Perth hobbyist photographer Donald Chin has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition after capturing a rare moment at Herdsman Lake. The 58-year-old's image shows a juvenile tawny frogmouth stretching its wings to shield two siblings as light rain began to fall.
Unexpected Moment Leads to National Recognition
What began as a routine early morning walk for Mr Chin turned into a career-defining opportunity. "Initially they had their eyes closed," he said. "And just as some light showers started to fall, one of the tawny frogmouths stretches out his wings and I was like, wow, I was pretty excited. He opened his eyes and yeah, I took that shot. I was really thrilled."
Now in its 23rd year, the competition is produced by the South Australian Museum and is considered the pinnacle of nature photography in the region. This year, it attracted 2129 entries from 501 photographers across 17 countries, spanning 10 categories. Only 100 images made the final cut for the upcoming exhibition.
High Standards and Tough Judging
Former winner and 2026 judge Ross Gudgeon said narrowing the field required ruthless attention to detail. "The standard this year was extremely high," Mr Gudgeon said. "It was very easy getting down to 200 photos, but it then got very difficult narrowing it down again to the final 100. In the end, it was pretty much attention to detail that was the difference."
Mr Chin is among a powerhouse crop of WA finalists that includes Lewis Burnett, Nathan Watson, Georgina Steytler, Beth Baker, Elizabeth Oxnam, Brooke Pyke, Matt Deakin, Kendra Campbell, Sharon Jones, Scott Portelli, and Francois Brassard.
A Personal Victory for Mr Chin
For Mr Chin, who focuses primarily on wildlife and landscapes, making the shortlist among such high-calibre peers is a victory in itself. "This is my third year entering the competition and each year I can see the images are getting better and better," he said. "The quality of the work being submitted, it's really pristine."
Prizes and Exhibition Details
The overall winner and category winners will be revealed via a video announcement on Thursday, August 27, ahead of the exhibition opening at the South Australian Museum on Saturday, August 29. The stakes are high, with a $10,000 grand prize for the overall winner, $1500 for category winners, and a People's Choice award to be voted on by the public and announced in January.
