Haunt of the Fringe Dwellers ©
Haunt of the Fringe Dwellers ©
Vicki Ferrari Photography
This was taken on the Gold Coast in QLD, Australia at the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, between the board walk (the lake) and the walking path.
I was pretty “chuffed” because I received the highly commended award in the Native Plants Category, in October 2008, in the
Gold Coast City Council Natural Environment Photography Competition, .
The tree itself is a SHEOAK and it is called a fringe dweller because it grows in between the wet and the dry! This area has a sort of ‘magical’ feel, for want of a better description!
I love the Australian Bush!
I am a proud Aussie!
AS IS bar minor editing.


Technical Data
Nikon D70s
98mm Focal
F4.5
1/640 Shutter
Taken 4 August 2008
Haunt of the Fringe Dwellers © belongs to the following groups:
All That is Nature (Photography Only), Australian Bush ☼ (aspects of Landscapes - ie No Macros please!), DSLR Users Only - 1/24 - Camera & Lens In Description Please., Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Moody, Dark, Evocative (no nudes), Mother Nature's Finest, Nature's Wonders, Photo-Zen, Queensland, Queensland the sunshine state. 2 photos per day, Rural Around The Globe, SPIRIT, The Gold Coast, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please** and Trees - 2 images per day with trees as the focal point Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Garth Smith
Hey this is a very cool shot but I look at it and can’t help but think – How did she do that????
Is it a composite of 3 or 4 layers?
Ciaran O'Hagan
great shot…very atmospheric!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
i just found a new button – the reply button! thanks for the compliment ciaran! have a good chrissy!
Vicki Ferrari
thanks garth! no layers as such but i tweaked it with photoshop, a bit of softening in the background. all the trees were there in the original, low aperture. is that what you meant? red bubble is very addictive, isn’t it?
Garth Smith
Yes Vicki that is what I meant, its remarkable how much the main trees stand out.
Yes you are doing it pretty much the right way as far as I can see.
Vicki Ferrari replied
ahhh! that button! i didn’t see that one…. must find my glasses! thanks garth!!
Vicki Ferrari
Thanks Garth, good to know…. still learning all i can about redbubble! what happens if you put an uncalibrated colour image on redbubble?
Garth Smith
Cool you found it.
No personal experience about uncalibrated colour images.
I was reading about it the other day and how the colours and/or tones dont render properly.
Attempted to find the article I read it in, got sidetracked reading something else and still didnt find it. Maybe google will help.
Vicki Ferrari replied
ahh look… i found it again! i get sidetracked too – could it be sidetrakeus syndrome? maybe it is caught from cameras… i will check out google, for calibration, not for sidetrakeus syndrome!
mekea
Beautiful capture!:)
Vicki Ferrari replied
thank you mekea!
Charlie Sawyer
Very fine image! The softening is striking because with a long lens/large aperture putting the background out of focus, as your eye expects, the grasses near the foreground trees would be in focus too but here they are not. It makes the foreground trees really stand out. Nice work.
Vicki Ferrari replied
thank you charlie!
Lars Klottrup
Fine texture! :-)
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Lars, by the way! Vicki :)))) Sometimes I hit the wrong button! Very easy to do, aye?!
Vicki Ferrari
thank you lars!
van049
Fantastic work Vicki and CONGRATULATIONS on winning
the environmental photography contest!!
An instant fave!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
oopsss…... did it again – hit the wrong button! one day….. and again.. thank you cloud lady van049!
Caterpillar
This is really amazing picture, full od mistery…
Vicki Ferrari replied
thanks kasia! also full of wild life, like kangaroos, wallabies and lizards! and mozzies! :)
budrfli
wow on lighting, focus, and beauty!
Vicki Ferrari replied
thanks you very much budrfli!! :)
wadesimages
Nice image!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Wade, by the way! Vicki :)))) I continue to hit the wrong button! Very easy to do, aye?! Will be more careful!!
