Capturing Climate Change

Sunrise

Tuvalu comprises of nine small coral islands scattered in a chain over 676 km. It is a nation located half-way between Hawaii and Australia with a population of around 11,000 people. In the face of climate emergency, Tuvalu is one of the world’s most endangered nations, sitting at an average of less than 2 meters above sea level. It is a staggeringly beautiful place that has a complex culture stretching back three thousand years, with important cultural/political and economic ties to nearby Samoa and Tonga that remain today. I travelled to Funafuti (the capital of Tuvalu) in 2015 and was humbled as rumours spread across the island that “a Samoan sister has returned home”. This image is taken at sunset at high-tide where water bubbles up and rises from beneath the ground.

Sunset

Two young brothers play and laugh with two refrigerator doors repurposed as floatation devices. The management of rubbish in the vast global oceans has been a growing concern for scientists, activists, and communities. These vast islands of rubbish are toxic and deadly to wildlife. Various activist groups such as The Ocean Cleanup highlights the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is estimated to be approximately 80,000 tonnes. This weight is equivalent to 500 Jumbo Jets. We can support climate change in so many ways. One is to reduce our consumption, reducing the need for fossil fuel energy to produce these goods. The other is to donate to organisations that are on the front lines of climate change advocacy.

Night Walk

I love taking walks at night. It is a habit that has remained with me since I was a child. It is a time to connect with friends and family, take advantage of the cooler air as well as an opportunity to admire homes. The Pacific Island aesthetic is unique and it brings me great joy. It is a living example of merging ancestral forms of art with modern materials. The Australian Museum has many examples of these to view from home, from body adornment to everyday objects.

Day Walk

Climate change is a global phenomenon that requires us to think on a global level. But while we measure, project and debate at the planetary scale, we miss something. The problem becomes abstract and inhuman. This abstraction is only compounded for many of us as we don’t personally feel any direct impacts - our life goes on day to day with little change. Tuvalu is the canary in the global mine. We get a glimpse of the challenges we face in our collective future by seeing the experiences of Tuvaluans and many other Pacific peoples. We need to ask ourselves, what small changes can we make on a daily basis to reduce our carbon footprint? Visit www.reduceyourfootprint.com.au for some ideas.

Pulaka

Still image from my moving-image work, Tuvalu (2016). Our family home in Savai’i, Samoa, now floods regularly. Our beautiful lush food bearing trees and crops have now given way to thick brown wet sludge. These same problems face Tuvalu. Big old beautiful breadfruit trees are reduced to stumps scattered across the island. Pulaka (similar to taro) is an important ceremonial gift. These are grown on pyramids of soil to try to protect them from seawater. But many of the green leaves begin to turn yellow and die.

Rain

The challenging issue for Tuvalu is that it is simultaneous drowning from rising sea water as well as being vulnerable to drought. Due to irregular and inconsistent weather patterns, seasonal rainfall collection for water supply has come under threat in the most recent years. Just like Australia, Tuvalu experiences drought and has required International aid in the form of drinking water deliveries and temporary desalination plants.

Sea Water

This is a still image from my work Tuvalu (2016), documenting an abandoned house that is a frequent sight along the shorelines of Funafuti. Tuvalu sits at an average of 2 metres above sea level. It is also affected by perigean spring tide events (often called the King Tide season), which raise the sea level higher than a normal high tide. The highest peak tide recorded by the Tuvalu Meteorological Service was 3.4 metres (11 ft) on 24 February 2006 and again on 19 February 2015.

Sea Wall

In front of one family home on Funafuti, a wall of old buses and cars are used as a wall to help break the waves as a measure of protection.

Airport

This is a still image from my work Tuvalu (2016). This area is designated as the Funafuti airport. At high-tide, water bubbles up from beneath the surface and floods low-lying areas surrounding the tarmac. The blue sign in the background states ‘Parking Area’.

