Dunedin teen's amazing photo tops wildlife competition

Sam McGee's winning entry Water Wings.

The 2025 Tūhura Otago Museum Photographer of the Year Sam McGee, 17, of Dunedin, stands with his winning entry, Water Wings, at the exhibition opening last night. As well as taking the top award, he won the wildlife youth section. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

Floral Flow, by Conor Macfarlane. Natural abstract section winner.

Sky Over The Sounds, by Roshan Dixon. Landscape section winner.

Chinese Gentian Flowers, by Cora Bedwell. Botanical adult section winner.

Ferns of Bream Head, by Liam Townsend. Botanical youth section winner.

Puteketeke Yoga, by Monty McGee. Youth Photographer of the Year; highly commended wildlife youth section.

Green and Golden Bell Frog, by Luca Nikkel. Primary school entrant/The Breeze’s choice.

Hierodoris frigida moth, by Luca Nikkel. Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance’s choice.

Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, by Jordan Turner. ODT’s choice.

A Balanced Meal (juvenile male tomtit), by Neale McLanachan. Runner-up Photographer of the Year; wildlife adult section winner.

Kekerengu Dolphins, by Giles Bryant. First-time entrant winner; wildlife adult.

Seventeen-year-old Sam McGee has been named Tūhura Otago Museum’s photographer of the year.

Water Wings, a picture of a white-faced heron in mid-motion, emerged as the winner among more than 4450 entries from around the world.

“This stunning image of the heron in its breeding plumage impressed us with its excellent composition and moody, almost monochromatic tones,” the judging panel said.

“The patience in waiting for the heron to dip its beak into the water really paid off, the droplets add dynamic movement to the photo.”

Runner up for photographer of the year was Neale McLanachan for A balanced meal (juvenile male tomtit).

As well as being the overall winner of the competition, Sam was placed first in the youth wildlife category and his Lone Lion submission also earned him a runner up spot.

Sam’s 15-year-old brother, Monty McGee, debuted at the competition with Pūteketeke Yoga – of a native crested grebe – and was also named a runner up in the wildlife youth category.

Exhibition manager and competition judge Shanaya Cunningham said the judging process was done anonymously, but the McGees' images stood out.

“Finding out it was Monty’s first time entering took us all by surprise due to the detail and expertise in his image.”

Marketing manager Charlie Buchan said the competition was growing every year.

“It’s a brilliant showcase of photographic talent and a celebration of nature from New Zealand’s wildlife capital.”

An exhibition, Otago’s Lens on the Wild World, will showcase the best from the competition across four key categories: wildlife, landscape, botanical, and natural abstract.

It opens from 26 June until 12 October at Tūhura Otago Museum. Entry is free.