Warm Dawning, the winning entry in the national Responsible Wood photo competition, entry by Fiona Ford showing young regrowth spotted gum trees on a property at Collombatti, west of Kempsey on the mid-NSW north coast.
Three rural shutterbugs devoted to the Great Outdoors and each with a “long-time love of our forests, trees and timber” are the winning placegetters in the 2022 national Responsible Wood photo competition. Source: Timberbiz
“The exceptional response to the competition from across Australia was truly heart-warming with more than 700 photographs – a record entry – competing for the three top positions,” Responsible Wood marketing and communications officer Jason Ross said.
“Indeed, the rally call for photos taken in Responsible Wood certified forests illustrates the depth of the positive feeling for sustainable trees among many communities.”
Individual entries lodged through Instagram attracted more than 6000 comments and 25,000 ‘likes’ and ‘shares’
The winning entry was a photo of young natural regrowth spotted gums (Corymbia citriodora variegata) captured by Fiona Ford on her Canon Eos 90D that splashed the warm colours of a sunrise across a property at Collombatti, west of Kempsey on the mid-NSW north coast, near the Responsible Wood-certified NSW Forestry Corporation state forest.
The entry also wins a $1000 cash prize and qualifies for entry in the 2022 PEFC International Photographer of the Year Award.
Fiona and husband David have planted all types of trees including ornamentals, pines and young eucalypts across their property that blend with well-established mature hardwoods.
“We love everything about trees … their purity, strength and sustainability,” Ms Ford enthused. “In fact, more than people, trees and the birds and animals that live among them have always been my photographic favourites.”
Mountain bike rider Charmaine Grobler took second prize with a photo of plantation pines in the early morning behind Wild Horse Mountain in the Responsible Wood-certified Beerburrum east state forest in the Glass House Mountains, managed by HQPlantations.
Taking third spot in the contest was a winter entry from Ang Chandler who photographed her daughters walking through the Responsible Wood-certified Mount Cole state forest near the town of Beaufort in Western Victoria.
Placegetters will be entered in the international PEFC award.
