Above, Carina and Crux punctuate the last traces of the Aurora Australis. Below, Australia’s only cold-weather deciduous tree, Nothofagus gunnii, reaches its peak golden blaze as winter approaches. Using special lighting, the tree bursts into a brilliant glow – blues, golds, and oranges exploding from the landscape as if by magic.
This image was named the Botanical Photo of the Year in the 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.