2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition

The winning image of the 2025 competition, ‘Fractal Forest’, by Ross Gudgeon reveals the intricate patterns of cauliflower soft coral beneath Indonesia’s Lembeh Strait, a marine ecosystem increasingly vulnerable to warming waters and environmental change. © Ross Gudgeon.

For the first time, the past winners from the last two decades will be shown alongside this year’s finalists, creating a powerful visual timeline documenting two decades of ecological change, from thriving coral reefs to threatened species, and the dramatic intersection between wildlife and human impact. NSW photographers dominate this year’s awards, with Charles Davis (Cooma, NSW) winning two categories and Sydney-based photographers Peter McGee, Talia Greis, Rachelle Mackintosh and Sara Corlis each taking home top honours, showcasing the state’s rich biodiversity and the keen eye of local conservation storytellers.

Produced by the South Australian Museum, in partnership with the Australian Museum, the exhibition features 120 images, including 99 finalists and all 21 past winners, selected from 1,864 entries across 18 countries. The exhibition is also on display at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide until 1 February 2026. Running concurrently with the exhibition is a series of Wildlife Photography Workshops, conducted by award-winning photographer Angela Robertson-Buchanan on 22–23 November and 13 December. They are open to anyone over the age of 16 and will cost $185 ($148 members) for the Beginner sessions and $200 ($160 members) for the Intermediate sessions.

The exhibition will remain open in Sydney between 25 October 2025 and 15 February 2026. Click here for more information.