Daily Clearing

This is a still image from my work Tuvalu (2016). Here it’s early morning and it is not yet time for children to head to school. Council workers and family members move debris and rocks from the road so that transport can safely pass by.

The Ocean

Still image from my moving-image work, Tuvalu (2016). Here, an elder is holding a stick and she measures the tide rising over the afternoon. For much of my youth I grew up in the island of Savai’i, Samoa. About 30 years ago, my mother (head of our large extended family) would hold meetings to talk about a bad phenomena happening around us. Back then, we had no words or a clear understanding of ‘climate change’. We wanted to work towards a solution. Do we re-build our homes up on huge stone foundations? Like many families, we couldn’t find a sustaining and affordable solution.

The Ocean

This is a still image from my moving-image work called Lick, 2015. It shows not only the beautiful turquoise colour of the water that is unique to the Pacific, it also highlights coral bleaching beneath my feet. Coral bleaching from rising sea temperatures and acidifying oceans from carbon dioxide absorption from the atmosphere is another major problem in the Pacific. There are many coral restoration programs across the globe we can donate to online.

Holding On

This is a still image from my moving-image work Holding On (2015). I have placed myself on a slab of concrete and wait for the rising tide. The work becomes a battle between myself and the ocean, symbolising our collective ‘holding on’.

Waters edge

These images are from my moving image work Tuvalu (2016). We are presented with a beautiful sunset in paradise - but if we look closer - the tide is higher that it should be with a coconut tree stump protruding from the sea. We hear the sounds of young adults rising from the water but we are unsure if the screams are screams of laughter or terror. An elder is captured walking calmly from the shoreline and into the sea - he disappears beneath the waves and I am overcome with sadness in the symbolism in this moment. Are we facing the prospect of losing Tuvalu over the coming decades as it gradually slips beneath the rising waters?

Metamorphosis of Narcissus I

I made Narcissus (2019) as a series of works in response to our global turbulent times. It carries the enduring cautionary Greek mythology into contemporary times, reflecting on global selfie culture as an amplification of our obsession with ourselves. Here, vulnerabilities, frustrations, flaws and strengths are shown as a collective effect, where various acts and emotions highlight uncertain and challenging times ahead for us all. We all need to look beyond ourselves to put our collective energy into urgent environmental, social and political issues.

The fear in trees

I came across this burning tree near Dunedoo, NSW, and I watched it through the night. With Gary Warner, I edited the footage into a film called ‘The fear in trees’ for the tree of knowledge in ‘After Nature’, an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia (MCA).

Trees for me are the great signals of change. They became a register of what’s happening through climate change, pollution, poisoned waters. Yet, we are still land clearing in a dry country like Australia, despite crippling drought and the knowledge that we should do the opposite: that we need to regenerate this planet.

Ghosts in the Theatre of Trees

These images were sourced from my vast photographic archive that records old-growth forests and wilderness environments. They have been made into a series of films for my large-scale veiled installation ‘Theatre of Trees’ at the MCA, which brings together a decade of my research into medicinal plants as a metaphor for the healing power of the planet.

Ghosts in the Theatre of Trees

These images are suggestive of the huge stories of trees, and the threats to them. Walking through the city, I was imagining it without trees, which would mean without birds, without habitats. So, my work in local and far-flung wildernesses, large and small, try to act as reminders that trees give us oxygen, shelter, nourishment and life itself.

Ghosts in the Theatre of Trees

I have had a deep environmental consciousness for as long as I can remember. Trees factor into that consciousness, so I look at the loss of forests and the enormity of that for our planet. I look at trees with enormous wonder and joy, but at the same time, the realisation that they are gravely threatened. There is this feeling of this can’t last.

Ghosts in the Theatre of Trees

All of these images were taken prior to the recent bushfire crisis, but seem now to have a haunting prescience. Now more than ever, we need to listen to our environment and learn our Indigenous peoples knowledge of caring for the land. Through this, there is hope for regeneration after such overwhelming loss.

