Spring 2026 Wildlife Photography Contest – 2nd Place Winner

King Penguin Surfacing by Richard John Arculus

The subantarctic islands south of New Zealand were rarely visited in the past, except by fishing vessels, scientists, and conservationists. In recent years, however, they have become increasingly popular destinations for expedition cruises, drawn by the remarkable abundance and variety of seals, albatrosses, petrels, and penguins that frequent the islands and surrounding seas.

One of the largest is Macquarie Island, administered by Australia, where a permanent ranger station has successfully overseen the removal of feral animals that were devastating the native habitat. Many ground-nesting bird species have since made substantial recoveries.

While anchored in Sandy Bay on the northeast coast — sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds — and between shore visits, I watched King Penguins porpoising from the stern of the expedition ship, hoping to photograph one or two at the crest of their leaps. The overcast conditions were challenging, given the need for a high shutter speed to freeze the action. Fortuitously, one penguin surfaced close to the ship just as I was ready — and this photograph is the result.

Canon EOS R5 Mark II · 100–500mm lens · Centre-weighted exposure · 1/4000s · f/8