Winners of Nature Photography Competition Announced

Budding young photographer - Moores Creek - Fletcher Dean.jpg

Rockhampton Regional Council has today marked World Environment Day by announcing the winners of the 2020 Nature Photography Competition.

Evening fishing, morning mountains and hovering sunbirds all feature in the winning images.

Supporting a Better Environment Portfolio Spokesperson, Councillor Donna Kirkland, said the judges had an incredibly tough job.

“First of all I want to say wow – we really do have some amazing photographers and landscapes in our region! As a new councillor this is my first year joining the judging panel and I am honestly blown away by the talent in our community,” Cr Kirkland said.

“We received 270 entries from all across the region, so choosing five winners was a really tough job.

“The Connecting with Nature winner is Lynette Thomas, who took a beautiful sunset shot of her 13 year old son fishing at Woolwash Lagoon in Port Curtis.

“Mark Collins took the winning spot in the Showcasing our Native Flora and Fauna category by capturing an Olive-backed sunbird feeding on a Grevillea bush. The colours in this one really are stunning.

“This year’s Budding Young Photographer is 12 year old Fletcher Dean, who used the long exposure setting on his camera to get a calming shot of Moores Creek after a heavy rain storm.

“Janice Wilson’s ‘Land of Flooding Rains’ shows a rainbow overlooking land in Gracemere as the drought was finally broken with much awaited rains.

“Finally, Madelyn Holmes took a whimsical sunrise shot of Mount Archer to take the number one position in our professional category.”

Councillor Kirkland said that the winning images would normally go on display at the Southside Library, but with COVID-19 restrictions still in place that wouldn’t be possible this year.

“We will be prominently displaying these wonderful images on our facebook page and some of them will feature in future Council publications.

“I want to thank every single person who took the time to take a photograph and send it to us, it was a real pleasure to look through them all.”

Lynnette Thomas, Connecting with Nature winner, said:

“I am so excited to win this photography competition! I love the fact that my winning photo shows my first born doing what he loves best. This period of isolation has meant many more opportunities for us as a family to get out in nature and experience the many beautiful spots we have right here in Rockhampton.”

Mark Collins, winner of the Showcasing our Native Flora and Fauna category, said:

“Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the Rockhampton Regional Council’s Nature Photography Competition 2020.

“I’m very delighted to have had my entry selected as the winning photo in this category.

Madelyn Holmes, winner of the professional category, said:

“It is an honour to have been chosen as winner of the professional category among so many talented photographers in our region, thank you!

“We are lucky to live in such a stunning part of the world and I hope my entry reflects that natural beauty.

“First Sun was captured recently from Mount Archer, overlooking the Berserker Ranges as the first rays of light illuminated the mountains.

“I had spent several days waking before dawn to check the early morning cloud, hoping for optimal conditions to get a colourful sunrise and this was the result – well worth the early wake up!

“Thanks for providing such a lovely opportunity to showcase our region, I always find great enjoyment in capturing our local area.”

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