2017 Wildlife Photo Contest

Species: Stars-and-stripes Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus), Red Belled Jellyfish | Location: Coral Bay, Western Australia, Australia

While snorkeling over Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, these red belled jelly fish were a common site. I found one where a stars-and-stripes pufferfish was swimming up and down to take small bites from it. Jellyfish have stinging cells called nematocysts but this puffer wasn't deterred. Ningaloo Reef has been fortunate to avoid much of the coral bleaching that has been occurring worldwide due to a mixture of currents, which keep the temperature from rising too high during summer.

About The Photographer

Photography and film are large mediums which bring adventure and wonder to our living rooms. My personal goal is to share images of the natural world for the purpose of conservation and education. With wildlife photography, I believe it's important to share more than just a pretty picture. Informing the audience of the biology relating to the subject and the role it plays in its ecosystem bridges gaps and builds connections with nature.