Stefanie Roeske, Letting Go of The Lagoon (PLACES 2026)

Web:

https://www.facebook.com/photographystefanieroeske

Once known for its striking blue waters, the Lagoon has been transformed by drought-breaking rains. Fresh water now fills the desert billabong, carrying mud and sediment across the landscape — a reminder that renewal rarely arrives in the form we expect. Rendered in monochrome, the image strips away the lagoon’s famous colour, shifting focus from place to emotion. The absence of blue mirrors the experience of leaving home: letting go of what is familiar, navigating uncertainty, and accepting change. The muddy waters become a metaphor for the mental strain that often accompanies transition, where clarity gives way to complexity before a new path emerges. In both landscape and life, transformation can feel like loss. Yet beneath the turbulence, renewal is quietly taking shape.

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