Amber King, A Burning Light (PLACES 2025)

I recently converted an Olympus OM10 mark ii to full spectrum infrared along with 680, 720 and 850 Kolari filters and took it to Tasmania. The seascapes captured my attention and I focused on capturing light and textures of the cliffs in full sun and then shade as we hugged the cliff lines in our boat. Our guide, a passionate environmentalist and wildlife recovery carer, explained how in recent years the water had warmed, he had personally seen 4 fish species and Tasmanian Kelp forests disappear since starting the environmental boat tours only a few years ago. We were likely the last generation to see Fur Seals as their numbers had never recovered from the fur trade and now faced with fish depletion, warming oceans and other environmental factors would likely never recover. It was a solemn and difficult concept to comprehend while faced with so much beauty. Our guide, whilst excellent, had the tone of eco-burnout. The next turn took us to The Totem Pole, a dolerite sea stack shooting up to the sky. The sun perfectly aligned with the column, and I was reminiscent of a candle, burning despite the forces around it. It is my hope this burning light, this beacon for the environment stands as lighthouse of hope for those facing environmental loss and ecological grief in this challenging stage and a timely reminder to others that we are running out of time and political enlightenment to make purposeful change.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.