There were a remarkable 284 entries over nine categories with the largest being the Birds category with 71 entries.

The overall first prize went to the “Hunting Reef Heron” by Georgia Poyner of Narooma, who also won several other categories.

Georgia is 13 years old and has won numerous other photographic competitions with her wildlife shots, and she also designed the Christmas whale decorations up around Narooma these holidays.

Georgia’s winning shot of a grey heron snapping up what looks to be a small blackfish or luderick was taken along the oyster rocks at Apex Park at Narooma.

Her father Jon, an accomplished wildlife photographer in his own right, said she sat there for well over an hour watching and taking photos!

Second prize went to Penny Beaver from Bermagui with her “Spiny Spider” and third prize went to Harrison Warne from South Pambula with “Mustard Bellied snake in the S-position”.

All the entries and the winners can be seen on the Atlas of Life website at www. alcw.org.au

Judges David Gallan commented; “The overall winners are subjects technically difficult to record and are outstanding in terms of all criteria. They capture behaviour and action in a brilliant way.

Fellow judges Rob Richardson and Peter Horne said; “The standard of photos submitted was generally very high. We really could have given highly commended to most of the photos”.

There has been so much interest in the competition that there is sure to be another in 2014. The organisers would like to thank all participants and also the judges.

The Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness is a long-term project to build an atlas of biodiversity on the Far South Coast, where the community works with science to explore, learn and record.