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Captions from the 2023 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition Stop 7 of 13

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The Overall Winner

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Overall Winner

Australian Geographic Photographer of the Year 2023.

My Country Burns

Samuel Markham, New South Wales

Nothing can prepare someone for being straight in the line of a pyrocumulonimbus firestorm with a built-in flashover and temperatures exceeding 1000°C. While protecting my home on New Year’s Eve 2019, daylight turned into darkness with 40m-plus flames. Image taken 20 minutes after the fire front had passed.

Judges' comments

This is a breathtaking, scary photograph, full of energy and visual drama which is indicative of the world in which we now live. Despite the circumstances this isn’t a panicked shot; it is a studied composition with extraordinary detail. Many layers draw us into the scene, giving us a genuine feeling of being part of the firestorm.

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Stops in tour

Stop 1
Introduction and Acknowledgement
See nature in focus through stunning images by professional, emerging and junior photographers who have shown impeccable timing, patience, artistry and technique to capture incredible moments in time.
Stop 2
The Competition and Judges
The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year celebrates the diversity of nature in the bioregion encompassing Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea.
Stop 3
Macro
The Macro category is Intended to examine small elements of nature up close, with the subject to be presented larger than life size.
Stop 4
Urban Animals
The animal(s) depicted may be either native or feral but must be shown in a setting that indicates the presence of human activity.
Stop 5
Portfolio
The Portfolio Prize is awarded to the photographer who enters the best portfolio of six images with a common theme selected by the photographer.
Stop 6
Threatened Species
The subject(s) depicted must be listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Stop 7
The Overall Winner
Overall Winner of the 2023 Australian Geographic Photographer of the Year.
Stop 8
Astrophotography
The subject of the photograph must be the night sky, including astronomical objects, celestial events and areas of the night sky.
Stop 9
Animals in Nature
The animal(s) must be photographed in a natural environment. They may be either native or feral but must be depicted in nature with minimal evidence of human activity.
Stop 10
Monochrome
This category includes all monochrome photography including black and white, sepia-toned and infrared photographs.
Stop 11
Junior
The entrants must be under 18 years of age at the date of close of entries.
Stop 12
Landscape
A landscape or seascape that shows a natural environment. Evidence of humans can be present; however, it must not be the focus of the photograph.
Stop 13
Our Impact
The image must depict human impact on nature, be it terrestrial, aquatic or atmospheric. This impact may be positive or negative.

Stop 1
Introduction and Acknowledgement
See nature in focus through stunning images by professional, emerging and junior photographers who have shown impeccable timing, patience, artistry and technique to capture incredible moments in time.
Stop 2
The Competition and Judges
The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year celebrates the diversity of nature in the bioregion encompassing Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea.
Stop 3
Macro
The Macro category is Intended to examine small elements of nature up close, with the subject to be presented larger than life size.
Stop 4
Urban Animals
The animal(s) depicted may be either native or feral but must be shown in a setting that indicates the presence of human activity.
Stop 5
Portfolio
The Portfolio Prize is awarded to the photographer who enters the best portfolio of six images with a common theme selected by the photographer.
Stop 6
Threatened Species
The subject(s) depicted must be listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Stop 7
The Overall Winner
Overall Winner of the 2023 Australian Geographic Photographer of the Year.
Stop 8
Astrophotography
The subject of the photograph must be the night sky, including astronomical objects, celestial events and areas of the night sky.
Stop 9
Animals in Nature
The animal(s) must be photographed in a natural environment. They may be either native or feral but must be depicted in nature with minimal evidence of human activity.
Stop 10
Monochrome
This category includes all monochrome photography including black and white, sepia-toned and infrared photographs.
Stop 11
Junior
The entrants must be under 18 years of age at the date of close of entries.
Stop 12
Landscape
A landscape or seascape that shows a natural environment. Evidence of humans can be present; however, it must not be the focus of the photograph.
Stop 13
Our Impact
The image must depict human impact on nature, be it terrestrial, aquatic or atmospheric. This impact may be positive or negative.

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