Wildlife Photography // Geoff Rankin: photography, graphic design, music, writing, illustration, art + more

Wildlife Photography
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I love capturing the character of my subjects whether it's a bloodied seal, a scratching wombat, a foraging platypus, or even a lowly mudskipper.

All creatures here are wild & Australian. There are no pets or captive animals here (apart from the Tassie Devil right at the very end).

Welcome To Quokka Isle

Is there anything cuter, happier & friendlier than a wild quokka? No. This guy could have easily been the official welcoming party if it wasn't just a random quokka living away from the hustle and bustle of development.

And do mother quokkas really throw their babies at predators in order to save themselves? Of course not! Don’t believe everything you read on the interwebs, kids!

Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia

Eastern Brown Snake

Don't be fooled by the wry smile or rugged good-looks, this is...

THE SECOND-MOST VENOMOUS LAND SNAKE ON THE PLANET!

I encountered this Eastern Brown Snake at Point Venom, I mean Point Vernon, Hervey Bay. It happily posed for a few photos before slithering on its way.

Treatment for a bite is to remain as still as possible (though you've gotta get help ASAP), and apply a pressure bandage to the bite site. I don't think they are all as friendly as this one!

Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Cranky Franky

This is one of my favourite koala shots purely because of the expression on the koala’s face. It doesn’t seem thrilled that I am there, although I wasn’t doing anything to disturb it, apart from accidentally waking it up.

Raymond Island (Gippsland Lakes), Victoria, Australia

"The Platypus!"

The platypus has to be one of the coolest creatures on the planet. So I was delighted to see this one, and so unexpectedly.

I was driving down to Bruny Island from Launceston, and detoured via Richmond for a brief stop to get a few photos of the famous convict-built Richmond Bridge. I parked the car and hadn't even time to take a photo when someone called out, "It's back!" "What's back?" I asked. "The platypus!"

So if you're taking photos of the Richmond Bridge keep an eye out for this little guy. I did end up getting some really nice shots of the bridge, but this foraging platypus was by far the highlight of the stop.

Richmond, Tasmania, Australia

Waving Wombat Joey

The one thing cuter than a wombat joey in its mother's backward-facing pouch... is one waving. Or scratching but looking like waving. A cool thing to notice is the pouch faces backwards so it doesn't fill with dirt when mum digs. The flipside is the dear joey is in danger of flipping out the back every time mum darts here or dashes there. Oh hang on, that's right, we're talking about wombats here. When do they ever need to do a spot of dashing or darting? Never!

Ronny Creek (Cradle Mt), Tasmania, Australia

Jump Back Whale

“Did you really take that?” Yes. Of all the photos I've taken this is the one that this is asked most about. And the question stems not from questioning my skill as a photographer but rather a mingling of the awe and wonder of something so magnificent with the thought of capturing it so clearly and vividly. It still blows me away that whales can do this, as I’m sure it does you too!

Being out on the water, watching whales jump and splash about is one of nature's remarkable experiences. I highly recommend a visit during whale watching season if you get the chance.

Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Pygmy Possum

These guys are nocturnal so it's pretty special to see one foraging about during the day! They're also pretty small, especially when you're not too close to them, so the photo isn't the sharpest ever - but that's life & wildlife photography. You win some, you lose some - winning here was just seeing it.

Near Lake Wivenhoe, Queensland, Australia

Mr Whiskers

Australian Fur Seal extraordinaire, Mr Whiskers, enjoys the cool Southern Ocean air between bouts of sleep, chatting, smooching & fishing - not necessarily in that order. He poses in the hope that one of those passing by will finally throw him a fish. Sorry, mate, but photographers carry spare batteries, not fish, in their camera bags. And this ain’t a fishing boat.

Somewhere off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia

Goanna Lick

This Lace Monitor & I were strolling through Noosa National Park at the same time, which is usually a good thing. That tongue, hey? Pretty awesome!

Noosa National Park, Queensland, Australia

Sneak-idna

This Short-beaked Echidna was trying to make a dash for it when it thought I wasn’t looking.

Somewhere on the way to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby

I went to Warren Gorge to look for these guys - beautiful Yellow-footed Rock-Wallabies. I love their colours. You’d think they’d be easy to spot but no, they are the colours of the rocks around them so are quite camouflaged. Two days later the gorge would be closed for shooting Series 2 of the TV show Wolf Creek. Yikes!

Warren Gorge, South Australia, Australia

Hungry Hungry Quokka

They say not to feed the quokkas... These guys feed themselves! Munching machines, for sure & cuteness overload!

Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia

Koala Joey

I snapped this little one as it popped its head out from behind its mother. So delightful!

Raymond Island (Gippsland Lakes), Victoria, Australia

Wombat Munch

It's really nice having a big lens to take wildlife photos as this wombat was up the side of a hill. It's not like it was over the other side of a gaping chasm or anything - I just like getting close and personal when and wherever possible. This was close to dusk and the late afternoon light was doing its thing illuminating his furry fur. Backlit and beautiful. "Cheese."

