Winners of HQP's National Forestry Day photo competition

Almost 20 photographers submitted more than 80 photos in HQP’s inaugural National Forestry Day competition, which was open to the public and HQP’s employees. The most hotly contested category was Beauty of HQP’s Plantation Forests, comprising more than half the entries, followed by Native wildlife in HQP’s plantation or custodial native forests.

The judges were impressed with the quality of the entries and how everyone embraced the themes.

Photo judges were Michelle McAndrew, HQP’s Stewardship Systems Manager, Stephanie Hunt, HQP’s Stakeholder Engagement Manager, and Beerburrum-based Forester Jonathon Du Pont.

They said picking just one winner and runner up in each category was challenging but some images really stood out for their unique perspective and how they highlighted each theme. Unfortunately some images submitted didn’t meet the category descriptions or conditions for entry, despite often being quite pleasing images.

The winners and runners up for each category are:

The beauty of HQP’s plantation forests

Winner – Doug Bazley’s image of pine plantations at the foot of Mt Tibrogargan (prize $500)

Runner up – Graeme Wilson’s image of the Nelder Wheel (prize National Forestry Day cap)

Enjoying HQP’s plantation forests

Winner – Charmaine Grobler’s image of mountain biking in the plantation forest (prize $500)

Runner up – Michael Ramsden’s image of scientists assessing billets in the plantation forest (prize National Forestry Day cap)

Native wildlife in HQP’s plantation or custodial native forests

Winner – Michael Ramsden’s Katydid in Araucaria (prize $500)

Runner up – Andres Heredia’s image of a raptor in the plantation forest (prize National Forestry Day beanie )

The judges also want to commend the Toolara Nursery team’s group drone photo, taken especially for the competition. It was clear to the judges that they enjoy their work and put in a lot of effort but under the strict interpretation of the category Enjoying HQP’s plantation forests their images were deemed ineligible for the category. However the judges loved the photos and awarded their aerial image the Judges' Prize of $500.

Congratulations to the winners and runners up and thanks to all the entrants for highlighting some of the many values of HQP-managed forests for National Forestry Day.

Beauty of HQP’s plantation forest category winner Doug Bazley

Beauty of HQP’s plantation forest category runner up Graeme Wilson

Enjoying HQP’s plantation forests winner Charmaine Grobler

Enjoying HQP’s plantation forests runner up Michael Ramsden

Native wildlife in HQP’s plantation or custodial native forests winner Michael Ramsden

Native wildlife in HQP’s plantation or custodial native forests runner up Andres Heredia

Judges' prize winner Toolara Nursery Team aerial images