For much of the last 100 years the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia coal mines provided the adjoining power stations with the raw material to generate most of the Victoria’s electricity. The State’s energy transition is now underway to move away from coal to use more renewable sources.
The Hazelwood Brown Coal Mine closed in 2017 after over 60 years of operation. Over the subsequent years, the owner and operator of the mine has begun works to decommission infrastructure and rehabilitate the site. However, these huge open cast mines will leave massive scars on the Valley for many years to come.
'The sky is water' was taken above a flooded open cut mine, with the 'horizon' formed by the waterline and floating dust and other debris, with the clear blue sky above reflected in the distant water. To me, this photo borders on artistic 'sublime', touching as it does on the interaction of nature with humankind.
