Katherine Boland, Essence of Tree Fern (LANDSCAPE 2024)

During a month-long visit to the Blue Mountains I became entranced by the mystical allure of the tree ferns nestled near the Leura Cascades. Intrigued by the primeval elegance of these botanical marvels, I embarked on a visual journey to encapsulate the essence of these ancient plants. The negative spaces between the branching foliage, the rough texture of the trunks, the unfurling fronds and spindly vegetation allowed me to distill the complex beauty of the tree ferns into a series of images that border on the abstract. Each photograph encapsulates a moment frozen in time, inviting viewers to lose themselves in the enigmatic allure of these ancient botanical beings, provoking contemplation on the delicate balance between form and void, growth and decay in the heart of this incredible landscape.

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