logo
Maddy Rifka

Maddy Rifka

Pa’asik`tavaansas Kuniktáamvuna

The title reads 'the women they are carrying fire' in Karuk language. Historically, Karuk women were fire carriers. Upon western settlement, this practice was violently halted, leading to decades of fire suppression, priming forests for megafires. Now, Karuk women are reclaiming their right to burn.

Awards

World Photo Annual

2024

Nominee

People

Professional

Pa’asik`tavaansas Kuniktáamvuna

The title reads 'the women they are carrying fire' in Karuk language. Historically, Karuk women were fire carriers. Upon western settlement, this practice was violently halted, leading to decades of fire suppression, priming forests for megafires. Now, Karuk women are reclaiming their right to burn.

About Artist

Maddy Rifka

Maddy is a fish/wildlife biologist, wildland firefighter and award winning conservation storyteller. She grew up in British Columbia, the eastern US, and the Southwest coast of England. After falling in love with rugged western landscapes, Maddy settled in the Pacific Northwest where she climbs, surfs, and forages for seaweed. Her work as a biologist takes her to remote areas of Northern California to track California condors and snorkel to monitor native fish populations. She strives to study under-appreciated species, and help people fall in love with them. Maddy is both a filmmaker and photographer, focusing her storytelling on human-wildlife relationships. She has documented topics such as wildfire impacts, California condor reintroduction, river restoration, fish migration, mountain lion behavior, and the environmental impact of illegal cannabis cultivation by drug cartels. Maddy has worked on projects for outlets such as National Geographic, Audubon and the BBC. She won the Human/Nature category in BigPicture 2024 with her photo 'Good Fire'. Her work has been shown at the International Wildlife Film Festival 2020 and the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2021. Maddy is also a Girls Who Click Ambassador. She is currently working as a California Academy of Sciences Osher Fellow on a long term photography and film project focusing on wildlife and wildfire. Above all else, she wants to give a voice to those that need it and tell stories that inspire change.

Maddy Rifka

Photographic Areas of Focus

Landscapes, Nature, People, Photojournalism, Underwater, Wildlife

Location

United States of America

Explore Other Winners

View All
Nominee
Muriel Pénicaud

Muriel Pénicaud

People

Honorable Mention
Thibault Gerbaldi

Thibault Gerbaldi

Travel

Nominee
Al Neyman

Al Neyman

Street

Nominee +1
Mike McKinnon

Mike McKinnon

Travel

logo

Contests

Info

FAQ & RulesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Links

Facebook

Instagram

Contact Us

© Creative Resource Collective, LLC 2025. All Rights Reserved.

reFocus Awards is managed by Creative Resource Collective, LLC.

Learn More

Creative Resource Collective, LLC.