Pix 2021 Judge
Click on image below to read the judges comments...
Lawrence Furzey
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Lawrence Furzey
Lawrence was our Pix 2020 judge and has now also chosen the winners for this years 2021 Pix photo competition. Scroll down to read his comments on the photos he has chosen as winners below.
Lawrence Furzey is a highly respected Commercial and Fine Art Travel Photographer based in Sydney with a studio in the heart of the city.
Lawrence has been shooting commercial, travel and lifestyle campaigns for the last 19 years. He finds that hidden element in places, objects and scenes, creating something visually alluring. His images are peaceful and engaging, with a favourite subject being the surf near his home on the northern beaches.
Lawrence also has a full portfolio of portraits where you will find some familiar faces amongst his collection of imaginative portrayals in which he is not afraid to push boundaries to create impactful and sensual representations of his subjects.
Lawrence has frequently travelled the globe in search of finding new ways to bring everyday vistas to new heights allowing you to travel away on your own journey through his images.
https://www.lawrencefurzey.com/
Overall Winner
'A Dance With Colour' - Shannon Richmond
This is exactly what I was looking for this year! The last 12 months and more has been particularly hard on everyone. I really wanted to see some excitement, happiness and colour reach out and grab me this year. This beautiful image by Shannon Richmond has done this and more!
Shannon has captured pure joy in the moment! The subject being perfectly framed by the flowers, and you feel like you are right in there with her as the flowers are so close to and around the camera..
‘A dance with colour’ has it all from capturing the moment, to just great photography skills. It stands out so much from all the other beautiful images submitted this year. And for that reason, it is the overall winner of 2021 Pix From The Stix Competition!
Absence of Colour
What I was looking for....
With this category, I was looking for a good use of tonal values. Images that really used a large range of tones within the grey scale spectrum. So to achieve this, it would be the entrants use of light and shade and how they applied it.
1st Prize. ' When In Isolation' - Shannon Richmond
Such a strong image. Not only as a visual, but also the story it tells. The young boy appearing to be slapped my mud on the back by the girl in the background, whilst plotting his revenge in what appears to be a harmless game of mud fight. The shallow depth used really highlights his intent and draws you into the scene.
2nd Prize. ' Under Water' - Tia Marsh
This image is captivating in its depth of tones and highlights. The bottom half with its dark grey tones, then leading up to those shimmering highlights in the water which transcends you into its dreamy glow.
Highly Commended. 'Reflecting Mistro' - Ella Hudson
A very striking image with mainly black and white tones used. Having the effect of a silhouette and a regular B&W image. To add to all of this I love the horse's reflection in the water.
Culture
What I was looking for....
With this I was looking for a story within the picture. Be it with the people, the history or the land itself. I wanted whatever the subject was to bring to life the situation the photographer was in...
1st Prize. 'Gone Fishing' Karen Bolton
Capturing the essence of culture not only in the Foster/Tuncurry region, but in Australia in general. Using the Twighlight period of the day was a nice touch to create the feel and look through a silhouette.
2nd Prize. 'Coming Together' - Tara Jennings
Nothing speaks ‘culture’ more than people, a community getting together, helping one another out. I love the use of the sandbags in the foreground of this image. The sandbags showing the heaviness and severity of the situation, with the community working hard together in the background.
Highly Commended. 'A Canter In The Creek' - Sarah-Jayne Eggins
Poetry in motion! A great capture of both the rider and horse in action. A fitting image for the region. And a great use of aperture to separate the subject from the background.Faces I Have Met
What I was looking for....
I took “faces I have met” as a portrait section. So naturally in a portrait you want to tell a story of that person, or a situation that the person may be in. As I always say to people the hardest part about portraiture is the not taking the picture itself, but actually breaking down the subject's vulnerability. Allowing them to let down their guard. So, I was looking for these traits also.
