Amid record-breaking drought and unusually high wildfire risks the photographs coming from the lenses of the world’s photojournalists this week look almost like otherworldly si-fi. A pink landscape that isn’t from an infared camera. A desert-like shot that’s actually London in drought. A heavily damaged roadway in Japan.
I’m a photographer and a journalist and these are some of the best news photos that I’ve spotted this week.
A drought photo illustrating the power of texture
This photograph caught my eye for both its use of irony and texture. In this shot by Glyn Kirk, East Sussex’s Falmer Pond is reduced to a bed of texture, making the “no fishing” sign feel ironic.
An off-centered composition and the shadow cast by the sign further drew my eye into the photograph.
A low-angle highlighting Japan’s earthquake
This photo from Jiji Press draws attention to the long-lasting impact the July 28 earthquake in Japan has on the region’s roadways. By using a low-angle perspective, the photographer draws more attention to the cracks in the road than a photo shot from eye level. The person in the background adds more interest to the shot.
The July 28 earthquake hit a region that’s key to the manufacturing of camera sensors. Sony’s sensor plant was shut down but expects to be fully operational by mid-August, while a Fujifilm plant reported no significant damage but noted some products may be delayed.
A suburban scene that’s anything but normal
I did a double take when I saw this photograph because at first glance it looked like it came from an infrared camera, as infrared tends to turn green landscapes pink. But that’s not what this shot is. Instead, fire retardant turns the normal scene into an otherworldly-looking image.
The shot by Josh Edelson highlights the efforts of first responders to prevent the spread of the early August fires in Spokane, Washington.
A desert-like aerial shot of London
At first glance, this photo looks like a shot from a desert – but the city in the distance of this aerial shot is actually London. Shot by Dan Kirkwood with a DJI drone, the aerial view mixes London’s historic All Saints Church with an unusually brown scene as the region faces a drought following three heatwaves.
What I love about the photo is how the aerial view creates a view that looks more like the edges of a desert. The green trees in the distance and the London skyline are a sharp contrast to the church and the brown tones that are echoed both in the dead grass and the historic building.
Dramatic trails of light from the Fuego volcano
A longer exposure time turns the lava and sparks from the Fuego volcano south of Guatemala City into a striking photograph. The lava flows light the edges of the volcano, echoed in the streaks of ash falling from the eruption.
Johan Ordonez captured the shot on August 04 as Central America’s most active volcano sparked emergency alert levels while villages nearby evacuated.
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