Gangalidda Country (Burketown, Qld) by Jane Metcalfe
Winner - 2026
"I find the composition to be effective in placing the viewer almost within the scene. The eye goes directly to the horizon that is held in place by the row of people at the bottom. I love the time of day and also how it is a bit mysterious as to what stage of the event we're looking at. Most of all I like the feeling from the relaxed people."
Mike Terry
Anaiwan Country (Armidale, NSW) by Louise de Freitas.
Winner - 2025
"An intriguing image that causes the viewer to look twice. Two significant icons, one Australian and the other UNE, Armidale, both captured in one shot. Both immediately recognisable by someone who knows Armidale. Technically OK with a good composition and an amazing depth of field."
Terry Cooke
Wangal Country (Berala, NSW) by Shamim Saiyad
Winner - 2023
“Painting with light! The use of colour and light is compelling, as are the shadows reaching towards the viewer. An evocative image. I felt that I was there.”
Dr Richard Jones
Anaiwan Country (Armidale, NSW) by Jack Higgins
Winner - 2022
”Evokes a peaceful landscape very nicely. Rock and yellow plant in foreground nicely contrasting. Nice complementarity in the horizon line dipping towards the rising foreground lines. Foreground and sky nicely lit, with middle ground darker but not muddy”
Prof. Simon Evans
Woiwurrung Country (Melbourne, Vic) by Rosemary Ruth Merralls
Winner - 2026
"Made me look closely. I could not work out what I was looking at at first but then my eyes adjusted to it. A creative take on this scene. The water element is nice and sharp and the scene behind the water is nicely framed with the people on the lower third and the monument in the right third of the frame."
Sarah Gasperre
Tony, Buandig Country (Mt Gambier, SA) by 蔡亹平 (Cai Menping)
Winner - 2025
“A nicely composed black and white image framed with (I assume) the kiln used for firing the pottery of the people that he teaches. The photographer says Tony is “a very gentle man” and this is reflected in how the photographer has composed the photo.”
Terry Cooke
Wangal Country (Strathfield, NSW) by Jessica Ellen Rogers
Winner - 2023
“A strangely captivating image for its multiple objects and textures. Despite being devoid of people, it evokes the wide range of ages, ethnicities, and cultures of a large city.”
Dr Richard Jones
Barunggam Country (Toowoomba, Qld) by Shay Aitken
Winner - 2022
”Slightly blurry, capturing the movement of the moment - a gasp of wind on a clear blue day. A beautifully reflective and emotive shot.”
Beth MacRaild O’Loughlin
Yuwaalaraay Country (Lightning Ridge, NSW) by Kristy Lee Bolch
Winner - 2025
"This is a genuinely powerful image, It goes well beyond landscape photography into something that feels personal and place-based. The storytelling is its greatest strength."
Traci Travers
Anaiwan Country (Armidale, NSW) by Laura Murray
Winner - 2025
“A well taken photograph catching the late afternoon sun on the clouds with their reflection in the waters of Dumaresq Dam. Mount Duval, in the far distance, is a very prominent landmark in and around Armidale and as the photographer says “signifies to many locals that they are home.”
Terry Cooke
Lutruwita/Timkarik-Tarkayna Country (Tullah, TAS) by Kelly Jones
Winner - 2023
“This image conveys really well how human habitation has imposed itself on a landscape. It seems that the landscape is not enough in itself to entertain us, we need to include games in the form of giant chess!”
Trish Donald
Gumbaynggirr Country (Woolgoolga, NSW) by Leanne Kelly
Winner - 2022
”Very evocative of the place of the human in the context of timeless space and place. Technically accomplished. Good lines drawing the eye across the image. Good lighting.”
Prof. Simon Evans
Barngarla Country (Wreck Beach, SA) by Chelsea Ross
Winner - 2026
"Stunning landscape image with the most gorgeous light and a dreamy mood. Sharp image with nice textures - the patterns in the sand, rocks and water, good range of light and shadow. Nice colours without being overdone."
Sarah Gasperre
Gadigal Country (Sydney, NSW) by Alvine Mulligan
Winner - 2025
“An intriguing photograph in which the subject matter is not immediately clear as it lacks context in the night time. With an explanation that it is a large sculpture on the Sydney Harbour foreshore by Judy Watson of a shell fish hook used by the Eora Nation for thousands of years the image comes to light. A well taken image with excellent use of the available light.”
Terry Cooke
Cammeraygal Country (Balls Head Reserve, NSW) by Louise de Freitas
Winner - 2023
“A striking image presenting what the ancient land might have been like, while at the same time depicting contemporary Sydney. Excellent juxtaposition. The personal story added an additional layer of interest to the image.”
Dr Richard Jones
Djabuganjdji Country (Mareeba, Qld) by Emma Grabowski
Winner - 2022
”Slightly stock feeling but strong sense of a pocket of nature.”
Prof. Simon Evans
Ngurra Country (Wentworth Falls, NSW) by Maurice Cheong
Winner - 2026
"Beautiful, dramatic landscape scene. Great depth of field and the ridgeline leads the eye through the image. Well focussed and It makes me feel like I am there."
Sarah Gasparre
Wiradjuri Country (Mudgee, NSW) by Hannah Wilson
Winner - 2025
“An excellent perspective adding drama to the image along with great contrasting colours of the building and the evening sky. The faded and tattered sign highlights the age of the building which many locals in Mudgee would be well aware of. The jet trail adds to the dynamism of the image. Technically well shot with sharp focus and good composition.”
Terry Cooke
Narrm/Naarm Country (Southbank, VIC) by Thai Nguyen
Winner - 2023
“Captures the vastness and life of a city at night really well. While there are no people in the image we get a sense of human impact because of all the energy being consumed to light the buildings and also by the glittering web of man made buildings and roads.”
Trish Donald
Larrakia Country (Darwin, NT) by Josephine Vassiliou
Winner - 2022
”Love that the photographer hasn’t chosen the ‘perfect’ exposure, instead the slightly dark and underexposed shot captures the warm orange light dancing across the trees, with the stars glistening in the sky above”
Beth MacRaild O’Loughlin
Anaiwan Country (Armidale, NSW) by Isabella Murray
Winner - 2026
"Energetic, well timed, and genuinely joyful. The coincidence of firework and Ferris wheel is the image's great gift and the framing honours it. Of all the images in the set this one is the most purely pleasurable to look at, and that is not a small thing."
Traci Travers
Gubbi Gubbi Country (Moreton Bay, Qld) by Amy Thomas
Winner - 2025
“An excellent long exposure image with beautiful soft side lighting. Excellent composition with a story that relates to current and past uses of the area.”
Terry Cooke
Awabakal Country (Newcastle, NSW) by Jackie Dwyer
Winner - 2023
“This image gives us an insight into the photographer, lush green overgrown garden and a mountain bike hinting that the person uses exercise to connect to Country. Fits the brief 'your place, our country'.”
Brendan Blacklock
Adnyamathana Country (Flinders Ranges, SA) by Mijanou Reynolds
Winner - 2022
”Love the choice of perspective and framing of the natural features (Sturt’s Desert Peas), that invite you into the landscape and lead you from the foreground to deeper within the landscape.”
Beth MacRaild O’Loughlin