Patients from the Hospital for Ailing Plants (Waiting)

‘Waiting’ was a transparent mesh structure built for the Biennale of Sydney in 2010. This intricate installation echoed both a botanical glasshouse and a museological scientific vitrine filled with plants (representing larger threatened environments) interconnected by scientific glass vessels. The medicinal cabinet/garden circulated various fluids and solids, creating a space of revival and resuscitation.

Patients from the Hospital for Ailing Plants (Waiting)

These ‘patients’ ask us to talk about environmental sustainability, fragility and loss of species. Based on scientific facts, the space amplified invisible processes and the psychological state of plants. We are confronted with their being and plight in which we are implicated.

Patients from the Hospital for Ailing Plants (Waiting)

‘Waiting’ incorporated evocative materials, such as ash, minerals and oxides, glass vessels, and living plant matter. These formed various wards and medical treatments for the ailing plants. Through this, I intended to create arresting reminders that our natural environment needs to be nursed and nurtured.

Plants from the Entangled Garden for Plant Memory, Taiwan

For my upcoming solo show at the Yi Hsui Museum of Art in Taiwan, I have created these images that layer lush trees, plants and mosses with glass vessels. I am observing the fast falling avalanche of disasters being actioned by man upon the planet on top of accelerating climate change. This has created a sense of urgency for me and I see vividly the importance of acting through my art. I recognise how these actions can create an energy that is directed towards caring and generosity, which then creates a space of possibility and hope.

Plants from the Entangled Garden for Plant Memory, Taiwan

Through my work, I try to create a space somewhere between evidence and imagination. While my practice is based on deeply held convictions about the environment and our relationship to it – and I want the work to have a politically environmental voice – I think it’s important that viewers make their own journey through the wonders of nature. I want to create a space for reflection and interpretation.

Plants from the Entangled Garden for Plant Memory, Taiwan

These plants from ‘The Entangled Garden for Plant Memory’ are part of my seeking to reflect on the fragility of the natural world, its plight and potential restoration. My work here will be an exploration of the mountainous environments in which the museum sits in relation to the historical botanical collection from the National University of Taipei.

After Eden

‘After Eden’ was an exhibition I made for Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation in 2012, which involved travelling to habitat restoration projects and fragile habitats.
For this image, I travelled to the Cheng du Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. Focusing on the plight of these animals, I place the destruction of habitat and dwindling populations in dialogue with an emphasis on intimacy, healing and caring.

After Eden

This image was taken in the Aceh Elephant Camp in Indonesia. Throughout my time here, I thought about the loneliness of the last one of a species. What was their death? I wonder about their ‘umwelt’, the unique world in which each species lives. This notion is powerfully articulated by the biologist Jacob von ‘umwelt’, who has enabled rare insight into the worlds animals inhabit: ‘… worlds they sometimes share with us, worlds waiting to be invented, worlds that may inform our understanding of our own inhabited worlds’.

Worlds that disappear

‘Worlds that disappear’ brings together images of fragile forests and laboratory glasses in order to explore the relationship between plants and our need to use science knowledge for healing and regeneration. This is a recent series from 2019 that juxtaposes lichen, glass measuring vessels, watery reflections, and pools of acrylic paint.

Worlds that disappear

My works that layer multiple glass panels create fugitive spaces of immersion and reflection, transparency and translucency, through a language of veiling. In this way, you are invited to explore many micro- and macro-worlds that draw you closer to biophilia.

Coral Collapse

Coral Collapse works were taken in my time of research at Lizard Island for the Australian Museum Deep Breathing for Paris COP 21 In these works, I dived down to the living creatures, with bleached coral, mirror tubes and lab glass to set up the idea of homeopathic treatments.

Dust storm

A dust storm rolled into my small hometown Narromine. The wall of dust quickly but completely consumed the whole town into its darkness. This was one of the largest dust storms to hit us thus far, but we were still prepared for more.

Risen

The 19th of January, a day I thought was like the rest had a sudden dark turn. The dust had risen incredibly. Higher than houses, higher than trees, higher than the power lines. We were soon covered in a blanket of dust.

