To the west of the Blue Mountains is a collection of sandstone formations that over thousands of years of wind and rain have been sculpted into elegant pagodas. Some tower tens of metres high, some balance on caves and cliffs. Now, the rare beauty of the Gardens of Stone, a world heritage area, is being threatened by mining activities.
The grandeur of the little known area has remained largely unheralded due to their proximity to the world-famous Three Sisters. But several years ago, a whisper was passed through the photography community and professional and amateur photographers alike began to capture the rugged beauty of the Gardens of Stone.
![Evening Glow, from series 'From Orange to Blue' taken above Carne Creek, Newnes State Forest. On show now for exhibition ...](/web/20161018100804im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/h/r/2/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gre8p1.png/1474117005862.jpg)
Gardens of Stone: In Focus is an exhibition of landscape photographs taken in the area, promoting awareness of the rare landscape and campaigning to have the Newnes Plateau protected in perpetuity by the National Parks and Wildlife Act. The Gardens of Stone are vulnerable to nearby coal mines which affect water quality and swamp ecosystems as well as cause cliff collapses and fractures in the rock formations. This in turn affects the flora and fauna of the local ecosystems, which are known to bird watchers, who visit in search of seldom seen species such as the lyrebird, turquoise parrot, and the square-tailed kite.
The free exhibition, on at Sydney University, shows a spectacular selection of works, capturing the landscapes in the brilliant orange light of sunrise as well as the indigo hues of dusk that the region is famous for.
Gardens of Stone: In Focus opens Saturday 17 September at 10am at the New Law Building Sydney Law School, University of Sydney.
![On show now for exhibition about Gardens of Stone National Park, NSW.](/web/20161018100804im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/h/r/2/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gre8p1.png/1474117005862.jpg)