Photography

Our Living World

A growing collection from our field photographers, from Sydney’s beaches to the Torres Strait, together with our own reef photographs from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island.

In the field

Photography by Oliver Strewe

He has been photographing since the 1970s, from his home ground at Bondi to the far corners of the world, and is the author and photographer of books including the award winning Wine Atlas of Australia and New Zealand, Lonely Planet's World Food guides, the classic Bondi, and Beaches, Bays and Coves of Sydney. We are beyond lucky to have him capturing our field stories. His collection here runs from the Torres Strait and Cape York down through the Pilliga scrub, and comes home to Parsley Bay in Vaucluse, a place he has known and loved for decades, and where a live local campaign is working toward official Aquatic Reserve protection.

If one of these speaks to you and you would love a print for your own wall, write to us and we will happily arrange it with him. Every photograph in this collection is © Oliver Strewe and remains his own work, so please enjoy them here and ask before reusing them anywhere else.

Swimmers and walkers at the boat ramp at Gordons Bay, Sydney — Morning at the boat ramp, Gordons Bay, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A swimmer dives into Giles Baths rock pool at Coogee — A dive into Giles Baths, at the north end of Coogee. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Visitors watch white water surge into Giles Baths, Coogee — White water fills the baths, Giles Baths, Coogee. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Waves breaking on the sandstone shelf at Lurline Bay — Waves meet the sandstone at Lurline Bay, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

The coastal walk at Cape Banks in Kamay Botany Bay National Park — The headland walk at Cape Banks, Kamay Botany Bay National Park. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

The Pacific Ocean seen from Cape Banks — Open ocean off Cape Banks, Kamay. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A large sandstone rock on the shore at Cape Banks — Sandstone shelf and surf, Cape Banks. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A tidal channel cut through the rock platform at Cape Banks — Where the tide cuts through the rock, Cape Banks. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Congwong Beach at La Perouse, calm water and sand — A stunning little pocket in Kamay: Congwong Beach, La Perouse. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Cronulla Pavilion on the beachfront, cafe umbrellas and people on the steps — Cronulla Pavilion. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Surf breaks over the chain wall at Mahon Pool, Maroubra. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Malabar Ocean Pool from above, a swimmer in the shallows. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Ridge country above the Pilliga forest, north west New South Wales. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A dry sandy creek bed winds through the Pilliga forest. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A sand road runs straight through the Pilliga forest. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Roadside stop, deep in the Pilliga. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Trees against a deep blue sky, Pilliga forest. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Weathered sandstone wall, Pilliga forest. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

White wildflowers star the Pilliga scrub. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

First light on the cliffs at North Bondi, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Sunrise over the sea from the golf course at North Bondi, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Cockatoos lit by the sunrise above North Bondi, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Watching the sun come up together at North Bondi, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Rainforest runs down to the sea in the Daintree, Queensland. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Looking out over Turimetta Beach from the headland, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Morning walkers and a clean swell, Whale Beach, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Gulls lift off beneath the Norfolk pines, Palm Beach, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A long empty sweep of sand at Turimetta Beach, Northern Beaches, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Footprints down the sand at Avalon Beach at first light — First light draws footprints down the sand, Avalon Beach, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A figure watches the surf from the green headland at Avalon Beach — A quiet moment above the break, Avalon Beach. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Morning surf rolls past the point at Little Avalon. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

The Classic Coffee van on the Avalon headland in the morning sun — Classic Coffee on the Avalon headland, fifteen years running. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Friends with their coffees on the headland grass above Avalon Beach — Warming up over coffee and chats above the beach, Avalon. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Palm Beach Wharf through the gum trees from Sandy Beach — Through the gums to the wharf, Sandy Beach on the Pittwater side of Palm Beach. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Boats on the moorings off Sandy Beach, Pittwater — Loading the boats for an adventure, Sandy Beach, Pittwater. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A swimmer wades into the clear shallows at Currawong Beach, Pittwater — Wading into the clear shallows at Currawong Beach, Pittwater. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

The Murray River at dusk near Tocumwal, still water holding a pink sky between banks of river red gums — The Murray goes still at dusk and takes the whole sky with it, near Tocumwal, New South Wales. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Sandstone boulders and clear green water at Gordons Bay, Sydney — Sandstone and clear water, Gordons Bay, Sydney. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

An avenue of eucalypts along the Murray River, arching over a quiet country road at Bearii in northern Victoria — An avenue of eucalypts along the Murray River, at Bearii near Mywee in northern Victoria. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Fig trees forming a green tunnel over Chesterfield Parade, Clovelly — The figs of Chesterfield Parade make a tunnel to the sea, Clovelly. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Two riders and their horses on the wet sand at Tolaga Bay, New Zealand — Riders on the sand at Tolaga Bay, Aotearoa New Zealand. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A rainbow landing on the sea off Bondi Beach — The rainbow that landed on Bondi, from our City2Surf story. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Two children sharing a green coconut through a natural straw — No bottle required: a green coconut shared straight from the shell. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Aerial view of pale coral shallows meeting deep blue water in the Torres Strait — Coral shallows give way to deep water, Torres Strait, Queensland. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