Realisation

Travelling home from a school excursion I was frightened to see the thick clouds of smoke ahead of us. I took this photograph and just felt overwhelmed as I had only seen the fires and the smoke in photographs and on television. Now I was seeing it in real life and I was enticed to capture it.

Something different

Living so far from the fires I wasn't aware of the effect that they had on the whole of Australia. I was more than 300kms away from a fire and still i had woken up to the smell of smoke. I was walking in the morning and I was just startled that there was smoke in the air. This smoke stuck around for days on end and I could just remember thinking 'If the smoke is somewhat bad here how bad is it for those towns extremely close to the fires?

Redemption

18th of January. After encountering blankets of dust and clouds of smoke the air began to clear and the skies crowded with rain filled clouds. The grass was brown and the rivers were low, it was now time for some rain.

Results

In the simplest words the drought is cruel. In my community we are suffering from an ongoing drought. Our local farmers are struggling to keep their land and support their families as they can’t grow crops or feed livestock. We have received heavy rainfall lately, it’s made our grass green, raised our rivers and it’s given some hope to farmers but in reality it certainly hasn't broken the drought.

Muddy waters

A slow Sunday drive on the 23 of February resulted in me ending up at the river. It’s been a while since we’ve had dust in the air and it’s been refreshing. We’ve gotten copious amounts of rain and its started to fill our rivers and wash them out. All the mud has arised in the waters and it continues to be stirred around. I have hope that it shall soon settle and our water will become clean.Yes our rivers are now full of water but they are now full of mud as well.

Protect Country Alliance NT @frack_free_nt

The Protect Country Alliance is working with landholders, Traditional Owners and communities to stop fracking in the NT. PCA brings together impacted groups concerned about gas fracking proposals or projects in the Northern Territory. It is made up of delegates representing regional communities across the NT including Elliott, Marlinja, Minyeri, Borroloola, Mataranka, Jilkminngan and Hermannsberg.

Lock the Gate @lockthegate

Lock the Gate is a national grassroots organisation made up of over 120,000 supporters and more than 450 local groups who are concerned about risky coal mining, coal seam gas and fracking. These groups are located in all parts of Australia and include farmers, traditional custodians, conservationists and urban residents. Their vision is of healthy, empowered communities which have fair, democratic processes available to them to protect their land and water and deliver sustainable solutions to food and energy needs.

This photo shows Victorian communities of Moriac, Paraparap and Freshwater Creek holding a declaration day at the Moriac hall, complete with tractors, fire engines, food and speeches. When these communities found out unconventional gas mining could be coming to their community, they snapped into action. Neighbours ran a door to door survey and found over 96% of the community wanted to declare the area 'gasfield free'. Communities pledged to do whatever they could to stop the gas industry dividing them. Their determination and defiance to the gas industry continues

Farmers for Climate Action @farmersforclimateaction

Farmers for Climate Action is a movement of farmers and agricultural leaders putting those on the front line of climate impacts at the front and centre of climate solutions. FCA supports farmers to be part of the solutions both behind and beyond powerful voice calling for change amongst conservative rural and regional politics.

This photo shows Farmers for Climate Action co-founder and board Director Anika Molesworth. Anika lives in Broken Hill in the far west of NSW Australia, where her family raises sheep and goats. It was the decade-long millennium drought that spurred Anika's interest in climate change, and how to ensure sustainable and vibrant farming landscapes into the future. Now she is a strong voice in the media and public conversation about agriculture and climate change.

Sports Environmental Alliance

There is a growing movement for climate action within Australian sporting codes, and a lot of this momentum can be attributed to Sheila Nguyen and the other volunteers who make up the Sports Environment Alliance. This photo shows some of their ambassadors at the Melbourne Cricket Ground: Jo Weston (Australian Diamond & Vixen), Amy Steel (former Diamond & Firebird) and Sharni Layton (former Diamond and current AFLW Collingwood FC player). Climate change affects all sporting codes, so expect to see more to come in this space in 2020 and beyond.

