AMANDA WILSON, Beyond the 25 (OPEN 2021)

I remember the first trip we went on after emerging from the initial lockdown. I turned to may partner and said "are you sure we should be heading out so far?" My stomach was atwitch with nervous anticipation. Thankfully, that soon subsided and day trips out into the Victorian regions became a way to escape everything 2020 had hurled at us. It didn't matter what the weather was doing, quite the opposite in fact, where we travelled was dependant on what mother nature was doing on the day. This can be seen in the Black Spur Rd photograph where raindrops hit the camera lens. When I opened the photograph in post production I realised these raindrops had created an effect that illustrated the mood of the day. A day filled with mist covered mountains and pouring rains that made the rainforest come alive. On one of our first trips out into the high country we came across a lake filled with dead trees, until we spotted one, alone, away from all the others, radiating the amazing colour of autumn in its final moments. After the "ring of steel" went down we resumed our day travels. Trips became longer and longer with hours spent on the road, When we made it to Wilsons Prom and Tidal River, it was amazing to the it snaking its way our to the ocean, the reflection of the rock in the water kept me mesmerised. All our lives changed in 2020. I am thankful to live in place that has so much beauty to offer, with sceneries and locations like these found within a couple of hours. This is my world: Beyond the 25.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.