1st Prize. A Dance With Colour- Shannon Richmond
The last 12 months and more has been particularly hard on everyone. I really wanted to see some excitement, happiness and colour reach out and grab me this year. This beautiful image by Shannon Richmond has done this and more! Shannon has captured pure joy in the moment! The subject being perfectly framed by the flowers, and you feel like you are right in there with her as the flowers are so close to and around the camera.. ‘A dance with colour’ has it all from capturing the moment, to just great photography skills.
2nd Prize. 'Teo Visits Gloucester' - Deb Murrell
Shooting through the flyscreen has given this image so much more life. Deb has worked the angles really well to keep little Teo as the focal part of the image, really making him pop! The softness of the image is also beautiful. It’s a great well thought out image.
Highly Commended. 'Gizmo's Gaze' - Ella Hudson
Well this little beauty just jumps out of the paper/screen! The composition of this shot is everything! Making the horses head seem larger than life and really engaging! A great shot! A fun shot!
Junior
What I was looking for....
Creativity! As the world is getting smaller and more confined, especially as you age. I tend to look at the younger generations for inspiration. They are free and fearless, and not afraid to try things outside the boundaries that we are confined to in everyday life.
1st Prize. 'A Peaceful Moment' - Abbey Keighran
Great composition and stillness in the water! You feel like you are there peacefully watching the sunset. The water so still, and the wispy clouds in the sky. Its like a dream. Great shot!
2nd Prize. 'Back Beach' - Joseph Starr
The use of B&W in this is perfect to sum up the dark and stormy situation here! Making it seem even more menacing than the image already is. A great capture in what would have been difficult conditions too.
Highly Commended. ' Reflection' - Olivia Dew
This is tranquility at its best. A great frame with a beautiful reflection in the still water, and the subtle mountain poking out in the background. It’s a great portrait framed landscape.
Man Made
What I was looking for....
Creativity. I didn’t want it to be about the subject so much, but more how it was shot.
1st Prize. 'Crossing Over' - Tia Marsh
Straight to the wall with this one. I love it! I love its minimalism, the composition, the lines, the light as it faintly touches bridge. I love it all! It has a real calming simplicity to it with its soft tones, yet harsh and straight lines.
2nd Prize. 'Cold As Steel' - Cassie Weekes
The coldness of this shot appeals to the nature of the subject, but in a nice calming way. With the background totally out of focus, you find yourself fixated on the sharp cold metal as it lies dormant. A visually intriguing image.
Highly Commended. 'Service & Sacrifice' - Jason Slade
This beautiful picture could be put straight into a tourism campaign. Both natural and manmade light blending into the image perfectly with the exposure. Composition is perfect and a cracking sunrise from mother nature makes for a great, strong image.
Natural Environment
What I was looking for....
Like ‘The Lie of the Land’ I was looking for nice images of natural environments with creative license to stand out from your everyday landscape..
1st Prize. 'Tranquility' - Jason Slade
Love the slow shutter speed really letting the water be the hero in this image. The blue tones brought in has also really helped its separation from the rocks and the trees. Composition is perfect. There is so much to look at in this landscape.
2nd Prize. 'The Serenity Tree' - Cassie Weekes
There's something in the vulnerability of this beauty. The process of the image is really nice and soft with so much clarity and detail which adds to the calmness of the scene itself. The still water, mixed with the wispy grass on the other side of the bank helps create this perfect natural environment.
Highly Commended. 'Natures Colourful World' - Deb Murrell
The visual is art in itself! If you forget for one second that they are a flock of birds flying. They actually just look shapes painted onto a dark canvas, forming a nice piece of art. Great that you captured the birds in focus in the center of the frame too. Really drawing your eye into the center of the image.
Not your normal Photo
What I was looking for....
I think the title of this category says it all.. I really just wanted to see images that were a bit different, fun and have some technical element.
1st Prize. 'Spark' - Sarah-Jayne Eggins
This is so much fun! The shape created through a slow exposure and just the impact that this image produces! It’s a well rounded creative shot.
2nd Prize. 'Worth The Hike - Shannon Richmond
I know this camp spot well, and know the pain it takes to get gear to this spot. All of which adds to the story of a great shot! And this is not your normal camping spot compared to the others in the national park. A great shot in the space you had to ad so much life to the scene. It really has it all.