Groundswell @groundswellgiving

Groundswell is Australia's first giving circle created in response to the Climate Crisis. Members pool their money to fund strategic, high-impact climate action and advocacy. As a community, they believe that every one of us can be part of solving the Climate Crisis, and aim to educate and empower a new groundswell of people to take action in their own lives.

A 400 strong crowd turned out for the Groundswell Sydney launch on Gadigal land, at The Calyx in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens last month, with friends new and old showing up to support climate action, including renowned chef Kylie Kwong, Seed Director Amelia Telford, Singer Paul Kelly, renowned contemporary artist Tony Albert, and Gadigal Elder Craig Madden (pictured). The Groundswell community is in the midst of administering their second $50,000 climate action grant for the year, with more to come. You can become a member to fund climate action too, visit their website to learn more today!

Surfers for Climate Action @surfersforclimate

Surfers for Climate is a new movement dedicated to mobilising and empowering the surf community for positive climate action. They exist to make climate science more accessible, personal and actionable for surfers and surf communities.

This image shows Belinda Baggs, one of Surfers for Climate’s co-founders, joining thousands of surfers in Torquay for the 'Fight For The Bight' paddle out opposing new and risky oil drilling projects in the Great Australian Bight. This gathering was one of many across the country that collectively saw tens of thousands of people uniting to stand against new fossil fuel projects in this current climate emergency. Months later oil company Equinor abandoned their plans to drill the Bight. This is the 4th major company to disband plans to drill showing that the risk of a spill in these waters is far too great a threat for our coastline and planet. A testament to people power!

Green Music Australia @greenmusicau

Green Music Australia is harnessing the cultural power of music and musicians to lead the way to a greener world. This photo shows musicians Montaigne and Kim Benzie from Dead Letter Circus with Green Music’s CEO, Berish Bilander. They are presenting the Music Scene Climate Change Declaration to Kerryn Phelps, the former Federal Member for Wentworth, May 2019.

Australian singer-songwriter Jessica Cerro (aka Montaigne) has been fighting for environmental justice since age 15. She's an active board member of Green Music Australia, and is involved in most of their campaigns. Montaigne pledged for waste reduction in the @partywiththeplanet campaign, delivered the Music Scene Climate Change Declaration to politicians before the May 2019 elections, and regularly advocates for the climate in her public appearances (see her awesome #StopAdani statement at the ARIAs). Montaigne also performed at the Sydney School Climate Strike on September 20th to over 80,000 people.

Australian Religious Response to Climate Change

Australian Religious Response to Climate Change is a multi-faith, member-based organisation of people from around Australia representing a variety of religious traditions who are committed to taking action on climate change. The group says: “While celebrating the uniqueness of our different traditions, we stand together in working for an ecologically and socially sustainable future.” This photo shows ARCC’s President Thea Ormerod at a protest last year.

Climate Council @theclimatecouncil

The Climate Council is Australia's leading climate change communications organisation. They provide authoritative, expert advice to the Australian public on climate change and solutions based on the most up-to-date science available. Made up of some of the country’s leading climate scientists, health, renewable energy and policy experts, the Climate Council is an independent voice on climate change. They get climate stories into the media, produce hard-hitting reports, call out misinformation and promote climate solutions such as the transition to renewables. This photo shows the Climate Council sharing climate stories from Quirindi, NSW in an interview with Prof. Will Steffen and Farmer Jim McDonald.

FEAT @feat.artists

Major touring artists like Cloud Control, Midnight Oil and Peking Duk are investing in renewable energy to offset their essential need to be on the road to tour. The musicians have signed up to the FEAT. initiative, where they use part of their income from touring to buy shares in a Queensland solar farm. FEAT was founded by Heidi Lenferr from the band Cloud Control (pictured) in partnership with Future Super and Impact Investment Group. FEAT says: “We recognise that industries can change, and environmental awareness can become the default operating mindset when people are offered a simple solution.”

