Australia Zoo is thrilled to announce the winners of the Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition, marking a decade of extraordinary photography and celebrating the beauty of our natural world.
The milestone year attracted a record-breaking 17,400 entries from around the globe, a 27.3% increase from the previous year, revealing an incredible selection of images that capture the diversity of wildlife and wild places.
This year also saw the introduction of the new Australia category, supported by Tourism Australia, celebrating the nation’s unique wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and natural wonders. Photographers were invited to capture the spirit and diversity of Australia, from rugged coastlines and vast deserts to its iconic native wildlife.
Wildlife conservationist and photographer Robert Irwin said, “We’ve had our most successful year yet for the Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition, with a phenomenal calibre of entries, and we’ve been thrilled to see so many photographers share their unique stories with us.”
“It is incredibly rewarding to bring together a passionate global community that is united by a shared love of wildlife and photography. Every image has the potential to spark curiosity, build a deeper connection with the natural world, and inspire people to value and protect the wildlife we share our planet with,” said Robert.
Australia Zoo received an incredible array of entries across the competition’s categories of Crikey! Magazine Cover, Australia, The Natural World, Crikey! Kids 10 Years and Under, Crikey! Kids 11 to 14 Years and Crikey! Kids 15 to 17 Years.
Tiffany Taxis, winner of Crikey! Cover, captured a striking image of a polar bear walking along a bare Hudson Bay shoreline during a late freeze-up, highlighting the challenges they face with rising temperatures. The image will feature on the cover of the 2026 summer edition of Crikey! Magazine.
The inaugural Australia category was won by Michael Eastwell for his compelling image of two wallabies playing on the beach at Cape Hillsborough as the sun broke through the clouds. After three consecutive sunrises, Eastwell captured the spectacular moment on his final morning.
The Natural World category winner, Kendall Williams, captured an incredible face-to-face encounter with a great white shark, offering a fresh perspective on one of Australia’s most misunderstood creatures.
Asher Lee won the Crikey! Kids 15-17 Years category with an intimate portrait of a Northern pygmy-owl, captured after weeks of searching for the tiny bird.
The Crikey! Kids 11-14 Years category winner, Tyler DeVane, captured four young kids emerging from their den, all looking directly towards the camera for a memorable glimpse into their early lives.
Finally, Erik Tucey won the Crikey! Kids 10 Years and Under category with a beautifully detailed photograph of a black-chinned hummingbird feeding on flowers beside Montana’s Flathead River.
The Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition is judged by an award-winning panel of photographers, conservationists and naturalists, including Robert Irwin, Kate Berry, Russell Shakespeare, Day Scott, Harman Singh Heer and Sean Scott.
A selection of high-scoring and memorable images will also be eligible for the People’s Choice Award, with the public invited to vote for their favourite from a shortlist selected by the judges.
With Tourism Australia, Canon Australia, CameraPro and The Crocodile Hunter Lodge supporting this year’s competition, winners will receive a range of prizes including cash awards, accommodation at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge and one-of-a-kind experiences at Australia Zoo.
