ANIMAL AND NATURE 2020: TOP 20
WINNER, ANIMAL & NATURE CATEGORY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2020
ALI MOUGHNIEH, 'INSECT PORTRAITS'
Ali Moughnieh is a Sydney based photographer, born and brought up in Kuwait but calling Sydney home since 2015. He says his striking insect portraits series is an attempt to show insects in a way the average person never sees.
“Humans have evolved to recognize faces; we look for the eyes, for the mouth, for the symmetry, we look for features similar to ours, because we understand them,” he explains.
However, because insects are very small, we only see them as a whole, we don’t see their faces, and therefore we don’t easily relate to them. What I’m trying to achieve with my work is to create shock and draw attention by showing a different perspective of insects, one that we were never meant to see!”
In order to achieve such high magnification and depth of field, Moughnieh focus stacks his images, with each image consisting of at least 80 superimposed photos of an insect's head. He says editing and processing these images is highly detailed and time consuming, with some taking several months to finish.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Steve and Ann Toon: Wow! Thanks so much Ali for transporting us to an alien world of marvellous insects and then holding us captive there. We couldn’t stop staring at these portraits. This bold, riveting portfolio successfully marries technical excellence and artistry. It takes time, patience, passion for your subject, and skill to pull off a ‘fab four’ like this. We love the way Ali’s turned the subjects into stars revealing the loud personalities of each insect while keeping them tight as a set – like members of a rock band.
Alex Cearns: This series presents insects we are all familiar with, yet they are captured in such intricate, frame-filling detail they appear alien like. We see them through the photographer's eyes, as a thing of beauty presented in a fresh and unique way. Excellence in focus stacking is demonstrated and precise editing (which takes vision and patience) has been applied. Overall, this is an incredible set of images with immense impact.
Georgina Steytler: This is a wonderful series of insect portraits, executed to perfection. The head-on perspective commands the attention of the viewer and once drawn into their world, the level of detail does not disappoint.
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RUNNER UP, ANIMAL & NATURE CATEGORY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2020
JASMINE VINK, 'ESSENTIAL WORKER'
Ecologist and wildlife photographer Jasmine Vink's work may already be familiar to you – she won the overall award of Photographer of the Year back in 2018 with a series of images of frogs from Borneo and Madagascar. Here, the Brisbane photographer has turned her attention to flying foxes, the 'essential workers' of the ecosystem that keep forests healthy and even assist bushland to recover after fire.
“Photographing wild black flying foxes was my photographic project while in lockdown,” Vink says. “I was able to visit a friend who had flying foxes regularly visit her backyard and spend time with them to gain their trust over several months.
After spending this time getting to know the regular flying foxes, I was able to approach more closely and achieve the intimate portraits I was seeking. I used different combinations of cameras on ladders, tripods, up to five speedlites and a high-speed IR trigger to produce my photographs.”
For the judges, her series perfectly demonstrates the value in knowing your subject, combined with impressive technical knowledge to capture these beautiful low-light portraits.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Steve and Ann Toon: Jasmine’s clearly up for a challenge in taking on some tough action photography in the dark. And she’s nailed it. This dramatic portfolio of wild flying foxes grabbed our attention from the off for its punchy precision and the crispness of detail in her masterful study of the species; whether it’s those engaging portraits or her awesome flight shots. She who dares wins!
Georgina Steytler: This portfolio encapsulates the nocturnal world of the flying foxes in four distinct, emotive images with a uniform narrative. The photographer has demonstrated an incredible level of photographic skill and their empathy for, and understanding of, their subject is manifest.
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TOP 20 FINISHERS, ANIMAL & NATURE CATEGORY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2020
3. Photo © Sarah Minall. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
4. Photo © Jannico Kelk. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
5. Photo © Harmon Singh Heer. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
6. Photo © Rory McLeod. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
7. Photo © Bronwyn Ellis. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
8. Photo © Mark Loh. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
9. Photo © Harmon Singh Heer. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
10. Photo © Deb Ford. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
11. Photo © Luke Alexander. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
12. Photo © Shane Daley. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
13. Photo © Bridgette Gower. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
14. Photo © Mark Loh. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
14. Photo © Daniel Towns. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
14. Photo © Harrison Warne. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
14. Photo © Jari Cornelis. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
18. Photo © Ste Everington. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
19. Photo © Louise Wolbers. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
20. Photo © Ie Ching Heow. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
20. Photo © Andrew Raguse. Animal & Nature Category, Photographer of the Year 2020.
