Smoke from Gippsland Fires, a photo from Victoria, East

Photographer's Note

Melbourne is suffering for days now from the smoke that the winds have blown south. At the foothills of Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne, it seems to have met a natural wall and sits there until the wind can disperse it all. 100,000 square metres have been scorched in Victoria by 100 or more fires and the continent has lost a billion and a half of its fauna and flora, some of which that were endangered, are now thought to be extinct. rnrnIf one looks at colonial etchings and paintings, plus the very early photos, one can see that the Aboriginal people managed the land using practices accumulated and fine tuned through 40,000 to 60,000 years of connection with the land and its climate. They followed the regular and informed practice of reduction burning, which was based on knowing when to burn the undergrowth so as to minimise the ferocity of fires. Where the native peoples lived and hunted, there were meadows and woodlands. They deliberately created open country for kangaroos and emus, a form of free range farming. Now in those areas that were safe, there are (or there were) thick forests with tinder dry undergrowth- a formula for disaster like we are experiencing now. There is talk only recently to adopt some of the practices of the original inhabitants of this continent and so avoid such vast and ferocious fires and immense destruction.

johnjmoe, aliabazari, Porteplume, jemaflor, papagolf21, pajaran, jhm, ktanska, petarl has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ifege (49363) 2020-01-14 19:06

Hi Klaudio
Good to see you posting a photo on TE again and a very relevant one at the moment. Excellent photo of the disaster.
I've had good responses on TE for photos I've posted recently of the fires around here in the NSW Highlands. We were under threat of evacuation but everything around here has eased up, but the smoke remains.
Cheers
Ian

SteveH (8220) 2020-01-14 19:25

Hey, fancy seeing you here! nicely taken, but sad message. Cheers Steve (gasping for breadth in the flatlands)

aliabazari (23205) 2020-01-14 20:35

Hi dear friend Klaudio
Welcome. Beautiful view of this landscape. Good clarity and exposure. The Australian forest fires are very sad and wildlife deaths are bitter. Thanks for sharing

jemaflor (148180) 2020-01-14 23:19

Hi Klaudio,
Nice photo with your composition with field and colorful sun through the smoke ... sad conditions with all these fires, tfs.

Porteplume (4036) 2020-01-14 23:30

Bonjour Klaudio,

Not only a beautiful and atmospheric photo - weird word... 殿tmospheric� - especially when we realize that the mood is softened by the presence of dangerous smoke. Just read Steve痴 comment 堵asping for breath�.
And, of course, you note is absolutely to the point by telling us what is obvious, what we are doing wrong nowadays.

Thank you,
Viviane

papagolf21 (152607) 2020-01-14 23:37

Bonjour, cher Klaudio,
une vue pastorale du meilleur effet;
Une r騏ssite totale !
Tr鑚 bonne journ馥.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

Silvio1953 (222847) 2020-01-15 0:50

Ciao Klaudio, dramatic view from Australia, lovely composition with a lot of sheep, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

lousat (139960) 2020-01-15 1:31

Ciao Klaudio,welcome back! But it's a bad return talking about the pic and the theme. Terrific moments for Australia as i saw on TV and the end seems far. Your pic is fantastic,the filter made by smoke on the sun it's incredible. I hope a quick end soon,and thanks for this beautiful composition,it's always useful to talk about these terrible moments. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

jhm (211738) 2020-01-15 6:09

Hello Klaudio,

When we a member out from Australia see back I am real gladly.
This is real one of the most big nature distar out of the last five hunred year.
I life with you, I feel sorry for you and your country
Also perspective and depth image.
Excellent composition, sharp and clear.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

emka (158744) 2020-01-15 18:06

Hello dear Klaudio,

How nice to see you here but on the other hand, it is sad situation in Australia. We have seen here some spectacular photos by Ian of this terrible disaster. amazing view of the sun behind the smoke. How are these sheep living there? It reminds me of the fire we saw on the way to Twelve Apostles.
I have been to Iran in October. I managed to come back before the hell started there. I was quite devastated about the plane crash. It was the same connection I used. See something from my Iran gallery when you have time.

Best regards Malgo
PS. Regards also to Andrew and Santo :).

ktanska (45048) 2020-01-18 0:30

Hi Klaudio,
The light is indeed quite spooky on this view. Scale of fires is so massive this year. Otherwise quite idyllic landscape gives extra contrast to this shot.
Kari

petarl (1571) 2021-06-25 5:01