These images are from BLAZE a series of large-scale landscape photographs that reflect on fire as a seminal element of both the ancient and contemporary Australian experience of country.
Fredericks intervenes in environmentally stressed areas of Australia’s ephemeral river systems, utilising non-destructive methods. He juxtaposes blazing trees and flames against expansive lakes and waterways that were flooded during the La-Nina cycles of 2022/23.
Carefully attaching bendable gas lines sourced from film industry pyrotechnical specialists to skeletal trees, the flames burn long enough to capture the image before extinguishing. These captivating, almost hallucinogenic visions of the landscape invite reflection on the powerful yet fragile nature of the Australian environment, where fire remains an indelible part of cultural and environmental narratives.
