If you believe a photo holds meaning for you even if no one else sees it, you’re entering a genuine creative space. Over the past five years, I faced the challenge of sharing the story of the endangered Cider Gums in a region filled with beautiful documentary-style images. I realised simply documenting the trees wasn’t enough; The trees were dying, and I understood the need to capture these trees, where life still thrived.

Wandering through these native Tasmanian forests, I came to understand that young saplings rely on the nurturing understory to survive. I started to pay attention and really listen, sitting quietly beneath one of my favourite living Cider Gums. My intuitive approach gradually revealed the forest’s own story. The trees wanted the entire ecosystem represented in the frame. Inspired, I focused on central subjects, often deceased trees, and wove in the subalpine plant communities using multiple exposures in-camera. This technique highlighted the vital role of the understory.

My artistic interpretation seeks to inspire conversations about our vital native forests. A few weeks ago, I exhibited the images I created with the Cider Gums, and the response was overwhelming. I am incredibly grateful that I trusted the insights I received from the trees themselves, and I enjoyed sharing the connection that all plant communities have with one another. Kindest Joy Kachina