner-up: Dreaming, Franco Tulli (Italy) 

Animal Habitat: 

Winner: A Tree Dreaming, Christian Spencer (VIC) 
Runner-up: Stilted Reflections, Georgina Steytler (WA) 

Botanical: 

Winner: Ghost Mushrooms, Callie Chee (NSW) 
Runner-up: Swamp Insider secrets, Paula McManus (SA)  

Landscape: 

Winner: Forest on Reflection, Hayden Cannon (WA) 
Runner-up: Beneath the Area, Ashlee Karas (WA)  

Monochrome: 

Winner: Incoming, Jeff Freestone (VIC) 
Runner-up: King of the Cape, Matt Wright (QLD) 

Junior (photographers less than 18 a long time of age): 

Winner: You Cannot See Me, Georgia McGregor (QLD) 
Runner-up: Cockatoo, Aidan Cimarosti (NSW) 

Our Affect (depicting human affect on mother nature): 

Winner: Bound, jammed inside of, and posted, Doug Gimesy (VIC) 
Runner-up: One-use Drifter, Justin Gilligan, (NSW) 

Threatened Species (threatened, uncommon, susceptible or endangered species): 

Winner: Declining Species, Scott Portelli (NSW) 
Runner-up: In the Shadows, Tom Svensson, Sweden 

Portfolio Prize (best portfolio of six or additional photos): 

Tim Wrate (NSW)  

To view the comprehensive gallery of shortlisted pictures, you can stop by the web page right here. 

By Harmony