Page 51 - Australian Photography Feb 2022

HARMAN SINGH HEER
@hshphotos
WILDFIRE
Harman Singh Heer’s striking image of a wildfire raging through a section of native bushland in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia is a true once-in-a-lifetime photo. It was captured during a doors-off helicopter flight near the King River in July 2021, and was both ‘mind-blowing and heartbreaking’, said Harman.
“As we flew into the smoke, we were met with surreal scenes of wildfires burning away the flora and fauna below. In the chaos, I noticed the composition of this photograph and watched as the fire inched closer and closer to the tree. It was an extremely overwhelming experience but one that taught me how important it is that humanity starts collectively making changes to combat global warming and climate change.”
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
MATT PALMER: This image perfectly encapsulates the challenges of 2020. It has a sense of bleakness and yet all is not lost. The prominent tree in the image is undeniably under threat, but the image leaves its fate unresolved.
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PHOTO OF THE YEAR
1 Lisa Murray
2 Harman Singh Heer
3 Alex Ham
4 Clement Chua
5 Ruth Woodrow
6 Jessica Wiseman
7 Stephane Thomas
8 Richard Tonkin
9 Katherine Binnie
10 Donald Yip
11 Ian Patterson 12 Ruth Woodrow 13 Peter Hickey 14 Natalie Reed 15 Julie Kenny
16 Andy Rovenko
16 Richard Tonkin
18 Anthony Lawrence 19 Eunice Belk
20 Justine Gordon
PHOTO OF THE YEAR TOP 20
| 65 | FEBRUARY 2022 | AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
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