Highly Commended. 'If These Trees Could talk' - Cassie Weekes
Photography has played the role in fulfilling the brief here. A great use of movement and slow shutter to create this painting like image.
The Lie of the land
What I was looking for....
Not another postcard picture. I find if you look deeper into a landscape, there is a lot more going on in the situation than the greater, often wider picture. You want people to actually stop, and think about the image. Not just look at it, and think “Oh that’s a nice beach”.
1st Prize.' Barrington Coast Under a Sea Of Fog' - Nikki Ellis
Stunning! What a moment, what a scene! Like a rolling snow field below in the valley. This is a Truely breathtaking moment that needs no words to describe how amazing it is. The grass and fence is a nice touch to add a bit of dimension to the frame.
2nd Prize. 'Mograni & The Milky Way' - Sarah-Jayne Eggins
What a amazing shot, showcasing skill in night photography. And what gives this great shot such depth is the clear scene below of the town and the rolling hills.. Spectacular! .
Highly Commended. 'Dawn Of A New Day' - Jason Slade
I love the pastel tones coming out from the early morning fog. It helps break up the image, and separate the tree from the background. Also to note is the nice lines running through it from the creek to the rolling hills. Very aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
2021 Major Prize Winner
007 A Dance With Colour - Shannon Richmond
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007
A Dance With Colour
Shannon Richmond
Taken in Gloucester Park my children loved dancing in the colour of the falling flowers.
DSLR
Judges Comment.
This is exactly what I was looking for this year! The last 12 months and more has been particularly hard on everyone. I really wanted to see some excitement, happiness and colour reach out and grab me this year. This beautiful image by Shannon Richmond has done this and more!
Shannon has captured pure joy in the moment! The subject being perfectly framed by the flowers, and you feel like you are right in there with her as the flowers are so close to and around the camera..
‘A dance with colour’ has it all from capturing the moment, to just great photography skills. It stands out so much from all the other beautiful images submitted this year. And for that reason, it is the overall winner of 2021 Pix From The Stix Competition!
Category Winners
Absence of Colour - 1st Prize
Absence of Colour -2nd Prize
Absence Of Colour - Highly Commended
Culture - 1st Prize
Culture - 2nd Prize
Culture - Highly Commended
Faces I have Met - 1st Prize
Faces I have Met - 2nd Prize
Faces I have Met - Highly Commended
Junior - 1st Prize
Junior - 2nd Prize
Junior - Highly Commended
Man Made - 1st Prize
Man Made - 2nd Prize
Man Made - Highly Commended
Natural Environment - 1st Prize
Natural Environment - 2nd Prize
Natural Environment - Highly Commended
Not your Normal Photo - 1st Prize
Not your Normal Photo - 2nd Prize
Not your Normal Photo - Highly Commended
The Lie of the Land - 1st Prize
The Lie of the Land - 2nd Prize
The Lie Of The Land - Highly Commended
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008
1st Prize - Absence of Colour
When In Isolation...
Shannon Richmond
This was taken during COVID Isolation where we rebonded and connected in fun and basic ways. Moments like these remind us as to what is really important and how the best things really are free. My son's face says it all in this image, after getting whipped by his sister he was out for revenge.
DSLR
Judges Comment
What I was looking for.... With this category, I was looking for a good use of tonal values. Images that really used a large range of tones within the grey scale spectrum. So to achieve this, it would be the entrants use of light and shade and how they applied it.
-
038
2nd Prize - Absence of Colour
Under Water
Tia Marsh
'Old Boat Ramp at Stockton NSW
SonyA6500 mirrorless
Judges Comment
This image is captivating in its depth of tones and highlights. The bottom half with its dark grey tones, then leading up to those shimmering highlights in the water which transcends you into its dreamy glow.
-
071
Highly Commended - Absence Of Colour
Reflecting Mistro
Ella Hudson
Farm at Wang Wauk
iphone12
Judges Comment
A very striking image with mainly black and white tones used. Having the effect of a silhouette and a regular B&W image. To add to all of this I love the horse's reflection in the water.
