I’m thrilled to share some exciting news — my photo A Leopard’s Curiosity has won the Wildlife – Partner & Affiliates category at the 2025 Sony Alpha Awards.
The Alpha Awards have always been a standout competition for me, celebrating some of the most talented photographers across Australia and New Zealand. This year was particularly special, not only because the Awards marked their 10th anniversary, but also because it coincides with my 10th year representing Sony as an official ambassador. To be recognised in the same year feels like a full-circle moment in my journey with the organisation.
The winning shot was captured in Antarctica, during an encounter with one of the region’s most formidable yet graceful predators — the leopard seal. Wildlife photography is about patience, respect, and a fair bit of luck. On this day, the seal turned towards me with a look of pure curiosity — a fleeting second that spoke volumes about the animal’s intelligence and character. I pressed the shutter, and just like that, the moment was captured forever. These are the kinds of encounters that remind me why I do what I do: the privilege of witnessing wildlife on its own terms, in some of the most remote corners of the planet.
What I love most about the Alpha Awards is how they reflect the diversity of creative expression across the region. More than 3,000 images were submitted this year across 13 categories — from landscapes and portraiture to architecture and astrophotography. To have my work stand alongside such an extraordinary body of photography is incredibly humbling.
I also think it’s fantastic that Sony recognised the growing passion for nature photography and made the decision to split the category into three new ones: Bird Life, Sea Life, and Wildlife. It highlights how vast and varied the natural world is, and how many different ways photographers can connect with it. For me, capturing a leopard seal in Antarctica is about more than documenting the animal — it’s about telling a story of resilience, adaptability, and curiosity in one of the harshest environments on earth.
Celebrating 10 years
Looking back on my 10 years as a Sony ambassador, I feel grateful for the opportunities that journey has given me. From diving beneath the ocean to capture the grace of whales, to trekking across frozen landscapes in search of elusive wildlife, the technology has been a tool that helps translate vision into something tangible. But it’s the philosophy behind the brand — to inspire creativity through technology — that resonates most. In many ways, this award feels like a celebration not just of a single photograph, but of an ongoing partnership that has shaped my work over the past decade.
Photography, for me, has always been about connection. It’s about slowing down, being present, and finding stories in fleeting moments. If A Leopard’s Curiosity sparks even a little wonder or respect for wildlife in someone who sees it, then that’s what makes it truly worthwhile.
