Much of the Australian landscape is shaped by fire and flood: many indigenous plants require burning to induce a reproductive cycle. Others have developed mechanisms for re-growth following fire. In 2005 and again in 2009 Wilson's Promontory National Park was ravaged by extensive bushfires as Australia seared in 50 degree Celsius temperatures. We were there to record the events. The stark grey-black ash landscape and the bright green re-growth that followed made excellent subjects. Bushfires are unpredictable with catastrophic heat consuming all in their path but other habitat just metres away spared. This makes for fascinating photographs with patterns of black (burned), orange (singed) and green (spared) land. This is best demonstrated in our aerial photography.
The contrasts of colour and shapes make this a wonderful series. For me it was full of surprises, not only because these images of the damage done by the fire are so different from what I remember the Prom being like in the past, but also because the little flashes of colour in the new growth contrast so much against the grey or black ash - like jewels in a velvet box. My favourites were 208533, 208318, 208347, 208352 and 0191.
The guestbook is empty.
Loading...
© Gigi & Robin Williams Photography
