(Dark Sun scored 84.2/100 in the 2021 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards)

The Stirling Ranges in south west Western Australia was one location I was really looking forward to shooting during my week long WA road trip for Australian Geographic. I only had one day to shoot them before I had to fly home, so I was really hoping conditions would be nice! I scouted all day for sunset locations, but I wasn't feeling overly positive as there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the light was harsh. As the sun began to drop in the sky, I noticed some smoke from nearby burn-offs was diffusing the light and starting to produce quite a scene. I ditched my previous location plans and quickly headed up to Bluff Knoll. The view of the filtered sun starting to drop below the distant ranges was spectacular and I quickly put the long lens on the camera and spent the next hour capturing the beauty. The smoke perfectly blocked out the brightness of the sun and allowed for a complete ball to be visible. It was an incredible scene that will stay with me forever.