Wayne Leifert

About

From scientific discovery to creative expression

For 38 years, my professional life has been devoted to scientific discovery. As an award-winning molecular biologist and research scientist, I spent much of that time exploring the complexities of human biology, contributing to research that has helped advance our understanding of human health and disease.

Beyond the laboratory, I’ve always had a strong interest in the natural world, photography and creative expression. I’m a keen scuba diver and member of the Marine Life Society of South Australia (MLSSA), and have spent many years exploring the underwater environments of South Australia. Through photography, I’ve enjoyed capturing the extraordinary diversity, detail and beauty of marine life, as well as sharing the often unseen world beneath the surface.

More recently, I’ve been exploring new creative directions through resin art, fluid acrylics, painting, mixed media and experimentation with different materials and techniques. These pursuits have opened up new ways of observing and interpreting the world, with a greater emphasis on colour, texture, form and imagination.

Although science and art may seem like very different disciplines, I see a strong connection between them. Both are driven by curiosity, observation, experimentation and a willingness to explore the unfamiliar. After a career spent investigating the world through science, I’m enjoying the opportunity to explore it through a more artistic lens.

This website brings together some of that journey: my artwork, photography and creative experiments, reflecting a continuing curiosity about the world and the many ways we can interpret it.

Naturalist

iNaturalist observations: documenting marine biodiversity

My interest in the natural world extends beyond photography. Through scuba diving, shore explorations and careful observation, I’ve developed a strong interest in marine biodiversity and the identification and documentation of marine species.

I’ve recorded observations of more than 270 marine species, predominantly from South Australian waters. These encounters have provided a fascinating insight into the diversity of marine life, from the familiar to the unusual and often overlooked.

I enjoy the challenge of finding, identifying and learning about different species, as well as documenting their presence through photography. Each observation adds another piece to our understanding of the marine environment and reinforces my appreciation of the extraordinary life beneath the surface.

For me, natural history, photography and science are closely connected. They all begin with curiosity, careful observation and a desire to understand the world around us.

In print & community

Publications & contributions

Photography publications

• DIVE LOG Australasia #387 (March 2021): photograph of the Estuary Catfish, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus, included in “A load of Old Cobblers?” by Steve Reynolds.
• Neville Coleman Memorial Nudibranch Dive report (2018): contributor to the community dive event report.
• Syngnathidae Fishes of Eastern Gulf St Vincent (2020–21): citizen-science project report. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32989.90088.
• Marine Life Society of South Australia: photographs used as the basis for “The Red Gurnard, Chelidonichthys kumu”.
• “My Squid Squad Sightings” by Wayne Leifert (16 October 2023): read the article.

Community contributions

• Photographs included in the Seadragons: South Australia brochure, Victor Harbor Visitor Information Centre (2023).
• Photograph featured on the Edithburgh Jetty sign (2022).