MichelleR
This is beautiful!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Michelle! Vicki :)
Barbara Brown
The softening in the backgrund really works. Great phto!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks lenzart! Vicki :))
Elana Bailey
Beautiful work, Vicki. Love the lighting. Well done.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Elana, glad that you like it. Vicki :)
Elizarose
This is a beautiful piece of work. =)
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Elizarose, so glad that you like it! :)) Vicki
Jan Fijolek
Very nice work Vicki!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Jan! Glad you like it! This one was my first proper prize winner! Vicki :)
GayeL Art
Beautiful – great focus!!!!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Gaye! Glad that you like it! One of my faves! Cheers, Vicki :))
Jan Timmons
Love this view of trees, and your photo. I can see why you’re a “proud Aussie”! Ah, I see you tweaked in Photoshop. I have nothing against that, but please ignore my bmail.
Lovely work, Vicki!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Jan, glad you like it! Did some minor editing on the image but nothing much, the general composition was as is! I suppose it depends on how much tweaking you mean! I get so confused sometimes with that! I am so glad that there wasn’t PS around years ago when was doing negs or I would have driven myself around the bend!!! Cheers Jan! I did PS my logo in – it wasn’t magically hanging there!!!! Funny thing that!! :))) Vicki
Ken McElroy
Very moody and compelling image – it does have a very “otherworldly” feel to it.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Ken, it is an unusual spot, called the “Coombabah Wetlands” and there is an amazing array of wild life and plants there. It has a sense to it, like you say! Cheers Ken, Vicki :))
janfoster
great capture Vicki : )
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Jan!!
bubbleblue
beautiful image, love it.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Joy!!
Béla Török
Brilliant work, Vicki!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank YOU Bela!! :))
PhotoAvenue
Great capture …great tones….great title….
Love it ….
:-)))
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you PA! So glad you like it and thanks for you kind words!!
Cheers, Vicki :))
Wendy Slee
This is one amazing shot, because apart from having perfect dof for effects, and sharpness to accentuate the foreground trees, it has a haunting feel to it, like fading away into dreamstate, almost symbolic of those who are true fringe dwellers…...
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Wendy, thus the title! You did so well to describe that! Maybe I should copy your description! This was the image that I won my first ever big prize with last year…. and the Gold Coast City Council will be using it, along with about 15 others. I will paste the link…. Ta Wendy! :)) Coming from you, a glowing report!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
link
michaelsz
Just love it so much at the first look at it. I have been trying to figure out how you made it. Did you combine 2 different photos here with layer mask… ? Anyway great work Vicki !
Vicki Ferrari replied
Hi Michael! This is as is, bar some basic editing. It was afternoon light, side on, with soft grasses, low fstop (4.5) and I was close to the sheoaks! It is all in the original photo, bar the signature of course! It wasn’t floating at the base of the tree!! Thanks for the fave and am so glad you like it! Did you see the link above, where I won an award? I was chuffed, my first ever big award! Vicki :)))
Gina Cormier
Very cool image Vicki!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Gina!! :)))
Barbara Brown
Lve the shallow DOF here! Gives the shot a lovely, haunting feel!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Barbara, this was my first photograph to win an award in a (proper) competition! Thanks for your kind words!
Lois Bryan
OOOOO Vicki … this is glorious!!!!!!! I love the color scheme in this beauty … and the verticals are magic … no wonder it’s gotten such a prestigious award!!!! WHEEE!!!!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you so much Lois! You are always such a breath of fresh air! Will you be my Cyclone Sister?!!! (I used to be called Cyclone Vicki…. as in, here comes cyclone vicki!! or “what just happened?”! LOL!)
Thanks for your kind compliments!!! CV! :))))
Virginia McGowan
lovely photo congratulations for the win,,,I love these ,,,could go on for ever about those causarinas and paperbarks and the developers and ,,,,,,,,
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Ginny!!!! :))
drec
Congratulations on the win, can you still access these wetlands off Brisbane Road or has it all been fenced off?
