The 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition is on in Sydney!

This is the only place around town where you can see a monkey ride a deer, a rare horseshoe crab, plus many more images that capture the full breadth of nature’s magnificence.

Is Sydney’s rain getting on your last nerve? The arts are here to save us once again!

The 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is on at the Australian National Maritime Museum until November, and it’s an inspiring way to feel connected to the outdoors, even while indoors.

‘The ancient mariner’ by Laurent Ballesta was the winning shot! | © Laurent Ballesta

The works are actually on loan from London’s Natural History Museum and feature over 100 impressive images shot from around the world. The jury, who had the painstaking task of choosing finalists from over 49,000 entries, included world-renowned photographers, cinematographers, biologists, and editors.

When walking through the Sydney exhibition, you’ll find the photos grouped into categories, with the overall winners presented towards the entrance. They include:

• Animals in Their Environment
• Animal Portraits
• Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles
• Behaviour: Birds
• Behaviour: Invertebrates
• Behaviour: Mammals
• Oceans: The Bigger Picture
• Plants and Fungi
• Natural Artistry
• Underwater
• Urban Wildlife
• Wetlands: The Bigger Picture
• Photojournalism

You’re taken on a unique journey of wonder, tragedy, beauty, and insight.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for kids under 15, and free for ankle biters under four. The museum is open from 10am – 4pm, Monday to Sunday.

My Experience at the 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition

I was blown away at the calibre of work on display. It’s not just a room full of nice potential screensavers – the photos reflect, reveal, or teach a story of the natural world.

One of my main takeaways was the immense power that photography holds in order to create systemic change. There are two videos at the exhibition detailing how a photographer’s portfolio catalysed the protection of certain animals.

For example, the reality of tiger tourism in the US was captured by Steve Winter, a celebrated National Geographic photographer and seasoned Wildlife Photographer of the Year awardee. His work was integral to the creation of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which prohibits big cats from being kept as pets and prohibits exhibitors from allowing public contact with big cats and cubs.

On the flip side of that sentiment, it’s a medium that can expose how we destroy wildlife – shown from all angles. Particularly in the photojournalism section of the exhibition, it’s a conflicting experience seeing a visually beautiful photo detail utter tragedy. But it’s these multi-faceted, complex responses that leave us so impacted, and a part of why art is such an advocate for nature.

The tourism bulldozer by Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar | © Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar

Primarily, I think the key to forming a respectful relationship with the natural world is to be among it. But if you can’t get out there? Learn about it. Exhibitions like the 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year are an entertaining and thought-provoking way to do so.

You get to walk around snapshots of far-reaching corners of the world, jumping into different perspectives shared by masters of their craft (some of them are even teenagers!).

So if you’re looking to disappear into nature while still in the city, head to the Australian National Maritime Museum for your quick wildlife fix.

Feature image by © Atsuyuki Ohshima