2021 Nature Photography competition winners announced

Published on 04 June 2021

L-R Janice Wilson, Rex Boggs, Cr Kirkland, Sasha Evers, Madelyn Holmes, Alexya Yarrow.jpg

To celebrate World Environment Day Saturday 5 June, Rockhampton Regional Council is excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Nature Photography Competition.

Water and Supporting a Better Environment Councillor Donna Kirkland said rays of light, extreme close ups and epic vistas were just some of the winning images that captured the natural wonder of our region, across the five categories.

“I want to say well done to all who entered, we definitely have some talented photographers out there, and with a backyard as beautiful and diverse as ours, they certainly showcased it in a spectacular light,” Cr Kirkland said.

“We received over 200 entries from all across the region, so choosing five winners was not an easy task.

“The Connecting with Nature winner is Sasha Evers, a young photographer who took a fantastic shot of his brother gazing into the beautiful tree canopy at Bouldercombe Falls.

“In a picture titled ‘Spotlight on the Berserkers’, Janice Wilson took out the category - Celebrating our Natural Landscapes - with her well positioned lens capturing a shaft of light travelling through a rainbow to the ranges.

“For the Showcasing our Native Flora and Fauna Category, Rex Boggs captured ‘Feeding time at Springers Lagoon’, with his sharp focus and perfectly timed shot.

“This year’s Budding Young Photographer is 11 year old Alexya Yarrow, who captured a stunning arc of light through hanging tendrils of a fig tree at Port Curtis - what a talent!

“Last but not least, in the category of Professional Photographer, we have Madelyn Holmes - who also took out the top spot last year - with her image titled ‘Dusk at the Boat House’ featuring mirror-like reflections on our iconic Fitzroy River.

Councillor Kirkland said the winners and the shortlisted entries will be featured on Council’s Facebook page to mark World Environment Day and some of them may also feature in future Council publications.  

“It has been fantastic to be able to include these incredible local images in some of our corporate documents and promotional material in previous years, and it is wonderful exposure for the photographer too!

“I want to say a big thank you to all those who took the time to venture out in nature to capture these spectacular images, you should all be very proud of your work.”

Sasha Evers, Connecting with Nature winner, said:

“I really like photographing wildlife and nature, so I am very happy to have won in this category!”

Winner of the Showcasing our Native Flora and Fauna Rex Boggs said:

“I enter this competition every year as I like to showcase the beauty of our region and photography is such a great way to do that.”

For the category - Celebrating our Natural Landscapes, winner Janice Wilson said:

“Getting the right shot is a mixture of timing and luck, but the trick is to just to be out in nature so you are there when the right opportunity presents itself.”

Budding Young Photographer winner Alexya Yarrow said:

“Taking photos makes me really happy and the world looks better through the lens.”

Winner of the Professional Photographer Madelyn Holmes said:

“In my profession I mostly take portrait photos but I also have a real passion for photographing the natural environment and sharing these images is a great way to showcase our region.”

The shortlisted entries and winning images will be shared to Council’s Facebook page on World Environment Day, 5 June.

The winning images can be viewed here : https://rockhamptonregion.sharefile.com/d-s4513eeca872a48b3b3859e003ff30f14