04/09/2026
Broome-based drone photographer Matt Deakin has won the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year with ‘Ethereal Encounter’.
The photo depicts a critically endangered green sawfish swimming with a green turtle in waters off a remote part of the Pilbara coast between Broome and Port Hedland.
Deakin said he spends around half the year with his camera and drone looking for marine life, and attributes the result to consistency.
“I was just flying the drone around looking for turtles and stingrays and this sawfish just presented itself in the shallow water,” he said.
When he received his drone back on only 3%, he was shocked at the result.
“I was so excited with what I’d seen and I ran over to my partner….I was almost ecstatic and lost for words.”
The competition attracted more than 2,100 entries from 501 photographers in 17 countries.
“It feels like a heroic image for the region,” he said.
Congratulations Matt!
📸 Matt Deakin
📝Mietta Adams
