An impressive collection of stunning photos that capture the spirit of the Queensland Outback has been selected as part of the Outback in Focus photography exhibition.
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The collection is touring Queensland to celebrate Queensland's 'Year of Outback Tourism'.
Fiona Maxwell of The Pew Charitable Trusts said Outback Queensland covers almost two-thirds of the state and is one of the last great regions of nature left on Earth.
"Our Outback is also home to many people who work hard to carefully manage the landscape and its wildlife and it's so welcoming to see their faces and stories reflected in so many of the entries to this competition," Ms Maxwell said.
"We were thrilled to receive more than 450 entries showcasing the unique native animals, plants and landscapes of Outback Queensland."
![Budgies at Mary Kathleen Dam near Mount Isa. Photo: Jarrad Barnes
Budgies at Mary Kathleen Dam near Mount Isa. Photo: Jarrad Barnes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/GJZ5TVpAk84wrTzsQfLQRB/6cb1c160-edaa-454a-b9f7-5aa9e634c74c.jpg/r0_0_1200_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The photos highlight some of the landscapes and species that make Outback Queensland so distinctive, including Boodjamulla National Park (Lawn Hill), Cobbold Gorge Nature Refuge and Big Red sand dune near Birdsville.
Ms Maxwell said there were also amazing shots of black-necked storks dancing across water, budgie murmurations through Outback oases and freshwater crocodiles.
"Queensland's Outback covers 1.1 million square kilometres, is home to around 88,000 Queenslanders and nearly 10,000 plant species - more than any other state in Australia. It's a huge landscape with even bigger characters and amazing wildlife, and this exhibition clearly shows the breadth of that," she said.
Final winners of the competition will be announced at a special exhibition launch event on November 25 at Old Government House, Brisbane.