Piercing headache. Photo: Matthew McIntosh 

Squid School, 2012 Overall winner. Photo Wayne Osborn

Temora bushfire, 2009 overall winner. Photo: Nick Moir

Grey-haired Flying Fox Drinking Behaviour. Photo: Ofer Levy

Two decades of nature photography are celebrated in the exhibition, 20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, open now at the National Archives of Australia.

Conceived in 2004 by photographer and motion director Stuart Miller, who has numbered among his clients Coca-Cola, Mercedes Benz and Bombay Sapphire, it was developed by the South Australian Museum, which also partners with the Archives to show finalists in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.

This exhibition celebrates the winning entries from each year since its inception and, for photography buffs, offers the chance to look at the evolution of photographic techniques over the past 20 years.

The images range from a 2009 Temora bushfire photograph by Nick Moir, the mysterious image, Squid School, by 2012 overall winner Wayne Osborn and 2016 overall winner Matthew McIntosh’s shot of mosquitoes feasting on the forehead of a treefrog, to Ofer Levy’s mischievous Grey-haired Flying Fox Drinking Behaviour.

With the idea of stimulating public fascination with the natural world, the competition allows photographers to focus on the flora, fauna and landscapes of Australia, NZ, Antarctica and New Guinea.

Founder Miller says: “Consider, as you enjoy looking with wonder at the exhibition, what we risk losing. We can all make a difference to nature’s conservation.”

20 Years of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, at the National Archives of Australia until April 27.