An aerial view of turquoise reef patterns in deep blue sea, Torres Strait — Reef country from above, Torres Strait, Queensland. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A child's cupped hands holding a handful of native seeds and fruits — Seeds held in two hands, Yorke Island, Torres Strait. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Two swimmers in the pool below a wide bush waterfall on Cape York — A wide bush waterfall on Cape York, and quite possibly the best swim in the country. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A small waterfall over sandstone in Parsley Bay's rainforest — A special pocket of rainforest at Parsley Bay, Vaucluse. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A grand River Red Gum in golden light — A River Red Gum stands its ground, NSW. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A grain freight train crossing Central Western NSW at sunset — A grain freight train rolls through Central Western NSW at dusk. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Two children on a Gulf of Carpentaria beach returning a small shark to the sea — Meanwhile, up in Cape York, a shark is returned to the waters of the Gulf. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Light and ripples on the surface of the Shoalhaven River — Light plays on the Shoalhaven River. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A treed hillside reflected in the still Shoalhaven River — The Shoalhaven, mirror still. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Two bathers wading into deep blue water at Bondi — Bathers, Bondi. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Tall trees meeting over a quiet country road — A country road disappears into the trees. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Sunbathers relaxing on the deck at Wylies Baths, Coogee — A hot summer's day at Wylies Baths, Coogee. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Rainforest gully at Parsley Bay — Deep green in the heart of Sydney: Parsley Bay's rainforest gully, at the centre of a live campaign for official Aquatic Reserve protection. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

A gravel road lined with eucalypts near Snowball on the Cooma Road — Snow Gum, Candlebark, Mountain Gum and Black Sally near Snowball, on the road from Cooma to Braidwood. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

The Pilliga scrub regreens after fire, a rain cloud drifting over the regrowth — Rain arrives over the regreening Pilliga scrub. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

Bondi Icebergs ocean pool with the sea beyond — Morning laps at Bondi Icebergs, a wave breaking beyond the wall. Photo: Oliver Strewe.

In the field

Photography by the Waldrappteam

In August 2026 thirty hand reared northern bald ibises followed a microlight from Lake Constance to Andalusia, with foster mothers Fabienne Tilg and Eszter Bajka calling from the back seat and Johannes Fritz at the controls. These photographs are the Waldrappteam's own, sent to us the week the story ran.

Around the plane in evening light over Las Infantas, Spain. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

Wingtip to wingtip with the microlight, high over a reservoir on the way south. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

A dozen ibises over the water, photographed from the back seat. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

In formation behind the plane over Las Infantas. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

High over Pérouges, France, the flock below the wing. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

Calling the birds at dawn. Photo: Peter Wimmer, Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

Foster mothers Fabienne Tilg and Eszter Bajka with their flock at a stopover. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

A foster mother and her chicks, spring 2026. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

Everyone on the 2026 flight, with the LIFE flag of the European project behind it. Photo: Waldrappteam Conservation and Research.

In the field

Photography by Justine Hausheer, The Nature Conservancy

Haevo, in Isabel Province in the Solomon Islands, is the biggest leatherback nesting beach in the country, and the women rangers who walk it at night know the turtles by name. Justine Hausheer photographed them for The Nature Conservancy, which shared these pictures with us for our story.

Ghase Taigo, the woman who protects and provides care, returns to the sea after nesting on Haevo, Solomon Islands. Photo: Justine Hausheer/TNC. — Ghase Taigo, "the woman who protects and provides care", returns to the sea after nesting on Haevo, Solomon Islands. Photo: Justine Hausheer/TNC.

A ranger measures Ghase Taigo on Haevo by torchlight. Photo: Justine Hausheer/TNC.

Fari Kuti's eggs, moved by the rangers to a safer spot higher up the beach. Photo: Justine Hausheer/TNC.

In the field

Photography by Christina Senn

Christina Senn photographed these fur seals at Narooma on the New South Wales south coast, where the colony from nearby Barunguba Montague Island loves to haul out, and has gifted these photographs to Earth to Sea News. Hundreds of seals haul out on the island's granite year round, and her camera found them doing what they do best: singing, squabbling and sleeping in the sun.

If one of these speaks to you and you would love a print for your own wall, write to us and we will happily arrange it with her. Every photograph in this collection is © Christina Senn and remains her own work, so please enjoy them here and ask before reusing them anywhere else.

A young fur seal looks toward the camera with a gentle expression, Narooma — A quiet hello from the colony, Narooma · August 2026. Photo: Christina Senn.

Two fur seals with mouths open calling to each other beside blue water — Two voices, one rock: the colony in full conversation. Photo: Christina Senn.

A fur seal calling with its mouth wide open on pink granite above deep blue sea — A song for the morning sun. Photo: Christina Senn.

A fur seal asleep on the rocks beside a curl of rusted iron — Asleep beside a curl of rusted iron, a trace of the harbour's working past. Photo: Christina Senn.

A close view of a fur seal sleeping in golden light, whiskers catching the sun — Fast asleep in the first of the light. Photo: Christina Senn.

From the water

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island

Our own photographs from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island: coral gardens, staghorn thickets and the fish that call them home, exactly as we found them.

A freckled hawkfish peering out from between coral heads at Direction Island — A fish in waiting, Direction Island · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

The jetty at Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands — The jetty at Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

The sand spit at Horsburgh Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands — The sand spit at Horsburgh Island, Cocos (Keeling) · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

Coral gardens at Christmas Island · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

A lined surgeonfish at Christmas Island · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

A blackspotted puffer at Christmas Island · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

Coral reef scene at Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands — Direction Island reef · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.

Coral garden with a giant clam at Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands — Direction Island coral garden · May 2026. Photo: Earth to Sea News.