-
018
1st prize - Culture
Gone Fishing
Karen Bolton
Fishing at Forster (Tuncurry in background)
Panasonic DMC-TZ70
Judges Comment
Capturing the essence of culture not only in the Foster/Tuncurry region, but in Australia in general. Using the Twighlight period of the day was a nice touch to create the feel and look through a silhouette.
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053
2nd Prize - Culture
Coming Together
Tara Jennings
Community Spirit shines brightly in times of need.
iPhone Capture
Judges Comment
Nothing speaks ‘culture’ more than people, a community getting together, helping one another out. I love the use of the sandbags in the foreground of this image. The sandbags showing the heaviness and severity of the situation, with the community working hard together in the background.
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031
Highly Commended - Culture
A Canter In The Creek
Sarah-Jayne Eggins
Glenworth Valley
Mirrorless
Judges Comment
Poetry in motion! A great capture of both the rider and horse in action. A fitting image for the region. And a great use of aperture to separate the subject from the background.
-
007
1st prize - Faces I have Met
A Dance With Colour
Shannon Richmond
Taken in Gloucester Park my children loved dancing in the colour of the falling flowers.
DSLR
Judges Comment.
This is exactly what I was looking for this year! The last 12 months and more has been particularly hard on everyone. I really wanted to see some excitement, happiness and colour reach out and grab me this year. This beautiful image by Shannon Richmond has done this and more!
Shannon has captured pure joy in the moment! The subject being perfectly framed by the flowers, and you feel like you are right in there with her as the flowers are so close to and around the camera..
‘A dance with colour’ has it all from capturing the moment, to just great photography skills. It stands out so much from all the other beautiful images submitted this year. And for that reason, it is the overall winner of 2021 Pix From The Stix Competition!
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063
2nd Prize - Faces I have Met
Contemplation In Bowman Street
Deb Murrell
Digital SLR - through a screen door
Judges Comment
Shooting through the flyscreen has given this image so much more life. Deb has worked the angles really well to keep little Teo as the focal part of the image, really making him pop! The softness of the image is also beautiful. It’s a great well thought out image.
-
067
Highly Commended - Faces I have Met
Gizmo's Gaze
Ella Hudson
Farm at Wang Wauk
iPhone12
Judges Comment
Well this little beauty just jumps out of the paper/screen! The composition of this shot is everything! Making the horses head seem larger than life and really engaging! A great shot! A fun shot!
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058
1st Prize - Junior
11yrs
A Peaceful Moment
Abbey Keighran
Taken on the ferry from Nelson Bay to Tea Gardens. It was calm and peaceful and the dolphins were playing alongside the boat. I felt blissful when I took this photo.
Phone Capture
Judges Comment
Great composition and stillness in the water! You feel like you are there peacefully watching the sunset. The water so still, and the wispy clouds in the sky. Its like a dream. Great shot!
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050
2nd Prize - Junior
14yrs
Back Beach
Joseph Starr
Stormy day at back beach Crowdy.
Camera
Judges Comment
The use of B&W in this is perfect to sum up the dark and stormy situation here! Making it seem even more menacing than the image already is. A great capture in what would have been difficult conditions too.
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028
Highly Commended - Junior
Reflection
Olivia Dew (16 yrs)
Gloucester River
Phone Capture
Judges Comment
This is tranquility at its best. A great frame with a beautiful reflection in the still water, and the subtle mountain poking out in the background. It’s a great portrait framed landscape.
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036
1st prize - Man Made
Crossing Over
Tia Marsh
Sunset at Stockton Bridge, NSW
SonyA6500 mirrorless
Judges Comment
Straight to the wall with this one. I love it! I love its minimalism, the composition, the lines, the light as it faintly touches bridge. I love it all! It has a real calming simplicity to it with its soft tones, yet harsh and straight lines.
-
001
2nd prize - Man made
Cold As Steel
Cassie Weekes
Just A Barb on a Fence
DSLR
Judges Comment
The coldness of this shot appeals to the nature of the subject, but in a nice calming way. With the background totally out of focus, you find yourself fixated on the sharp cold metal as it lies dormant. A visually intriguing image.
