In pictures: Australian Geographic’s photo prize winners
Stunning images of nature and wildlife across Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and some Pacific islands are recognised each year in the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition. Here are some of this year’s winners.
![Aerial image of a dead fin whale surrounded by circling sharks in aquamarine waters off Western Australia](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1270D/production/_108333557_overallwinner_matbeetson_watermarked.jpg)
![A man with an umbrella stands at the edge of a beach in Fingal Bay, New South Wales during a lightning storm](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/64E9/production/_108333852_floyd_mallon_junior.jpg)
![A crested horn shark swallowing the egg case of another shark species underwater in a Sydney reef](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16B05/production/_108333929_3d1aa163-d4b6-4340-abab-7fcbfb9d0a65.jpg)
![An orange decorator crab covered in many hydroids seen in waters in Indonesia](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5995/production/_108333922_9fe0abfb-750f-41b4-b0e8-c53ad7f70999.jpg)
![Two eastern grey kangaroos stand in a field in Kosciuszko National Park amid snowfall](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/CEC5/production/_108333925_8daf97bd-3327-420b-8886-57ec36cd7e03.jpg)
![Huge volumes of water crash down the Barron Falls in Kuranda, Queensland](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F5D5/production/_108333926_e218ab65-3cd4-4b46-a568-ce10bc67a101.jpg)
![A Mertens' water monitor lizard gazes at its reflection in the photographer's equipment](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14F49/production/_108333858_etienne_littlefair_threatened_species.jpg)
![A mum and baby wombat trek through the snow leaving tracks behind them in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10129/production/_108333856_charles_davis_portfolio-2.jpg)
![Dolphins dive next to humpback whales seen closer to the surface](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/A7B5/production/_108333924_5c0e792a-671d-4ba4-aea2-1e172209f86e.jpg)
![A dead kangaroo in a dry creek in Menindee Lakes in New South Wales](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11CE5/production/_108333927_fd2dedd3-c6a4-4029-937c-df2105bf95d1.jpg)
All photographs subject to copyright as marked.