Josh Galicki

Josh Galicki is a published, award-winning wildlife and fine art photographer, business owner, and camera gear brand ambassador based on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. His portfolio spans the rich coastal habitats surrounding his home along the Chesapeake Bay as well as remote and untamed landscapes around the world. 

As a seasoned judge for international photography competitions, Josh brings together technical expertise and artistic vision, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, conservation, and creative expression. He is also co-host of the Wildlife Photography Podcast, where he engages photographers and nature enthusiasts in thoughtful conversations about craft, ethics, and the evolving role of wildlife imagery as fine art. 

Josh’s work reflects a lifelong passion for the natural world, rooted in early birdwatching adventures in rural Pennsylvania and developed into a body of photography that seeks to inspire curiosity, respect, and a deeper connection to wildlife and the landscapes they inhabit. 

Nathan Watson

Nathan is an award-winning nature photographer based in Albany on Western Australia’s south coast. 

He has been a member of Birdlife Photography Australia since 2019 and was the gold medal winner in the advanced section of the group’s internal competitions in 2024. 

Bird photography is a creative outlet for Nathan that has also given him a deeper appreciation of birds and nature, a joy he is now sharing with his two young children who are also developing a keen eye for birdwatching. 

Nathan’s approach is inspired by using light creatively to capture images that showcase the beauty of birds and encourage greater appreciation of the avian world. 

Shortlisted in the Birdlife Australia Photography awards for the past six years, winning several category awards and the portfolio award in 2024, Nathan’s images have also been recognised in the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, Bird Photographer of the Year, Australian Photography Awards, WildArt Photographer of the Year and Close-Up Photographer of the Year. 

Transitioning from contestant to judge in this year’s competition, Nathan is looking forward to seeing the many wonderful images entered and finding new inspiration from others. 

Richard Flack

Richard is a husband, dad and professional wildlife photographer from South Africa. By capturing birds in their unique and magnificent environments, he hopes to promote Africa's birdlife and raise funds for their conservation.

For more information including his photography portfolio, curated mentorship programmes and workshops please visit his website.

Angela Robertson-Buchanan

Angela Robertson-Buchanan is an award-winning creative bird photographer, published children's author and lecturer with Nikon School and the Australian Museum. 

Angela combines her interests in wildlife and photography by creating projects and exhibitions where she can convey a conservation message, as well as supporting wildlife organisations by donating prints or a percentage of sales.

Angela is also the founder and curator of an annual bird exhibition held in conjunction with National Bird Week and the Aussie Bird Count ‒ an event by Birdlife Australia to inspire Australians to become involved in bird conservation. Each year, 20% of exhibition art sales are donated to BirdLife Australia’s conservation work, and the exhibition has raised over $20,000 in the five years it has been running.

Angela's photographic techniques align with her respect for nature. She relies on natural light rather than flash, a passion she teaches in her workshops ‒ as well as the importance of maintaining high ethical standards when you are working with wildlife.

Angela loves photographing urban birds and is fascinated how they interact with the man-made environment.

Melissa Zappelli

Melissa Zappelli is a self-taught nature photographer with a deep love for birds and their environment. She grew up on a remote desert cattle station and has always felt a strong connection with creatures and country.

Melissa has had images shortlisted in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea region (ANZANG) and Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) photography competitions. A long-time interest in photography intensified back in 2014 when her husband was diagnosed with cancer and photography became a way to make sense of some extremely difficult life experiences. Time spent in the desert, forest and ocean photographing birds calmed anxiety and created perspective.

Melissa loves writing as much as she loves photography, and over time these two pursuits have become strongly intertwined as a means to evoke emotion, tell stories and create connection and meaning. These days Melissa uses her photography to advocate for conservation and the environment and to inspire a love of nature in others. 

Peter O'Brien

Peter O’Brien has a passion for photographing nature, particularly birds. Although he started later in life, he has immersed himself in the competitive photographic world. Peter was the Competition Coordinator at the Castle Hill RSL Photography Club (the largest in NSW) for eight years and is currently the President. In addition, Peter is the Print Secretary at The Entrance Camera Club.

Peter developed an interest in national and international exhibitions and has achieved an Excellence distinction in the International Federation of Photographic Art (EFIAP) and was awarded Grand Master of the Australian Photographic Society (GMAPS).

Peter has achieved 53 international photography awards in nature including Gold, Silver, Bronze. By encouraging others, he has had the pleasure of seeing others achieving recognition at international levels when they did not believe that this could be achieved.

Following his involvement in international competitions, Peter has moved into the judging world and is an accredited judge with the Federation of Camera Clubs NSW.

Peter can be found most days out photographing birds, both for pleasure and capturing “that image”.

Tim Van Leeuwen

Tim Van Leeuwen is a keen amateur bird photographer who became a member of Birdlife Photography (BLP) in 2014. During his time with BLP Tim has benefited enormously through spending his time with and learning from the talented and like minded members within BLP.

Tim has participated in the BLP internal competitions and has had some success winning silver medals in the advanced section in 2016/2017/2019. Tim has also had a number of his images shortlisted in BAPA and ANZANG competitions.

In 2018 Tim was awarded the Member of the Year award, served as BLP President from 2020 to 2023 and was a BAPA judge in 2023. In 2024 Tim was awarded Life Membership for his contribution to BLP.

Tim is married to Mandy and has three children and lots of wonderful grandchildren. As well as photography Tim is a keen open water swimmer.

Tim is excited to take on the coordinators role for BAPA and is looking forward to working with Birdlife Australia and his judging panel to find and award Australia’s best bird photographs for 2026.