Charred, Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia

(Click image to enlarge)

In mid-December 2024, early summer bushfires ignited by dry lightening began in Grampians National Park. They burned nearly all summer before they were contained in February of 2025. The fires affected nearly 80% of the park and caused significant damage to biodiversity, cultural sites, and tourism infrastructure.

I captured this photograph in early September of 2025, which is early spring here. The intervening winter rains had washed down and settled the ash, but significant regrowth had not yet occurred. This truly vast landscape is composed almost entirely of rock and the charred remains of vegetation.