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Drec! I imagine so, I haven’t been down there for a while – this in on the road to the AWL, is that where you mean? Did they close off the access there? And if so, why would they fence that area off? They get a fair bit of human traffic down that way. :)
Stephen Vecchi...
Very nice composition and colors in this great capture.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Stephen!
Trish Woodford
Lovely image Vicki, it gives off a sense of mystery. Love the softness and congrats on the highly commended :))
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Trish!!! :)
terugvanver
wonderful patterns
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta terugvanver!!
MuscularTeeth
fantastic work here.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks MT!!
Karen Tillotson
Brilliant Vicki….no surprise you received an award! This is quite a magnificent image!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Karen! They have also recently printed it as postcards! Yay! Stoked! :)) (still smiling here!!)
Michael Kienhuis
Certainly a winner! Very beautiful and it wants you to go walking through there, exploring the terrain. Well done!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Michael! It is a beautiful spot! :)
Scott d'Almeida
stunning,
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Scott
Kevin Skinner
Now this is good. Wonderfully delicate with some excellent textures. Sublime.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Kevin! Wonderful comments!
Kathie Nichols
Stunning pic Vicki, so that’s what these trees are called. Mmmm…next time I want to identify a tree….I’ll let you know….lol! :D
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Kathie!! Someone had to tell me what it was, I think! :) LOL!
dvande1
VERY NICE!!!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you so much Dvande!!! :)
Imber
Beautiful shot, well done.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Imber! :))
Barbara Brown
A lovely image! Definitely has a haunted look!!
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Barbara! Yes, a wonderful place too! I need to go down there more often!! :))
kibishipaul
Beautiful photo. I like the way you’ve softened the background in this. I’ve tried doing the same with some of my shots with mixed results.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Kibishipaul! It was a low DOF and close so it created that effect! Thanks! :)
laureenr
Fantastic Vicki and wonderful that you won that award. Excellent.
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Lau!! And I was stoked! The Gold Coast City Council printed up postcards from this too! I was even more chuffed then!!! :))
Anthony Mancuso
superb work Vicki. I don’t wknow what’s going on? I’m sure you were on my watch list but i’ve missed much work? I’ll try again
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Anthony, glad you like this one! I was pretty happy with (see comment above!).... I was very surprised when i opened the envelope from the GCCC!! And stoked! As I was expecting it to be something dreadful!! :)))
Anthony Mancuso
It deserves to be highly commended Vicki. Congrats
Vicki Ferrari replied
Ta Anthony!!!!! :)
johannesfrank
Great composition and color this would be excellent in B/W also ;-)
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thanks Johanne, I might have to try it in black and white, never thought of that and thanks so much for the idea!!! :)))
Luis Mariano ...
beautiful ambience … what gentleness
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Luis!! :)))
Pipewrench67
very nice
Vicki Ferrari replied
Thank you Pipewrench67 and very nice to meet you! I have been a bit slack on the old responses lately!!! :))) Cheers, Vicki :)
cammiecakes
Awesome
Vicki Ferrari replied 25 days ago
Thank you Cammie!!! :)))
Vicki Ferrari 22 days ago
ozzzywoman 21 days ago
I like very much what you’ve done here. Unique and original! :-)
Vicki Ferrari replied 21 days ago
Thank you very much Mandy – coming from you, a real compliment! I like your style of work very much also! And thank you again! Vicki :))
fezoj64 18 days ago
Very good photo,excellent composition. ..Jozef
Vicki Ferrari replied 18 days ago
Thank you very much Jozef! :)
walela 9 days ago
Excellent shot!
Vicki Ferrari replied 6 days ago
Thanks Walela!!! :))
Laurie Search 1 day ago
Just wonderful!!!
Vicki Ferrari replied about 4 hours ago
Thank you very much Laurie!!! Glad you like it! :))