AP4CA

Australian Parents for Climate Action is the voice for parents, grandparents and carers of children in Australia to show their deep concern about the impact of climate change on our children's safety and survival, now and into the future. AP4CA is a volunteer-run group of parents from around Australia who are campaigning for a safe climate for their children’s future. The group says: “We are motivated by love - for our children and families, for the natural world and all species in it. We seek change in Australia so we can become a nation that deeply cares for our children's future and for the natural world on which we all depend.”

This photo shows a group of AP4CA members who attended the School Strike for Climate in September 2019 to show their concern for their children’s future in some compelling matching maternity wear!

Jewish Climate Network

The Jewish Climate Network is a new initiative that aims to catalyse the Jewish community to support and

strongly advocate for action on the climate emergency. Last year they began running climate change conversations for the Jewish community, reaching over 100 people in less than two months. They ran a session for Jewish community leaders, and a major community event in the lead-up to the federal election urging Jewish voters to make climate one of their key voting issues. Based on the interest and progress so far, they believe the Jewish community has the capacity, energy and resources to be a leading force for climate action in Australia.

Motivated by the imperative of pikuach nefesh in Jewish tradition, the Jewish Climate Network’s vision is for a safe climate that supports the survival and flourishing of human life and community. Their flagship program is the Climate Conversation Program where they facilitate discussions about climate change that are contextualised for a Jewish audience, in people’s living rooms and in Jewish community organisations. This offers an accessible point of entry for Jewish people to become educated, organise and take collective action around climate change.

Seed @seedmob

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at the forefront of climate change. Seed is Australia’s Indigenous youth­ led climate network, building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for climate justice with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Seed’s vision is for a just and sustainable future with strong cultures and communities, powered by renewable energy. This photo shows Lille Madden, Sydney Regional coordinator for @seedmob.

"As a young Indigenous person I feel it is my responsibility to take care of country for the next generation. By keeping country healthy we are keeping our people healthy too."

Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action @dean_sewell

Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action is a group of bushfire survivors, firefighters and local councillors from fire affected regions who have joined together to demand the Government take stronger action on climate change. This photo shows Jo Dodds, President of Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, standing before the charred remains of the home of Melinda Plesman and Dean Kennedy, brought to Parliament House in Canberra in December 2019. Mel and Dean lost their home to bushfires which raged across eastern Australia for eight months over the ‘Black Summer’ of 2019-2020. By the end of the fires nearly 3,000 homes were destroyed, 1 billion animals were killed, and 33 people died as a direct result of the blazes and firefighting efforts. Many more deaths have been attributed to the heat and smoke. Mel and Jo want urgent, bi-partisan action on climate change to prevent more families and communities from losing homes. Soon after this event the hills surrounding Canberra were ablaze.

School Strike 4 Climate Australia @schoolstrike4climate

School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) is a group of students from cities, towns and regional communities in every corner of Australia. Despite living hundreds of kilometres away from each other, one thing unites them - concern for the future of our planet. The students have organised strikes from school to tell politicians to take their futures seriously and treat climate change for what it is - a crisis. SS4C has three demands of politicians (1) No new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine (2) 100% renewable energy generation & exports by 2030, and (3) Fund a just transition & job creation for all fossil-fuel workers & communities.

Saltwater crocodile

In conjunction with The University of Queensland, we operate the longest continuous study on crocodilians in the world and are now expanding our research to determine how a rise in temperature would affect these keystone species. Being ectotherms, they are completely reliant on ambient conditions.

Green Sea Turtle

This image was taken on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Climate change has caused the hatchling gender ratio to skew and therefore cause further imbalance in an already endangered species. Furthermore, coral (pictured in this image) is an extremely sensitive organism and the first to feel the effects of rising ocean temperatures.

Emu

Australia is in the midst of drought, which is a natural cycle. However, climate change is not just about weather, it is affecting change in global and regional climate patterns. This means that natural cycles are altering and changing weather patterns are no longer steady.

