Best photos of the year
WELCOME TO the results of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition for 2022. This is the 10th year of our partnership with the South Australian Museum to present this contest and its public exhibitions, and it’s very gratifying to see it flourish with a record year for entries. We also welcome two new categories – Astrophotography and Urban Animals.
Photography is critical to how we communicate ideas and information at Australian Geographic. The power of images to tell stories or focus on issues transcends traditional linguistic and cultural barriers. Images can act as attention grabbers that allow us to follow up with more complex ideas and information. They have the power to pull us in, whet our appetite and stimulate our curiosity. They can also shock us or sadden us – maybe even galvanise us into action. The conservation movement relies heavily on the impact of strong imagery to move people to care enough to advocate, donate funds or become involved in practical ways.
Nature photography was once the preserve of an elite group of professional photographers, but technology has revolutionised the business of both photography and publishing. The sophistication of cameras, including those on our smartphones, plus the endless possibilities to share photos via social media, provide many good reasons why photography is such a rapidly growing recreational activity.
Our involvement with this competition is
