The Fairy Creek
Jennifer Osborne’s captivating photo series takes viewers deep into the heart of the Fairy Creek protests, where activists came together to protect the old-growth forests of Vancouver Island. Osborne began documenting life within the protest blockades a week before enforcement began, capturing the raw, unfiltered moments of those first days. She continued to document the protests for the first three months of enforcement, witnessing firsthand the courage and commitment of the activists. From diverse backgrounds, these individuals camped in tents and vehicles, fighting tirelessly to preserve the land. Through powerful imagery, Osborne highlights their unwavering solidarity and determination, showing how every moment spent defending the forests was a battle not only for the land but for future generations. This series, which documents the now-dismantled blockades and the trees they fought so hard to protect, underscores the profound significance of their environmental struggle.
The Story Behind the Pictures
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“May 17, 2021. Outside Port Renfrew, in a forest cut block. A woman leans on a tree that was cut fairly recently before this photo was taken. She found it along with a group of conservationists who explored the area after a round of logging happened in the region.”
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“May 2021. Near Port Renfrew, Canada. An activist is chained to a bus in the middle of a road over a bridge, to prevent loggers from accessing old-growth forests. Other members of the blockade set off flares, so that their internal film crew could post a social media update for the public on their activities there. A team of blockade members had united to place this vehicle in the middle of the road.”
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“May 23, 2021. Near Port Renfrew, Canada. A group of blockaders unify their bodies to protect a patch of old-growth forest called "EDEN GROVE". They linked arms to prevent a hostile individual from entering their blockade. The situation escalated and the visitor yelled and tried to push a few activists to get through their linked arms.”
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“May 24, 2021. Near Port Renfrew, Canada. Two forest defenders stand in a cut block patch during police arrests of activists protecting "Waterfall Camp" and a neighboring cut block area.”
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“May 24, 2021. Near Port Renfrew, Canada. A woman appeared at a cut block to show her unity with land defenders who blocked roads to prevent loggers from entering old-growth forest areas, during their arrests.”
The Winning Series
Jennifer Osborne
Jen Osborne is a Canadian photographer who has published and exhibited photographs and videos internationally. Osborne was shortlisted for a Sony World Photography Award in 2024 for her wildland fire coverage in Alberta, Canada. And she received a grant from Carleton University in 2021 to complete a video documentary about Canada’s horse meat industry. It has since toured to more than ten film festivals around the world.
