In Memory Of The Black Saturday Bushfiresby David McMahon
This was one of a series of frames shot a few moments after sunset exactly a year ago, on 8 February 2009. 741 views on 1 July 2011.
Victoria, my home state, was reeling from the worst bushfires in living memory.
Record temperatures and racing hot winds had carried fire across our parched landscape faster than had ever been encountered before.
There had been 173 deaths. The fires were still raging out of control. The townships of Kinglake and Marysville were all but destroyed, with fewer than 30 homes left standing in the latter town.
We were a state in shock. We were a nation in deep grief. But there was still momentary beauty in the sky.
I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F8, 1/125 sec, ISO 400, focal length 125mm.
Awesome sky and yes I remember hearing and seeing this on TV. Great writing of this and the history !
Thank you, Sean, there were so many tales of tragedy that even a year later, we have not heard them all.
– David McMahon
janeymacover 2 years ago
David , a beautiful capture of this horrifying day . I’ll never forget it , the fires at Redesdale came to within 11 kilometers of my home , when the wind changed and took it in another direction. I was home alone, my husband a volunteer fireman was on standby . But I was lucky , many as you know were not . Thanks for this dedication to those who paid the ultimate price
What an amazing story, Janey. The winds that weekend were the winds from Hades. A week earlier, I photographed an entire valley being destroyed by fire in just minutes – embers fanned by the breeze and gum trees simply exploding in pillars of flame. What a narrow escape you had.
i was amazed watching the abc documentary firestorm that the crossways inn in marysville survived the fire trough the efforts of the owner with buckets of water.
one week prior the fire i spent a few days in marysville it still holds a place in my memory, we need to continue to support the effected areas
Yes, it was one of many stories of heroism and amazing escapes. You’re so right about continuing to support these communities – and cherishing memories of places like Marysville.
– David McMahon
Torfinnover 2 years ago
Great capture David!
Thank you very much, Torfinn. The heat that weekend was indescribable.
– David McMahon
Tomi10over 2 years ago
amazing blodd red sky. Many sad memories David, great tribute
Thank you, Thomas. So many tales to tell, so many tributes to pay to brave people.
Your photo is hauntedly beautiful David. A year on and I still feel the shock every time I see a brilliant sunset such as your photo depicts. I too saw the ABC doco. Incredibly well presented and my eyes welled again, as they did when I listened to the broadcasts back on Saturday 7th and Sunday the 8th February last year. Thank you for sharing your memory with us.
Thanks for that wonderful comment. As a journalist, I was very close to the coverage of the event. A week earlier, I photographed a fire in conditions similar to Black Saturday – and I’ve never seen anything move so fast.
Thank you, Cheryl. At yesterday’s memorial ceremony, they released 173 buterflies in memory of the 173 lives lost.
– David McMahon
janeymacover 2 years ago
I live in the Macedon Ranges David and I dread Summer to be honest . But this is my home so I have to be prepared and ready to go in the event of fire . Jane
I hear you loud and clear, Jane. A friend of mine lives in Ferny Creek and he had an amazing experience some years ago. You’re so right about being prepared.
A beautiful dedication David. I also watched the ABC doco last night. It’s still hard to comprehend that it happened and it’s difficult not to cry when you watch and listen to what happened that day. We’ve just had a lot of rain up here (sydney area) and I for one am grateful for it. Thankfully we haven’t had any fires here this year (Jervis Bay).
Thank you, Jenny. Wasn’t that documentary great? Especially the way it ended, with the words of the 97-year-old man who survived the 1939 fires and the 2009 fires …..
Comments
good shot and dedication David
Thanks, Philip. So many tales of heroism, so many tales of heartbreak.
– David McMahon
Awesome sky and yes I remember hearing and seeing this on TV. Great writing of this and the history !
Thank you, Sean, there were so many tales of tragedy that even a year later, we have not heard them all.
– David McMahon
David , a beautiful capture of this horrifying day . I’ll never forget it , the fires at Redesdale came to within 11 kilometers of my home , when the wind changed and took it in another direction. I was home alone, my husband a volunteer fireman was on standby . But I was lucky , many as you know were not .
Thanks for this dedication to those who paid the ultimate price
What an amazing story, Janey. The winds that weekend were the winds from Hades. A week earlier, I photographed an entire valley being destroyed by fire in just minutes – embers fanned by the breeze and gum trees simply exploding in pillars of flame. What a narrow escape you had.
– David McMahon
i was amazed watching the abc documentary firestorm that the crossways inn in marysville survived the fire trough the efforts of the owner with buckets of water.
one week prior the fire i spent a few days in marysville it still holds a place in my memory, we need to continue to support the effected areas
Yes, it was one of many stories of heroism and amazing escapes. You’re so right about continuing to support these communities – and cherishing memories of places like Marysville.
– David McMahon
Great capture David!
Thank you very much, Torfinn. The heat that weekend was indescribable.
– David McMahon
amazing blodd red sky. Many sad memories David, great tribute
Thank you, Thomas. So many tales to tell, so many tributes to pay to brave people.
– David McMahon
Your photo is hauntedly beautiful David.
A year on and I still feel the shock every time I see a brilliant sunset such as your photo depicts.
I too saw the ABC doco. Incredibly well presented and my eyes welled again, as they did when I listened to the broadcasts back on Saturday 7th and Sunday the 8th February last year.
Thank you for sharing your memory with us.
Thanks for that wonderful comment. As a journalist, I was very close to the coverage of the event. A week earlier, I photographed a fire in conditions similar to Black Saturday – and I’ve never seen anything move so fast.
– David McMahon
awesome capture and dedication!
Thank you, Cheryl. At yesterday’s memorial ceremony, they released 173 buterflies in memory of the 173 lives lost.
– David McMahon
I live in the Macedon Ranges David and I dread Summer to be honest . But this is my home so I have to be prepared and ready to go in the event of fire .
Jane
I hear you loud and clear, Jane. A friend of mine lives in Ferny Creek and he had an amazing experience some years ago. You’re so right about being prepared.
– David McMahon
A beautiful dedication David. I also watched the ABC doco last night. It’s still hard to comprehend that it happened and it’s difficult not to cry when you watch and listen to what happened that day. We’ve just had a lot of rain up here (sydney area) and I for one am grateful for it. Thankfully we haven’t had any fires here this year (Jervis Bay).
Thank you, Jenny. Wasn’t that documentary great? Especially the way it ended, with the words of the 97-year-old man who survived the 1939 fires and the 2009 fires …..
– David McMahon