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Lucky frog pic is best nature photo of the year

The winning photo, "Piercing Headache" of an orange-eyed tree frog and a pair of mosquitoes.

The winning photo, "Piercing Headache" of an orange-eyed tree frog and a pair of mosquitoes. Photo: Australian Geographic

With a little bit of luck, as Matthew McIntosh’s headlamp light began to fail, he snapped this year’s overall winner of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition.

McIntosh captured the winning image of an orange-eye tree frog with mosquitoes feeding at Cedar Bay National Park in far north Queensland, while on a road trip from Townsville to Cooktown.

“During the trip we stopped to investigate a chorus of orange-eyed tree frogs calling from foliage around an old car tyre filled with water from recent rain, with numerous males vying for the attention of nearby females,” McIntosh said.

“With my headlamp light failing I managed to take just one photo of uranotaenia mosquitoes, also affectionately known as ‘frog flies’ happily feeding from a frog’s head.

“Luckily it turned out more or less as I intended.”

McIntosh has won $10,000 plus a trip for two to the subantarctic islands worth $25,000.

David Westcott's entry "Well, Hello!" won the animal habitat section of the competition. Photo: Australian Geographic

David Westcott’s entry “Well, Hello!” won the animal habitat section of the competition. Photo: Australian Geographic

The judges described McIntosh’s image as striking with bold colours that “calls the viewer in for a second look”.

Julie Fletcher's "Aligning Planets" won the botanical section. Photo: Australian Geographic

Julie Fletcher’s “Aligning Planets” won the botanical section. Photo: Australian Geographic

Australian Geographic editor-in-chief Chrissie Goldrick said the competition often uncovered new perspectives of the world.

“These photographers do what many of us cannot in our busy lives — they sit, watch and wait to capture scientifically important aspects of nature,” she said.

The Australian Museum in Sydney will show the exhibition until October 9.

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