The 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, Justin Gilligan, turns his creative eye to the uniqueicy world of beauty and contrast that he found at the end of the Earth on an expedition to East Antarctica.
Justin Gilligan travelled to Antarctica as part of his prize for winning the 2017 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition. The prize was kindly donated by Heritage Expeditions and you too can visit such wild landscapes with Heritage – see p91. The 2019 competition closes on 25 January and we’re pleased to announce that Justin will join Tui De Roy and Glenn McKimmin to judge the 2019 entries.
WATCHING FROM A ROLLING hill peppered with tussocks of endemic grasses, I’m awestruck by the rawness of the scene before me. And I’m grateful the pelting wind and occasional squalls have subsided enough to allow the return of southern royal albatross to the slopes of subantarctic Campbell Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s late afternoon and the sun dips towards the horizon, breaks through the clouds and spotlights the birds, many of which are now on the ground, congregating closely and vocalising with each other.
In the distance, other royals soar like pterodactyls on thermals high above broken cliffs reminiscent of fallen castles. It’s a fitting scene for this iconic species. Like their cousin, the wandering albatross, royals have a wingspan of more than 3m, larger than that of any other bird.
Looking west towards Dent Island and east towards our expedition vessel, the Russian-flagged Akademik Shokalskiy, anchored in Perseverance Harbour, the handful of brave expedition members remaining to take in the scene on this final landing are again reminded just how far removed from civilisation we are. It’s been a consistent theme throughout our 30-day expedition – the feeling that we’re among the fortunate few to have experienced a remote and wild realm where nature rules.
Denne historien er fra January/February 2019-utgaven av Australian Geographic Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January/February 2019-utgaven av Australian Geographic Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Loveday Internment Camp, SA A
DURING WORLD WAR II, civilians n Australia deemed \"enemy aliens\" - mostly those of German, Italian and Japanese descent were housed in internment camps.
THE STORYTELLERS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
More than 100 dedicated Master Reef Guides are sharing the GBR's most important stories with visitors in a bid to inspire its greater protection.
A BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
Does last summer's mass coral bleaching event sound a death knell for Australia's beloved Great Barrier Reef? \"Not on my watch!\" is the message coming from he army of heartbroken, but resolute, marine scientists who've responded to the crisis by doubling down on their research.
AROUND AUSTRALIA IN 44 DAYS
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first aerial circumnavigation of Australia. Aviator Michael Smith retraces the flight in his unique amphibious flying boat, Southern Sun, starting and finishing at RAAF Base Point Cook, on Melbourne's Port Phillip, taking in 15,000km of vast, diverse and stunning coastline in between.
CLEAR-CUTTING KOALA COUNTRY
More than 3000sq.km of forests on NSW's Mid North Coast have been earmarked for the Great Koala National Park. But there's still work to be done before this proposed reserve becomes the safe haven koalas desperately need.
MORE THAN QUOKKAS
Sure, you can't avoid those cute little marsupials that made Rottnest Island world-famous, but there's so much more to life on this ocean-ringed jewel off the Western Australian coast.
A WILD POLO TUSSLE
It's an event reminiscent of a Banjo Paterson poem. For 35 years, in the High Country 200km east of Melbourne, city polo players have gathered annually at Cobungra, Victoria's largest cattle station, to vie with a rural team for the Dinner Plain Polo Cup.
Ancient know-how meets a modern challenge
Contemporary marine park management is infused with traditional knowledge to tackle new threats on the Great Barrier Reef.
LOOKING FOR TJAKURA
The search is on across Australia's deserts for a culturally important vulnerable lizard.
RESCUING THE CHUDITCH
After intensive planning, recovery for this endangered marsupial species is being stepped up to secure its future.
