Lisa Leach, Yin and Yang (LANDSCAPE 2026)

In January 2026 NE Victoria was battered by some of the most destructive bush fires in recent memory. The blaze tore through hundreds of thousands of hectares. In the weeks that followed the highways and townships reopened revealing a haunting beauty. I walked with my camera feeling a quiet apprehension a passer-by might view the act of documenting the aftermath as insensitive. Careful to centre Mother Nature's tenacity and resilience, I deliberately avoided any home and property destroyed or damaged. What struck me most was the sight of new greenery pushing through the scorched earth, while the smoky scent lingering in the air spoke to how recently the flames had passed.

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