Nothofagus gunnii, more commonly referred to as simply ‘Fagus,’ is an oddity amongst Australian flora, in that it is the only species that undergoes ‘the turn’ – the inevitable die-off of foliage that happens to all deciduous trees as cold weather sets in for the year. Such is the adoration for this humble tree that there is an entire week dedicated to observing this turn, which sees international visitors coming season on season just for the experience.
This image was named the Landscape Photograph of the Year at the prestigious Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 .