Fire
THIS IMAGE IS SHOT ON FILM. NO PHOTOSHOT OR DIGITAL EDITING USED. MANIPULATIONS CREATED IN CAMERA.
A non-native species of plant exposed over the Sydney Opera House. Utzon’s design of the Sydney Opera House was considered a groundbreaking piece of modern architecture. His inspiration came from nature; walnuts, palm trees, shells, bird wings and the form of clouds. For me, the image depicts the idea that everything comes from nature, and one day everything will be returned to nature. I chose the red plants (Aloe and Red Hot Poker) as a metaphor for fire. Over the last century, Australian bush fires have increased threefold, primarily due to unstable atmospheric conditions allowing fire plumes to develop higher than they normally would, meaning there are more severe fires at ground level. As Jacques-Yves Cousteau said “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realise that, in order to survive, he must protect it”.
Zac Patsalides, New Zealand, Nelson