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016
Highly Commended - Man Made
Service & Sacrifice
Jason Slade
Afghanistan Avenue of Honour Yungaburra Queensland
DSLR
Judges Comment
This beautiful picture could be put straight into a tourism campaign. Both natural and manmade light blending into the image perfectly with the exposure. Composition is perfect and a cracking sunrise from mother nature makes for a great, strong image.
-
015
1st prize - Natural Environment
Tranquility
Jason Slade
Waterfall and cascade in the beautiful Gloucester Tops
DSLR capture
Judges Comment
Love the slow shutter speed really letting the water be the hero in this image. The blue tones brought in has also really helped its separation from the rocks and the trees. Composition is perfect. There is so much to look at in this landscape.
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003
2nd Prize - Natural Environment
The Serenity Tree
Cassie Weekes
We’d been camping near a dam in a little place called Stockinbingal. I had intended to capture the sunrise, however this beautiful tree caught my eye. I love how the sun just lit it up.
DSLR capture
Judges Comment
There's something in the vulnerability of this beauty. The process of the image is really nice and soft with so much clarity and detail which adds to the calmness of the scene itself. The still water, mixed with the wispy grass on the other side of the bank helps create this perfect natural environment.
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066
Highly Commended - Natural Environment
Natures Colourful World
Deb Murrell
Burrup Peninsula, WA. A special place enlivened by flocks of Budgies in front of the Iron infused rocks.
DigitalSLR
Judges Comment
The visual is art in itself! If you forget for one second that they are a flock of birds flying. They actually just look shapes painted onto a dark canvas, forming a nice piece of art. Great that you captured the birds in focus in the center of the frame too. Really drawing your eye into the center of the image.
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032
1st Prize - Not your Normal Photo
Spark
Sarah-Jayne Eggins
Experimenting with steel wool and long exposure photography in my backyard – this was my first and last attempt as I set up too close to the action and almost lost my hair and eyebrows!
Mirrorless capture
Judges Comment
This is so much fun! The shape created through a slow exposure and just the impact that this image produces! It’s a well rounded creative shot.
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05
2nd prize - Not your Normal Photo
Worth The Hike
Shannon Richmond
Taken in the Warrumbungles National Park after a family hike out to reach this isolated camp ground. The stars were magical and worth the effort.
SLR capture
Judges Comment
I know this camp spot well, and know the pain it takes to get gear to this spot. All of which adds to the story of a great shot! And this is not your normal camping spot compared to the others in the national park. A great shot in the space you had to ad so much life to the scene. It really has it all.
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002
Highly Commended - Not Your Normal Photo
If These Trees Could Talk
Cassie Weekes
I spotted these trees on a dirt road in the NSW High Country. It was after the devastating bushfires, and even though there had been destruction all around, there was still beauty to be found.
DSLR
Judges Comment
Photography has played the role in fulfilling the brief here. A great use of movement and slow shutter to create this painting like image.
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044
1st Prize - The Lie of the Land
Barrington Coast Under A Sea Of Fog
Nikki Ellis
Kia Ora
iPhone Capture
Judges Comment
Stunning! What a moment, what a scene! Like a rolling snow field below in the valley. This is a Truely breathtaking moment that needs no words to describe how amazing it is. The grass and fence is a nice touch to add a bit of dimension to the frame.
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029
2nd Prize - The Lie of the Land
Mograni & The Milky Way
Sarah-Jayne Eggins
A very early morning at Mograni Lookout. This photo is of The Milky Way and the twinkling lights of Gloucester in the background.
Mirrorless Capture
Judges Comment
What a amazing shot, showcasing skill in night photography. And what gives this great shot such depth is the clear scene below of the town and the rolling hills.. Spectacular! .
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014
Highly Commended - The Lie Of The Land
The Dawn Of A New Day
Jason Slade
I captured this image on Barrington Road just as the sun rose on a foggy winter’s morning.
