‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin’s Son Takes Stunning Wildlife Photos

The late Steve Irwin — affectionately known as “The Crocodile Hunter” — has left behind a talented legacy in his son Robert. The 13-year-old gets close and personal with wildlife in a different way — through the lens of a camera.

His love of photography is a tradition passed down from his father, which hasn’t been lost on Irwin. “My dad was also an amazing photographer. He always carried his camera with him on his travels and photographed some spectacular wildlife,” he told My Modern Met.

Wildlife warrior Steve Irwin died on September 4, 2006, after being struck multiple times by a stingray barb while filming in the waters off the coast of Queensland, near Port Douglas. What makes his son’s amazing wildlife photos, taken of animals in their natural habitats, even more bittersweet is that he won the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition on the eve of the 10th anniversary of his father’s death.

At 12 years old, Irwin accepted his award on September 5, 2016, at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. He was runner-up in the junior category for his daring wildlife photo of a salty snapper with a “toothy grin.”

“The saltwater crocodile is a modern-day dinosaur that is an integral part of the precious ecosystem. I had the privilege to photograph the awe-inspiring predator in its natural habitat. An amazing experience!,” he told Adelaide Now.

One of the teen’s favorite wildlife photos shows a spotted python on a termite mound. Irwin takes many of his wildlife photos on the family’s conservation property, the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Australia. This snake was photographed after about an hour of trying to get it just right.

“The perfect shot of the snake looking directly at the camera with his tongue out, I was quite proud of that shot! It is so important to inspire people, especially kids, to love our natural world and be passionate about protecting it for future generations. I believe that photography is a great way to achieve that,” he told Huffington Post.

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Robert Irwin has already amassed an eclectic collection of wildlife photos on Instagram with 302,000 followers — many of which have gone viral. He also has a website that showcases his work.

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Prints of his wildlife photos are available for purchase through the Australian Zoo. Each photo matted on canvas sells for $99.95. 

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