WINNER CATEGORY MAN AND NATURE 
Jo-Anne McArthur | Hope in a Burned Forest

Name: Jo-Anne McArthur
Picture title: Hope in a Burned Forest
Category: Man and nature
Nationality: Canada
Occupation: Full time photojournalist and Executive Director of We Animals Media. 

Technical information
Camera: Nikon D4S
Lens: Sigma 120mm-400mm, f4.5-5.6
EXIF: ISO 2500, f5.6 at 1/500sec
Other info: No special technique has been used. My special technique is showing up, where images need to be made! 

Jo-Anne says:

As the Australian climate fires raged, I knew that it was a story that I had to document. Specifically the stories of the animals, both domestic and wild, who were suffering and dying as a result of the fires. When the decision was made, I was on a plane less than 24 hours later.
Flying in over Australia, I could see a continent smothering in smoke. I spent two weeks working very long hours with a wonderful team to gain access to the burn sites, the rescues, the veterinary missions. It was an honour and pleasure to partner with the organization Animals Australia, who were instrumental in providing access to where I needed to be.

This photo was taken in Mallacoota, Victoria. Interestingly, this is the very small town where my father, an Australian, was raised. I even met one of his childhood friends, who was helping provide space for wild animal feed which was being delived to animals in the area who were at risk of starvation during this catastrophe.

When I saw this Eastern Grey kangaroo and her pouched joey, I was abut 100 feet away from where I knew I’d be able to get a fantastic photograph. Any photographer can imagine how long those moments were, as I walked slowly to the spot I knew I needed to be, in order to get this shot. I walked slowly and she watched me. I prepared my camera with the settings I wanted and finally reached my spot. I took a few photos. Then I had time to crouch down and take this photo, the one I had envisioned. Then…she hopped away into the burned eucalyptus plantation. She was one of the lucky survivors. An estimated 3 billion animals died from these cataclysmic fires.