Anne from Slow Shutter Speed is asking to look at RESILIENCE, an interesting topic for photography and how we can show it.
The first thought that came to mind was fire, especially with what is happening in Los Angeles at the moment. I think fire is on everyone’s minds right now and how bad those fires are.
It is also summer here right now and we have already had bushfires for the season and no doubt will have more. For context, bushfires are what Americans call wildfires.
So I couldn’t think of anything more resilient in Australia than our bushland. It burns over and over and always grows back.
Black Saturday
Let me tell you a story.
Back in 2009, we had some of the worst fires here in my state ever, around 173 people lost their lives and many many more lost their homes. It all happened in pretty much one day. It was a Saturday and we had record-breaking temperatures. In the city it got to almost 47C, I think that is about 116F, not quite sure. There was a very strong northerly wind, which means it is a hot wind. There were several fires, some started by power lines, others started by people.
Because of the winds, these fires spread so fast. I heard a story of a guy who was working at home. He went outside at about 3 in the afternoon to get some fresh air and saw the fires coming. He only had enough time to get his dogs in the car and get out of there. If he hadn’t taken the break, he would be dead now. His neighbours didn’t get out.
These fires got very close to the outer suburbs and if the wind hadn’t changed in the late afternoon it could have come right through those suburbs. For days many people were depressed as nearly everyone around here knew of people who had been lost. It was a very sad time.
A couple of months later I went for a drive through these areas. It was strange seeing the bushland and rainforests burned out. However, nowhere near as sad as when we got to the first town and saw the damage and aftermath.
I will always remember not being sad for the bush, but being very sad for the towns and the effect it had on the people.
Why, bushland will grow back, it always does. The trees here have evolved over thousands of years to do just that. It is resilient in the face of fire and shows a lot of resilience. I think we humans are much the same, or we can be. In the face of disaster we are sad, but we get on with it and rebuild and then go on with our lives.
Until the next disaster.
So today I have a heap of photos from the area around Marysville that really was hit hard. Especially the town, where after the fires there were very few structures. The fires surrounded the town and people survived by going to the football oval and the fire trucks kept them safe. Resilience in the face of a monster.
The first photos are from my first trip and slowly we go through the years to see how it has grown back. Now after 15 years you can’t see a lot of the damage. Trees are still lying on the ground, but the upright ones have nearly all grown back. The photos were taken from 2009 to 2024.
Thank you Anne, I think this is a great challenge for the times. Thank you also for being our host.
Don’t forget to go and check out Anne’s post, the link is at the beginning of this one.
If you would like to participate in this great challenge then go to the following link to find out how to join the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. Don’t forget to put a link in your post back to the host.
Such a timely reminder not only of the devastating impact of fires such as this one and those now burning in and around LA, but also of the ability of nature to recover and of people to find a way to move forwards with their lives.
Very very true Sarah, fire is horrible I think. So destructive. Not much chance of finding anything left behind. Recovery is quite amazing really, it really shows resilience. Thank you Sarah.
Your telling the story before sharing the photos provided the background for your gallery. Wildfires are a worldwide event and can strike almost anywhere there is vegetation, especially in hot, dry conditions. As the planet warms, I’m afraid that we are in for more devastation.
Lahaina, Hawaii is also a practical example of resilience with rebuilding plans well in progress.
Thank you John. They are definitely part of our story here in Australia. It is almost like not if a place will have a fire, but when. I agree, fires are just going to get worse and worse. We have been told here to prepare for more fires and really intense ones like the ones we had in 2019.
Great examples of resilience
Thank you Nora.
Usually I am not a big fan of text in a photo challenge Leanne, but in this case the text was absolutely necessary as a lead-up to the images. Such a frightening and amazing story. I had a similar experience when I visited Mt St Helens several years after the volcano erupted. weyerhaeuser, a huge lumber company, had replanted trees on the right side of the road while the left side was left untouched. The difference was absolutely shocking. Your post reminded me of that moment but should offer hope that homes may be lost but can be rebuilt and the forests will regenerate over time. Terrific and timely post.
Thank you Tina, I thought I needed to give some context. I think it is always such a deep emotional thing when you see how destructive mother nature can be. Makes us realise how insignificant we really are.
Impressive article, written with feeling. I know LA fairly well, spent quite a bit of time there, friends living there, a piece of me. I fear it’s gone, and we had a big hand in it.
Thank you Ted, it was an emotional time around here. Those fires are unbelievable. I was just saying how we tend to think we are safe in cities, not anymore.
Your account stopped me in my tracks. The stories of course were in the papers – as they are now with the wildfires in California. But a personal account is so much more telling. And as you say, nature is – thank goodness – incredibly resilient. I hope human inhabitants have been able to put their lives back in order.
Thank you Margaret, it was quite a day back then. It is very resilient, it has to be really. After 15 years, most of them have either rebuilt or moved somewhere else. Some couldn’t live there again.
Of course not. So hard for families who have ,lost everything.
I don’t think the guy in my story moved back, they went somewhere else. It really is. I can’t imagine it.
Beautiful photos, Leanne, the first photo is like something in a dream! I am watching the news about the fires right now, it’s so very sad. LA is about a 6 hour drive south of me.
Thank you John, it is nice to really emerse yourself in the bush. What is happening in LA is like the nightmare for any of us who live in cities, I think we all think we are safe, apparently not.
The fire is not in Downtown LA, but in the surrounding hills which is no comfort at all is it… So very sad! 😭
I’ve seen that John, not comforting at all. Really scary. We live with parkland across the road from us and I’ve always told my husband that we should have a fire plan and he has always said that I was being ridiculous that there is no chance of fire, well he is not saying that now.
Wow. I hope that your husband agrees to install some kind of fire protection. Soon. LA is about six hours south of Las Vegas, I am concerned that a similar situation could happen here too.
I think many of us that live in cities are worried about it. We can’t really put anything in place, but we wouldn’t stay, we would leave, just havet remember to grab eveything that is precious to us.
Leanne, although it was a very sad story, your photo gallery took us from sad to hopeful. It is beautiful to see nature bouncing back. Fantastic post and photos!
Thank you Egidio, I think that is what it is, it recovers and grows back.
Thanks Leanne! Your amazing images remind me of our visit to Mt. St. Helens years after she spewed hot lava on the surrounding area. We could see the new growth all along the base of the mountain. Nature is truly amazing.
Thank you Anne. That would have been amazing, I remember when that happened, it was incredible in ways.
As you say, bushland always grow back and your photos give us that resilience perfectly. Wonderful post, Leanne, very apt too.
Thank you Sofia, I hoped it would fit the theme.
What a lovely photographic record of the resilience of nature, Leanne 🙂
Thank you Ruth, I’m so glad I kept going back.
Beautiful!
Thank you.
What a powerful series of images! Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome and thank you.