The photo, Glow Worms in an Abandoned Train Tunnel, was voted the People’s Choice winner in the 2024
competition and exhibition, currently on show at the Museum.
Adelaide-born, Sydney-based photographer David Muggleton, 37, captured the image while visiting the
small NSW town of Helensburgh. David works primarily in sports media and uses the travel that comes with his work as an opportunity to explore the many wondrous corners of the country.
His picture was shortlisted in the Our Impact category of the competition, which is all about human impact on nature. While a tunnel has cut its way through the landscape, hundreds of glow worms (Arachnocampa richardsae) have made the manmade structure their home, dotting its walls and ceilings
In describing the photo, David said: “In the dusk of a rainy summer’s day, the stunning glow worms of
Helensburgh glimmer brightly. Present in the rockfaces all around the abandoned train station, a few specks of blue can be found all around. The tunnel itself provides a perfect home for these magnificent creatures.”
Along with the public recognition, David scoops a cash prize of $500.
Photographers of all ages and experience, anywhere in the world, are invited to submit their best wildlife and landscape images, taken across the ANZANG (Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea)
bioregion.
In 2024, the prestigious photography competition – owned and produced by the South Australian Museum – attracted 1856 entries from 442 photographers across 12 countries.
Entries should address one of 10 categories in 2025: Animals in Nature, Aerial, Macro, Landscape, Threatened Species, Monochrome, Our Impact, Astrophotography, Junior, and Portfolio. There’s a prize for the overall winner, with the winning photographer – to be announced in August 2025 – scooping a cash prize of $10,000 and a holiday prize generously provided by Coral Expeditions. As well, there are cash prizes for each of the category winners and runners-up.
The 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition is on at the
South Australian Museum until 5 January 2025. Entries for the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition are now open until 6 February 2025 (closes 5pm).
For more information or to enter, go to samuseum.sa.gov.au/c/npoty
