Last Monday night at the annual Canon/AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards Dinner, I was very excited to be recognised as the 2012 Canon/AIPP Australian Science, Environment and Nature Photographer of the Year.

This is the fourth time (previously in 2007, 2009, 2010) that I’ve won the category, which was this year sponsored by Nik Software. In it’s 36th year, the 2012 awards attracted over 3000 entries from all sectors of Australia’s professional photographic community.

The four images that make my portfolio this year were captured on trips in Tonga and South Australia and on last December’s Expedition to the the Coral Sea. The image of the great white shark was awarded a Silver with Distinction and my other three images received Gold Awards. The total points scored gave me the highest aggregate of points in the category, hence the category win.

Congratulations go to Adam Pretty whose fabulous portfolio of sporting images earned him the overall title of 2012 Australian Professional Photographer of the Year. A gallery of winners from the various categories, covering all aspects of professional photographic endeavour, can be found here. See Canon’s Press Release announcing the winners.