Squamish photographer Jillian A. Brown has won the Flora and Fungi category in the Canadian Geographic Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Brown captured the dramatic image during the June wildfire, showing flames consuming moss on a rock face in the temperate rainforest. The fire crept to the edge of the MNTFUN basecamp campground just as the last trailer was moved from a lot with the help of others in the area.
“This image, more than just a beautifully dramatic scene, holds such a story and such an experience that for it to win means something a little bit more than just an award,” Brown wrote in a social media post. Canadian Geographic described the photograph as revealing “the deadly beauty of flames consuming moss on a rock face” while crews battled the wildfire that had put the community on high alert.
Brown said she was surprised and honoured to receive recognition in a category she had only entered once. “Congratulations to all who both won and entered,” she added. “You should all be proud of yourself for finding that confidence in your work to push yourself to enter!”
