In some ways, it's hard to believe I took these photographs two years ago already. Simultaneously, it's hard to believe I only took them two years ago.
These were taken on an eight-day road trip from Melbourne to Brisbane in November 2019. For those who may not know: it was a somewhat ill-fated, though, ultimately, successful road trip.
There were limits to what could be seen and done during the trip due to a fractured ankle I acquired about twelve days before departure.
It also involved regular appraisals of the route taken - and ultimately an extensive detour - to avoid fierce bushfires sweeping across large areas of the Australian countryside, from Victoria through New South Wales to Queensland.
Thankfully, this was the closest I came to a bushfire during the journey, albeit nearer than I would ever have liked to come. Though it's not evident from these photographs, my eyes perceived - and one particular photo I took on my iPhone showed - exactly how close the fire still was. Just on the ridge, slightly to the right of the centre of that image.
The spectacle was breathtaking. Devastatingly beautiful and heartbreaking.
The sky was that hazy amber colour for quite a distance before I finally came upon its source. These images were captured on the incline of Bolivia Hill, looking toward Torrington, to the west of the New England Highway in New South Wales.
As alluring as the scene was for a photographer to capture, I was acutely conscious of the dangers of lingering too long so late in the day. There was the nagging concern the wind may change direction at any time and bring the fire back across the ridge.
I can't imagine how those who experienced and fought those fires first-hand - and who were personally affected by the loss and devastation they wrought - would have felt looking at this scene. I imagine a wholly different impression to my own. I was in awe - in the true sense of the word - as I looked upon and photographed it from the safety of a parked car.
In December 2020, I started editing a couple of photographs from the collection I took with my D700 at this spot, but life threw in some distractions. Almost exactly two years to the day from when I took them (11 November 2019), I've finally had a chance to edit them and now share a selection with you.