Janith Hetti-Archchige, Beneath Creswick Skies (LANDSCAPE 2025)

I never expected to witness the Southern Lights from Creswick! Standing on Brackenbury Hill at 5 AM on the morning of 11/10/24, as dawn was approaching, I was completely stunned as the Aurora Australis unfolded above. To see such a vibrant display so far inland, in our little town of Creswick, felt almost surreal. Knowing this was only the second time in 2024 that the aurora had reached this intensity made the moment even more precious. This image attempts to capture just a fraction of the awe and wonder I felt that morning, as the familiar landscape of Brackenbury Hill was bathed in the ethereal glow of the Southern Lights.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.