Matthew Smith, Feeding Giants (LANDSCAPE & ENVIRONMENT 2025)

Photo shot under AAD & DCCEEW Cetacean Permit No. 2024-0009 by a licensed and insured drone pilot. Each summer, humpback whales journey to Antarctica to feed on krill—tiny crustaceans that are vital to the Southern Ocean food web. Using a method called bubble-net feeding, groups of whales trap krill in spirals of bubbles before lunging upward with mouths agape to consume thousands of litres of water and prey. This remarkable cooperative strategy reveals both the intelligence of these giants and the fragility of their ecosystem. As climate change threatens krill through warming seas and melting ice, the future of this ancient feeding ritual hangs in the balance.

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