Ronny Creek (Cradle Mt), Tasmania, Australia

Lookout Snake

Is it a snake, a meerkat, a sock puppet, a cross between all three? This Common Tree Snake ('Common' - not likely!) was merrily sunning itself when it saw me, took fright and slithered off into some nearby foliage (sage, for the diehard plant fans). I didn’t get a photo so I stuck around to see if it came back out. After about five minutes, to my complete surprise and utter amazement, I saw this - the snake checking out if I was still there or not! A few moments later it was gone. It did this two more times, each time a little closer, before partially slithering out for a closer inspection of me. Then, in a flash, it was gone for good, leaving me alone with some cute snake photos as mementoes.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Southern Angle-Headed Dragon

This beautiful Southern Angle-Headed Dragon posed for me in its rainforest living room. It’s the cutest little dinosaur around.

Maleny, Queensland, Australia

Grey-headed Flying Fox

I always just assumed bats just toileted upside-down. Nope, that’d be daft. I guess I’m the daft one for assuming it.

Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Homeward Mother & Child

Finally, after a long day of feeding, it comes time to wander up the hill and go home. The wombats did too.

I've always wanted to take photos of bears, and these mini-grizzlies strolling through the woods are cuter than the real thing. And far less dangerous! That being said, my wife once had a wombat persistently try to eat the bottom of her jeans, so maybe wombats aren't all that safe after all:)

Ronny Creek (Cradle Mt), Tasmania, Australia

Stony-creek Frog

Are you thinking you've never seen one so they must be uncommon? If you haven't seen one there are a few good reasons: you've never looked, they are active at night, they only live on the east coast of Australia, and they are almost impossible to spot if they don't jump! This is the female keeping low in foliage, which is exactly the same colour as she is. Have you noticed that even the top part of the eye is camouflaged? Very cool.

As it was late at night, I used a flash, but it didn't seem to mind.

Mt Glorious, Queensland, Australia

Bennett’s Wallaby

Much of southeast Australia calls this wallaby red-knecked, which I happen to think is a little unwarranted. I call him Wayne:)

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Mr Whiskers 2

Mr Whiskers, an Australian Fur Seal hauling out on an island off the southern coast of Tasmania. I’m in a boat, he’s on land, we left it at that.

Somewhere off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia

Super Spiky Fluff Ball

You may know that Echidnas ('Short-beaked' for the experts) are covered in spines, but did you know the spines looked this cool? And did you know that Echindas can be this fluffy? At least they are in Tassie. I guess spikes help keep you safe, not warm.

Somewhere on the way to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

Licking Lizard

I'm not sure what this Robust Rainbow-skink was trying to lick, but I licked there straight after it did and was fairly disappointed:) Its tongue is pretty cool.

Wallaman Falls, Queensland, Australia

Quokka on Quokknest Island

There are a lot of 'cutest' critters out there, but quokkas have to be near the top of the list. If you get the chance to stay on Rottnest Island, near Perth, you'll see quite a few of them. Quokkas forever!

Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia

A Mighty Mudskipper

Mudskippers are fascinating creatures, but none more so than this one! I was getting down low beside a mangrove stream on Magnetic Island to take a photo of another mudskipper when this guy pulled himself up for a better look.

"Hey, mate! The shot's over here!"

Are mudskippers meant to be this adorable? Oh man! So cute!

Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia

What A Poser

I think this Australian Water Dragon really wanted me to take its photo. I don't think it could have posed more posier if it tried.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Common Tree Snake

I found this Common Tree Snake (that's their proper name because they're often not green) while out taking macro photos. I've learned that a long piece of grass is worth a second look, and that was exactly the case here. I took a few good shots before it decided to slither off up a nearby tree. When it was about 5 feet up the tree I went in for a closer look. It promptly dropped to the ground and charged me. It was at that point I decided it was time to take my leave.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby

Warren Gorge, South Australia, Australia

Don't Poop There

Me: "I don't mind you living in the back garden, but don't poop in the courtyard! You're not listening to me, are you?"

Meet Jim, a young Australian Water Dragon, who preferred not to poop in his own garden no matter what I said.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Raymond Koala

Koalas are unique and beautiful creatures. It's a pity you don't see them too often in the wild. But one place that has plenty (and too many at times) is Raymond Island, a short ferry ride from Paynesville, Victoria. They have no predators and as it's not a big island (ie limited food) they tend to eat themselves out of house and home. So the Raymond Island koalas are often relocated elsewhere, taking their cute little faces with them.

Raymond Island (Gippsland Lakes), Victoria, Australia

Young, Wild & Free

There are quokkas and there are quokkas, and then there's this one. I'm not sure how ‘wild’ quokkas get, but this young quokka lives away from the locals who hang out downtown, so is very shy and untamed. AND VERY CUTE!

Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia

Tasmanian Devil

I don't have any shots of Tasmanian Devils in the wild. I love that this looks like it could be.

It's the only photo I've included in this section that is not of an animal in the wild.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland, Australia