Competition: Tasmania March 2009

Sunrise, Point Eric. Red sky in the morning, sailor's warning ... A two-day storm followed. Lex Harris

BWA February 2017 | 39

Balls Pyramid John Walker

WINNER

Horsehead Rock Iandsmith

Exploring the rocksBrian Eglinton

A very unusual experience - an unexpected opportunity to see and photograph the tallest volcanic sea stack on the planet (562 metres ASL). Seeing this impressive piece of the natural world at fairly close range was unfortunately not on a bushwalk. My method of access was possibly like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut - a 138,000 tonne cruise ship got us within a kilometre or so of the impressive edifice. However, in my efforts to try and get a decent shot I did climb several flights of steps, endure near gale force headwinds at one point, evidenced by the Everest-like plume near the summit, and got chased off the forward deck by security because it was too dangerous. Balls has been visited and climbed in the past, but these days is off limits except for authorised research and for management purposes. Part of the reason is that it is home to Dryococelus Australis — the critically endangered Lord Howe Island Phasmid, Land Lobster (or stick insect). These creatures no longer exist anywhere else and were thought to be extinct until evidence of them was found in the 1960s, and ultimately a live population was discovered by an expedition in 2001. Although out of view, another highlight for me was the unmistakable silhouette of Lord Howe Island on the horizon about 30 kilometres away.

BWA February 2017 | 41

WINNER

Into the mist my friend Thornbill

After two days of hiking and climbing through the driving rain and wind, which included a slight case of hypothermia on the first day, I arrived as a sore, sodden but exulted witness to Lake Oberon.

I remember the first time I had really taken notice of the original photograph of this place which was made famous by the legendary Peter Dombrovskis. I was in another life, a darker unhappier stage that I'm happy to forget. Looking upon that original image I made a decision to change my lifestyle and start to live life to its fullest, I vowed to visit this area.

Three years later I achieved my goal and it was everything I had hoped for and more. I was a different person and most importantly I was happy within myself. I spent five days in the area and of them three were almost a complete white out, with visibility very low. I really wanted to witness sunrise over the area and the chance to capture it in my mind and on my camera seemed to be slipping out of my reach.

On the last day I was bunkered down in my tent with unrelenting wind and rain. There was one morning left for the weather to pass and I was hoping with all of my worth that it would magically clear and the gods of photography would shine upon me.

It took a few moments but late in the evening I realised that my tent wasn't being folded in half by the wind. I poked my head outside and it was dark but low and behold I could see the stars, the weather had passed and it was clear! I scrambled about and grabbed my camera gear stumbling out into the scrub in my thermals, it was cold but amazingly visibility was 100%. After capturing some beautiful night images of the area I went back to bed feeling confident that the morning would be what I had hoped for.

At 5am the alarm went off, I cleared the sleep from my eyes and poked my head out of the tent to be treated by amazing pastel tones you see in the image, IT WAS ON!! I called out to my friend Francois Fourie with excitement to get out of bed and hastily grabbed all my gear and scrambled over rocks and scoparia finally making my way to the end of a massive quartzite ledge that hung out over the area. I was hundreds of feet up and my vertigo was on fire but nothing was going to stop me from capturing this shot.

I'll never forget sitting there watching this scene unfold in front of me. The exultation of achieving my goal, the effort it had taken to get there, the fact that on the last day the weather had cleared and the pure power of nature putting on a display that is only witnessed by a few people each year made it an overwhelming experience.

This image means a lot to me personally and I hope I have shared its story with you. My intention is to inspire you to get out there and realise your goals no matter what they are. I will always look on this photograph with the knowledge that if you dream and believe in yourself then nothing can stop you.

BWA February 2017 | 43

Flynns Beach sunrise Iandsmith

WINNER

Hyperion near the summit of Walled Mt MJD

Sugarloaf Brian Eglinton

Nice place on a hot day John Walker

Luck plays a significant part in photography, as any long term snapper will testify. So it was that we found ourselves at Flynns Beach, Port Macquarie, for an overnight stay. I was determined to get up and shoot the sunrise, as was my partner. While we were there we met a lady who said she'd been down for the last four mornings but this was far and away the best she'd seen. As I say, you have to get lucky.

BWA February 2017 | 45

White naped honeyeater Iandsmith

WINNER

Sax on the summit? Thornbill

Beach boulders Brian Eglinton

Read my lips John Walker

I'll never forget this. I pulled up the motorhome at a rarely used rest stop on the Jingalalla River (that's all right, I hadn't heard of it either until I pulled up), en route to McKillops Bridge in north-east Victoria. The place was alive with birds and you couldn't help but get a shot of some. During the hour I spent there only one other vehicle went by and I took time out to immerse myself in the stream while nature played all around.

BWA February 2017 | 47

Mallacoota sunrise Iandsmith

WINNER

The creation of tideLorraine Parker

On the edge Brian Eglinton

I'd driven past the turnoff that many times, always saying I must go there one day. So coming back from the Phillip Island superbikes I pulled in for a couple of nights with my partner. We both loved the place but were also glad it wasn't holiday time. If you like fishing or just being near the sea, you too might well like to stop here.

Skull rock John Walker

BWA February 2017 | 49

WINNER

On the Spires looking across The Font MJD

Call of the South West Tortoise

Evening at Lake Youl Osik

Mt Field West was my first Abel and is still one of my favourites - not least because there's such brilliant camping up on the plateau. And on mornings like this, with the scars from the logging in the Styx and Florentine valleys covered by fog and the skies flushed with colour, it feels as isolated from civilisation as the moon. You can just sit back and watch the light show while enjoying breakfast (or forgetting breakfast 'cause you're too busy with the camera).

Sunset over the South West CasualNerd

A little sun on Little Throne Peter Grant

BWA February 2017 | 51

On the Blade Ben Trainor

WINNER

Sunset at Rhona North-north-west

A deserted Lake Rhona looking as beautiful as ever MJD

Cemetery Beach Lorraine Parker

Rocks behind Camel Rock Iandsmith

BWA February 2017 | 53

Pandani calligraphy at Twilight Tarn Ben Trainor

WINNER

Red wattle bird Iandsmith

Styx'n'stones North-north-west

The Old Creek crossing John Walker

Small Wonders, Tasmania's Central PlateauPeter Grant

We spent a few days doing short walks around Mt Field. Just as the fagus was starting to turn golden we walked along the Tarn Shelf. We descended towards Twilight Tarn. After exploring the old skiing relics in Twilight Tarn Hut, I wandered to the edge of the Tarn and took this photo of the fronds of a large Pandani.

Pandani spirals Andrew Smyth

Lost in the bushBrian Eglinton

BWA February 2017 | 55