Black Rhinoceros

This critically endangered species is facing many threats in the wild such as poaching and trophy hunting. Climate change is also now affecting the remaining population through inconsistent rain and weather patterns.

Palm Cockatoo

The Australian population of this species is isolated to a few strongholds on Cape York Peninsula and they have a naturally low hatch success rate. Climate change is adding extra pressure on the species due to higher temperatures and drier conditions, causing fires within their habitat range.

Sumatran Tiger

This is one of our beautiful Sumatran tigers at Australia Zoo. We support conservation efforts with these endangered cats in their wild habitat. Deforestation is a major concern for tigers and is also contributing to climate change. There are less trees to offset the enormous carbon emissions. Climate change is also contributing towards a decline in food sources and habitat.

Whales

A rise in water temperature can disrupt the natural migration and breeding pattern for whales.

Giraffe

Higher temperatures deplete the main food source for this species, which is the Acacia plant. This is an additional difficulty to a species on the decline.

Bennelong twins

Long before The First Fleet dropped anchor in Sydney Harbour, these magnificent gum trees have graced these shores like guardians of this land. Known as the Bennelong twins, often overlooked, they occupy prime position facing the Opera House and quietly, could be our most iconic native wonders. Australia was built on the backbone of trees, surely it is time to pay back the favour? Let’s protect our native trees and forests.

Tree graveyard

A tree graveyard of over 2000 square kilometres of widespread dieback has caused the death of thousands of native gum trees along the Cooma Monaro Highway. These eerily beautiful skeletonised formations might make for dramatic photographs, but the environmental impact it has caused is horrifying. Like a cancer it is spreading across the Snowy Mountains National Parks killing ancient forests. Research indicates that it is directly caused by climate change.

Taree smoke haze

Back in early November 2019 the Australian bushfire crisis was already in full swing with much of the NSW east coast in flames. On assignment for The Saturday Paper I went to cover events unfolding around the mid north coast area. Arriving into Taree I was struck by the silence and smoke haze of what appeared to be a ghost town. I walked around the Manning River shore and noticed a young man underneath the Martin Bridge gazing out. He seemed to be contemplating a plunge but walked a way instead.

Hillville fires

Near Taree the Hillville fires were blazing out of control at times. Being a bush fire novice I was fortunate to have my friend and colleague Dean Sewell to guide me through. Dean seemed to have a nose for the most dramatic scenes and we drove in and out of fires throughout the day and night. Of course bush fires are unpredictable and frightening but Dean somehow made it all seem much safer than it probably was. Like our other colleague Nick Moir it helps having sound advice from these experienced photographers.

Hillville fires

Everywhere I looked while covering the Hillville fires near Taree there seemed to be a photo opportunity. After an intense few hours photographing fires ravaging bush and properties photographer Dean Sewell who I was travelling with suddenly screeched to a halt in his 4WD. We both looked out at this incredibly moving and stunning scene of a fire surrounding a lake. Dean casually asked what do you think? Shall we shoot it?

Blanket of smoke

Like much of the east coast of Australia, even if your area was not going up in flames, you could not escape the constant blanket of smoke caused by these hundreds of fires. Ritually I walk my dog at my local beach Sharkeys every morning. Smoke haze creates a soft, surreal and gorgeous light for photography. Like Varanasi on steroids I told a friend that day. After living with smoke fumes like this for a while you have to wonder how people survive living in mega cities like Delhi or Beijing where this is a daily norm.

Hope

The new year’s eve fires along the south coast of NSW and Victoria were some of the worst on record. I certainly had not been prepared for the massive devastation and aftermath I witnessed between Nowra and Bega. I was travelling with my friend and colleague Andrew Quilty as we arrived in one of the worst hit towns, Cobargo. We noticed this designer house unscathed but surrounded by burnt landscape. I was engrossed in trying to make a good photograph of this greyhound wandering around as Andrew talked with its owner. As we departed Andrew said, “do you know what the dog’s name is?” “No”, I said. “Hope”, he replied.

