QCG Collected Works - Part II — Queensland Camera Group

This is the second installment of three blog posts featuring the fabulous images from QCG’s photo book of 2020 Collected Works. The perfect bound soft cover book was printed by Momento Pro who sponsor the club’s photo book competition. QCG’s next photo book competition is slated for 2022. Read on to enjoy some fantastic images by some super photographers and to gain some insight into the story behind each photo.

New York - A Moment in Time, by Joy Melchiori

The image was given a Merit in the 'Open' Section in May 2020. I saw this street scene and just couldn't walk by it without capturing the moment. I actually loved the busyness of the scene - the colours, people, window reflections, and birds - and yet, there was a stillness about it as each person had their own little story going on. It's one of my favourites as each time I look at it, I see something new.

Black Cockatoo in Gum Tree, by Debby Talon

This image is a photograph that I took of one of the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos that reside around our property throughout most of the year, and it is one of the seven species of cockatoos we have here in Australia. Several creative processes took place to produce the final digital photograph to make the painterly abstract background, and to enhance the vibrant colour palette of the gum leaves. The end result is an original fine art photograph of one of our amazing Australian wildlife, the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo.

This style of photography is what I enjoy the most as a Visual Artist and Photographer as I love creating images that look very different to the original photograph. Often, during the creative process, it is a very pleasant surprise to see the final image. I also like to make my photographs a bit different, working towards my goal of an individual and recognisable creative style.

Casino at Sunset, by Ken Butler

This image (Merit, Open, May 2020) was taken from Brisbane Square late one afternoon in March while my son and I wandered around the Square and the Cultural Centre across the river recording city views. For me it makes a great shot because the nature of the light at that time of day delivered a contrasty image with a faux metallic look when converted to black and white in NIK software. It was taken with a wide angle lens, enabling great sharpness across much of the image. This was a major factor in producing the picture’s special look and feel.

Beyond the Apocalypse of Climate Change ... Dust & Drought, by Ray Shorter

The overwhelming consensus of evidence-based science is that our planet is warming.

My project focused on producing a visual narrative of how the world may be after the apocalypse of the climate change emergency we are all facing. This image depicts how increasing frequency of extremes of weather and especially drought in many parts of Australia threaten our food production capacity.

My hope is that the narrative I have tried to create does not actually come to pass and that we are able to change the way we live to mitigate the more extreme scenarios of the climate emergency we face … for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

*Beyond the Apocalypse of Climate Change*

Double Up by Paul Cook

This image is one of my personal favourite Street photos. It gained an honour in the 2020 April Open Black and White Competition. For me, the image reflects a simplicity and character of a time past or present, location here or there. I'm hoping this image can take you to a time and place you imagine it to be. This image was taken in the same way most of my street photographs are taken, a mirrorless camera, viewed in black and white, with manual settings, manual zone focus. All that is left to do is wait for the right moment and press the shutter button. Steps of Cathedral of St Stephen, Elizabeth St Brisbane.

Emerging Skimmer Drying by Bob Britcher AFIAP AAPS PSQA

Captured September 2019. Received an HONOUR at IPSWICH & PENINSULA in 2020.

Rainbow Lorikeet & Bees on Xanthorrea by Bob Britcher AFIAP AAPS PSQA

Captured September 2017 but not exhibited yet.

Fraser Island Predators by Esther Andrews

For us the Covid pandemic lockdown ran from March to May 2020. I’m really not sure of the details of the dates. It’s almost surreal looking back on it now. I still remember the phone call from my son, “Quick Mum, you’ve got to come up now. They’re stopping the planes.” Their baby’s due date was approaching and they had a toddler already. There was no work in Brisbane. I might as well be locked down in the north for a bit longer than the planned visit. So after a mad scramble to finish my SEQ entries, off I went.

Six weeks in the warm north with one and then two delightful grandchildren. It was only on my return that I realised I was weary. My children laughed and said, “you need a holiday to get over your time up here!” And they were right. So when the opportunity arose to go to Fraser Island I grasped it with both hands. It was a brilliant photographic week with no domestic responsibilities and no constant child watching. (The toddler isn’t known as ‘lightning’ for nothing.)

When the three related images competition came around, this was a good time for me to try something special.

I have always loved sandhills. Going to Fingal to run up and down the coloured sandhills is a happy childhood memory. On Fraser Island they called to me with freedom and space and quietness. Even the approach of the dingo only added a respect for his space, his territory. This land belonged to the animals, the birds, not to us. We watched, we waited, and, of course, we took photos!

To me this composite image is from a moment in time; it is a trigger to the beauty and peace that is ours, despite the horrors of other parts of our world, both near and far. It lifts my strange year being an intermission that gives both strength and calm.

And when the judge said nice things about this image, I knew it would be a good one to share!!

Togetherness by Gaye Edwards

Covid19 restrictions led to a new photographic and environmental interest. These two little native female Red-backed Fairywrens at Oxley Creek Common symbolise the challenge and the charm my photography enjoyed during very anxious times.

St Petersberg Sunset by Philip Lawrence EFIAP,FAPS,CAPS/b

I received an Honour for St Petersberg Sunset in the Print section of Scapes late February.

QCG Blog

QCG Collected Works - Part II