Photography by Betsy Aghavbere

This photograph captures a close-up of a charred branch with small orange fungal-like growths or spores on its surface. The branch appears to be part of a burned landscape, as the background is filled with ash-covered ground and blackened, skeletal remains of other branches. The shallow depth of field emphasizes the foreground, making the details of the burnt wood and the unusual orange formations stand out against the blurred, desolate environment. The overcast sky and muted colors in the background contribute to a somber, post-wildfire atmosphere. The image conveys a sense of destruction but also hints at resilience, as life in the form of fungi or spores begins to emerge from the aftermath.