Cobargo

As I drove into Cobargo I was overwhelmed with such an unsettling feeling, the place was deadly silent, everything and everywhere looked scorched and there was this alien like yellow to orange light that I had not seen before. I pulled over the side of the road on the outskirts of town, took this photograph and stood there gazing for what seemed like an eternity. Maybe I was in a kind of shock and awe all in one.

Jimmy

The big heat wave day was here, the fires were raging again and towns and communities on lockdown. In Bodalla the sky turned yellow to orange to blood red to black all in the space of minutes. I have spent my life travelling the world in all sorts of catastrophes and circumstances but I’d never scene light like this. Most folks were hauled up in the local bowling club for safety, some locals decide to brave it out. I met indigenous man Jimmy who came over to me, eyes a blaze. Stressed out of his wits he raged over our government’s denial on climate change and lack of environment knowledge. “Blackfellas have been trying to educate white man for centuries over the land and traditional back burning, but no one listens do they!” He blurted out. “Well, it’s here isn’t it, this is the apocalypse. It’s here today, look around us.”

Bats

Driving through the night between Moruya and Batemans Bay, from one fire to another, I noticed not just the orange sky, that ought to be dark blue or black by now, but I saw hundreds of bats flying overhead. Travelling with two other photographer friends we pulled up and stepped out. Bats might be blind but they have incredible senses and these ones were fleeing the flames.

Peter Morales

The small south coast town of Mogo was devastated by the bushfires that roared into town on new years eve. I was travelling with my friend and colleague Adam Ferguson and we saw this clean looking house surrounded by a fire ravaged front yard. Completely traumatised, shaking, a thousand mile stare that I’d not seen since Afghanistan, Peter Morales told us what happened. “Like a fireball it came roaring down the street, sounded like a derailed freight train, fire everywhere I had prepared as much as I could with dousing the house with water. I stood and thought off the inferno around me with a hose. I saved the house, but as you can see the yard and other properties around here got smashed.”

Batlow fires

While on assignment for Dutch newspaper NRC Handlesblad I travelled to the Snowy Mountain town of Batlow. The small but famous apple growing community had been completely surrounded by the intense bushfires. Most of the farmland and orchards were engulfed as was some of the town centre including the heritage listed hospital. Locals and the RFS stayed to fight the blazes as best they could. A small close knit team, these fire fighters were waiting yet again for another day of fires as I captured them anxiously looking south as the wind began to pick up. With the heat wave and southern comes more intense fires.

Kangaroo sanctuary

Working with Dutch journalist Annemarie Kas for Handlesblad newspaper we spent many hours searching for a woman in the Mogo State Forest who we’d read about had a kangaroo sanctuary that was burnt out. Due to her fear of poachers she was well hidden away. She replied to us finally through social media and we went back out again the following morning. Along the scorched and blackened forest road I saw a kangaroo eating out of a blue bowl. “This must be Rae Harvey’s doing,”I said. Normally a wild roo like this would have bounded away on the car noise alone. I was able to get as close to touching it while making a series off photographs. Alone, traumatised and weak and hungry I felt helpless in a way. This poor animal surrounded by ash smouldering trees. When I zoomed into my photograph I noticed the burns around the eyes and paws, heart breaking. I reported the kangaroo sighting to Rae hoping she might be of more use than a man with a camera.

Yatte Yattah Nursery

Just off the Pacific Highway after the Lake Conjola turn off I turned into a road that led up to a nursery. The fires had only just been through there some days before and the landscape was till smouldering. There was nobody around, it was strangely quiet, just the sound of a warm breeze cutting through broken branches. I got out of the car and walked up the pathway to the nursery to look, a burnt out car to my right, what used to be some buildings and a home ahead. But what struck me most was all these statues, like ancient relics, a reminder of a more living and happier time. It felt like an invasion of privacy, of dignity, a price maybe to pay for a piece of history.