DSLR
Judges Comment
I love the pastel tones coming out from the early morning fog. It helps break up the image, and separate the tree from the background. Also to note is the nice lines running through it from the creek to the rolling hills. Very aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Absence of Colour
008 When In Isolation... - Shannon Richmond
023 Time Out - Karen Brown
033 Peyton - Sarah-Jayne Eggins
038 Under Water - Tia Marsh
042 Jenny Wren - Jym McPhee
056 Window Gazing - Tara Jennings
071 Reflecting Mistro - Ella Hudson
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008
When In Isolation...
Shannon Richmond
This was taken during COVID Isolation where we rebonded and connected in fun and basic ways. Moments like these remind us as to what is really important and how the best things really are free. My son's face says it all in this image, after getting whipped by his sister he was out for revenge.
DSLR
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023
Time Out
Karen Brown
Neville relaxing with Bently (home in Gloucester)
Canon S51S
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033
Peyton
Sarah-Jayne Eggins
The beautiful Peyton in her sunflower field in Stroud.
Mirrorless
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038
Under Water
Tia Marsh
Old Boat Ramp at Stockton NSW
SonyA6500 mirrorless
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042
Jenny Wren
Jym McPhee
I have attempted to recreate the warmth of Agfa Brovia paper, my favourite old school black and white photographic paper.
Canon 60D using a 18-400mm lens.
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056
Window Gazing
Tara Jennings
Phone capture
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071
Reflecting Mistro
Ella Hudson
Farm at Wang Wauk
Phone capture
Culture
018 Gone Fishing - Karen Bolton
031 A Canter In The Creek - Sarah-Jayne Eggins
034 All That's Left - Tia Marsh
043 Out of Tune - Jym McPhee
053 Coming Together - Tara Jennnings
054 How We Do It Around Here - Tara Jennings
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018
Gone Fishing
Karen Bolton
Fishing at Forster (Tuncurry in background)
Panasonic DMC-TZ70 -
031
A Canter In The Creek
Sarah-Jayne Eggins
Glenworth Valley
Mirrorless -
034
All That's Left
Tia Marsh
Old fireplaces standing in a field. Taken outside of Armidale.
SonyA6500 mirrorless -
043
Out of Tune
Jym McPhee
The title “Out of Tune” relates to the sad fact that this piano has no tunes left to play and is out to pasture.
Canon 60D using a 18-400mm lens.
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053
Coming Together
Tara Jennings
Community Spirit shines brightly in times of need.
iphone
-
054
How We Do It Around Here
Tara Jennings
The Bowden Brothers playing at Bush poetry in the saleyards.
iphone
Faces I have met
004 Monkey See Monkey Do - Tiana Durbidge
007 A Dance With Colour - Shannon Richmond
027 Bert & Ernie - Karen Brown
057 Fletcher - Tara Jennings
062 Contemplation In Bowman Street - Deb Murrell
063 Teo Visits Gloucester - Deb Murrell
067 Gizmos Gaze - Ella Hudson
070 Catching My Eye - Ella Hudson
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004
Monkey See Monkey Do
Tiana Durbidge
Home, Gloucester NSW
Phone Capture
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007
A Dance With Colour
Shannon Richmond
Taken in Gloucester Park my children loved dancing in the colour of the falling flowers.
DSLR
-
027
Bert & Ernie
Karen Brown
Emu’s at a road side stop in the Northern Territory.
iPhone 6
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057
Fletcher
Tara Jennings
iPhone
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062
Teo Visits Gloucester
Deb Murrell
Suze and Teo.A special moment in Covid times. Suze travelled from NZ and quarantined for 2 weeks in Sydney to be able to meet her Grandson, then brought him up to Gloucester to meet his great Grandparents Patsy and John Murrell.
Digital SLR
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063
Contemplation In Bowman Street
Deb Murrell
What's out here through the screen Suze?
Digital SLR - through a screen door
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067
Gizmo's Gaze
Ella Hudson
Farm at Wang Wauk
iPhone12
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070
Catching My Eye
Ella Hudson
Farm at Wang Wauk
iPhone12
