A psychedelic inside-out macro view of a cauliflower soft coral has been named winning image of the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.
The photograph taken by Western Australian photographer Ross Gudgeon was captured in the waters of Lembeh Strait, off North Sulawesi, in Indonesia.
The coral is named for its characteristic resemblance to a cauliflower, with numerous small, rounded, bump-like polyps that give it a puffy texture.
Ross was able to achieve the unique perspective by using a Nauticam extended macro wide lens, an underwater version of the probe - or insect eye - lens.
Ross said the dive during which he took the award-winning photograph ironically started off as quite boring.
"Normally dives here (North Sulawesi) are full of weird and wonderful critters but on this one, there was very little of interest to photograph," he said.
"At one point I found myself surrounded by many clumps of cauliflower soft coral which from the outside aren’t terribly photogenic as they just look like lumps of red cauliflower.
"I carefully threaded the end of the extended macro wide lens through the branches of the soft coral so as not to damage them to take an image looking from the inside out.
"After some trial and error and with backlighting from my strobes I was able to produce my winning image.
"The moral of my story is that beauty can be found anywhere."
For his achievement, Ross received the overall winner’s prize of $10,000 and a cruise with Coral Expeditions.
Winners in the competition’s 10 categories also received $1500 each, including the Junior winner Isabella Rogers from South Australia who won with her image of two galahs perched on a lamp post at dawn.
The category winners
- Animals in Nature: Charles Davis, Cooma, NSW (PJ & Crabs)
- Aerial: Charles Davis Cooma, NSW (Jabiru Leaf)
- Macro: Talia Greis, Sydney, NSW (Liftoff)
- Landscape: Darren Wassell, Buderim, Qld (The Beast)
- Threatened Species: Etienne Littlefair, Robin Falls, NT (Red Dwan)
- Monochrome: Rachelle Mackintosh, Gymea Bay, NSW (Party Streamer)
- Our Impact: Sara Corlis, Sydney, NSW (Skink in a Tight Spot)
- Astrophotography: Marley Butler, Perth, WA (Oberon Kenobi)
- Portfolio: Peter McGee, Sydney, NSW (Sydney Cephalopod Portraits)
- Junior: Isabella Rogers, Adelaide, SA (Perched, pictured below)
Junior winner Isabella Rogers said her category win would only bolster her photographic career.
"As a young photographer this win has made me feel more confident and secure with my artwork," she said.
"Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the incredible work produced by other photographers, and I feel very lucky to
be part of this exhibition.
"For me, photography is an opportunity to explore my creativity and escape from everyday life. It gives me the chance to clear my head and connect with nature."
The competition, owned and produced by the South Australian Museum, is in its 22nd year.
Regarded as Australia’s most prestigious nature photographic prize, this year's contest attracted 1864 images from 449 photographers in 18 countries.
Entries are accepted covering content from across the ANZANG bioregion – Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea.
The winners were announced on August 28, and an exhibition featuring the 99 shortlisted images opens at the South Australian Museum on Saturday 30 August.
A People’s Choice award will be announced in January.
The judges included Scott Portelli, who was the overall competition winner in 2021 and 2024, professional photographer David Stowe and ecologist and wildlife photographer Jasmine Vink.
Scott said Ross Gudgeon’s winning image was incredible.
"The intricate details of this living organism brought to life through a unique macro perspective allows us to enter an ethereal realm," he said.
"Colour, texture, structure, is captured beautifully. The composition and framing of this subject within the underwater environment is truly a masterpiece of creativity.
"It shows an environment that few people see, presented in such a stunning way."
The exhibition will run at the South Australian Museum until 1 February 2026. Adult entry to the exhibition is $12, concession/students $10, children under 12 years of age free. Please note that entry to South Australian Museum special exhibitions is now cashless. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door by card only.
The exhibition will also go on display at the Australian Museum in Sydney from 25 October 2025 to 15 February 2026.
The full gallery of photographs from this year’s competition can be found here (external site).
