The Gold Coast Bulletin

Window into an amazing world

- KATRINA SICHLAU

EVER wonder what’s really going on under the sea? Well, wonder no longer. Photograph­er Justin Gilligan, who has been crowned the 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photograph­er of the Year, has given us a glimpse of life in the deep blue with his eyeopening collection of images.

Mr Gilligan, who has been taking photos underwater for 20 years, took out the gong with his image ‘Predatory Pursuit’, which depicts a Maori octopus as it preys on a large cast of spider crabs.

“The octopus was behaving like an excited child in a candy store trying to work out which crab to consume – its eyes were definitely bigger than its belly,” Mr Gilligan said of the remarkable image that was captured between Maria Island and mainland Tasmania.

Mr Gilligan’s photo was selected from 2,174 images and his prize includes $10,000, plus a trip to Antarctica. He also took out first place in the Botanical and Our Impact categories of the competitio­n.

“I’m blown away and extremely grateful,” he said.

“It’s an honour to be recognised in a competitio­n that raises the profile and awareness of creatures and landscapes that don’t have their own voice.”

?? Picture: JUSTIN GILLIGAN ?? This remarkable image of a crowd of spider crabs and a predatory Maori octopus, taken at the Mercury Passage between Maria Island and mainland Tasmania, has won the 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photograph­er of the Year award for NSW man Justin...
Picture: JUSTIN GILLIGAN This remarkable image of a crowd of spider crabs and a predatory Maori octopus, taken at the Mercury Passage between Maria Island and mainland Tasmania, has won the 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photograph­er of the Year award for NSW man Justin...
?? Picture: JULIE FLETCHER ?? Julie Fletcher won the Portfolio Prize for images including this beautiful photograph of a giant gum tree.
Picture: JULIE FLETCHER Julie Fletcher won the Portfolio Prize for images including this beautiful photograph of a giant gum tree.
?? Picture: TESS POYNER ?? Fourteen-year-old Tess Poyner was runner-up in the Junior category for this impressive image of an eastern grey making its way through the water on a misty morning at Tanja Lagoon in southern NSW.
Picture: TESS POYNER Fourteen-year-old Tess Poyner was runner-up in the Junior category for this impressive image of an eastern grey making its way through the water on a misty morning at Tanja Lagoon in southern NSW.
?? Picture: JENNIE STOCK ?? This photo of a windblown egret was judged best in the Animal Portrait category.
Picture: JENNIE STOCK This photo of a windblown egret was judged best in the Animal Portrait category.
?? Picture: ELIZABETH HOWELL ?? A grey-headed flying fox coming in for a drink on the Parramatta River.
Picture: ELIZABETH HOWELL A grey-headed flying fox coming in for a drink on the Parramatta River.
?? Picture: TRACEY JENNINGS ?? This picture of a whale shark feeding was runner-up in the monochrome category.
Picture: TRACEY JENNINGS This picture of a whale shark feeding was runner-up in the monochrome category.
?? Picture: JULIE FLETCHER ?? A coolabah tree with a large gnarly branch contrasts with dead gum trees.
Picture: JULIE FLETCHER A coolabah tree with a large gnarly branch contrasts with dead gum trees.
?? Picture: JASON HOSKING ?? A southern royal albatross practices ‘sky calling’ while two others clap bills.
Picture: JASON HOSKING A southern royal albatross practices ‘sky calling’ while two others clap bills.

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