Jen Osborne is a Canadian photographer who has published and exhibited photographs and videos internationally since her career began in 2007.
An expressive visual storyteller, Osborne was shortlisted for a Sony World Photography Award in 2024 for her wildland fire coverage in Alberta, Canada. Known for bringing eyes to sensitive topics not usually seen by the greater public, she received a grant from Carleton University in 2021 to complete a visual report about Canada’s horse meat industry. The heart-wrenching yet notable result has since toured in more than 10 film festivals around the world.
Jen’s recent projects of interest revolve around climate change. She’s heavily focused on wildland fire and its aftermath—such as flooding—as well as old-growth forest protection protests in Fairy Creek, Canada.
“Since going to Australia in 2020 to photograph that earth-shattering fire season, I’ve dedicated most of my personal photography practice to fire and climate-related stories. I’ve [witnessed] a fair number of fires since January 2020. Something that’s since struck me is how male-dominated the firefighting industry, as well as the fire photography community, is,” said Osborne. “I hence chose to turn my lens upon female firefighters in a country where men are infamous for their dominance: Australia.”
With the goal of becoming the world’s premier fire photographer, Osborne shot this series on volunteer female firefighters in New South Wales, Australia, throughout the recent 2023–2024 fire season.
All of the women photographed in this piece serve in the RFS (Rural Fire Service), which is a volunteer organization. “For the most part they are not paid for their work in fire zones,” explained Osborne. “They face life-threatening and sometimes emotionally disturbing situations. Keep in mind, Australians still reel from trauma caused by their 2019/2020 bushfire season. I find it incredible that these individuals are willing to risk their physical and emotional well-being for their communities as well as the native wildlife that inhabits them. These women have seen the sheer horror of what catastrophic fire can do.”
Here is a glimpse of the brave women of RFS, as told in photos.*
*This gallery is a small portion of Osborne’s full collection. View more of her evocative work at jenosbornestudio.com.
Megan Chipperfield stands near the fire truck during a training session at Engadine Brigade. She resides in Sutherland Shire, yet attended the training in Engadine this weekend for the purpose of training with more female firefighters in the that area. Her daughter, Alexia, is also a fire fighter.
Hayley Christie during a hazard reduction burn in Terrey Hills, which is part of the Northern Beaches in Sydney Australia. This burn was conducted to reduce fuels in the area, mitigating the risk of catastrophic fire if it were to hit the area.
“Stay hydrated, keep your head on a swivel, and never assume anything. Fire is unpredictable. It is different every time. Just because a person has experienced a few fires doesn’t mean they can pretend to know how it will behave the next time around.” – Jen Osborne
Megan Chipperfield and her daughter Alexia hug before starting a training session at Engadine Brigade. They both reside in Sutherland Shire, yet attended the training in Engadine this weekend for the purposes of training with more female firefighters in the that area.
Main Image: Dec.17,2023.Sydney(NorthernBeaches),Australia. ThisisJillBrett.Sheisinher late 60’s. She’s volunteered for the ~rn, which is a fire mitigation effort, which revolves around burn- ing fuels in the area that could ignite a catastrophic fire.
