Erin Brady, Breaking the Blue (LANDSCAPE & ENVIRONMENT 2026)

Photographed from a whale-watching boat in Hervey Bay, this curious humpback surfaced beside us and appeared to peer above the water. I captured the moment to preserve the wonder of meeting such a powerful yet gentle animal in its natural environment. For a few unforgettable seconds, it felt as though the whale was just as interested in us as we were in it.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.