THE WORLD IS ON FIRE

California is no stranger to a wildfire. In fact, California sees the most wildfires out of any other state in the US. Every time the flames spread across landmarks, houses, and acres of nature, it’s as if the world is burning along with it. Images have a powerful way of telling impactful stories, and when the wildfires hit the Palisades, I watched those stories unfold in real time. Friends and coworkers in Los Angelos were fleeing their homes and leaving everything behind just to feel safe. The images that came from these wildfires paint a larger story about our desperate need to fight climate change.

AN URGENT RESPONSE

As the flames in California rage on, spreading to neighborhoods and houses, firefighters desperately attempt to put out the flames. The firefighters are overwhelmed and in over their heads, as one firefighter reaches for his walkie talkie, no doubt signaling for backup. The contrast in devices is sharp as the man on the right casually scrolls by the madness with a camera in his hand ready to capture the remnants of someone else’s worst day. There is a sense of urgency as both firefighters don’t even have on all their gear.

RESOURCES ARE THIN

With resources running thin, residents did anything they could to protect their homes and property. A man stands outside his house spraying water on his lawn with a garden hose. The flames roar on behind him, but he sprays what he could in a desperate attempt to protect himself and his family. His trousers resemble that of a firefighter who could also be seen busy at work in the background. It’s a full circle moment that shows a semblance of hope, an act of desperation, and perhaps wishful thinking when the world is literally burning to a crisp.

MONEY IS FLEETING

California is home to celebrities and influencers who have a lot of money. Ironically, a sports car covered in Christmas lights passes by a bank that is actively burning to the ground. The Christmas lights highlight the timeframe these fires were happening. This person could have been coming back from celebrating with family or friends during the holiday, and now they are driving through the remains of their neighborhood. The bank burning to the ground in the background shows how fleeting money is, which is ironically framed with an expensive sports car quickly passing by.

PEOPLE WATCHING

Water separates the burning hillside from the people watching and filming. In another form of irony, the water is peaceful and uninterrupted while the flames rage on, impossible to be contained or put out. The people look so small in comparison to the hellfire in front of them. They have evacuated their homes and watch as ash falls to the ground around them. One person watches through the screen of their phone, one stares the flames down head on and the other is looking at the ground. Each person represents different stages of grief in such a heartbreaking time.

IT’s in the air

During and after the wildfires, the air quality across California, and even beyond, was incredibly poor. Life trudged on as people still had to work and be outside. They have masks on to try to minimize the smoke inhalation, but the air is a thick smog around them. The sky is dark orange and it’s hard to tell if it’s nighttime or daytime. Is the glow in the background city lights or more flames? From far away it almost seems peaceful, and people are living normally while just across the water some are fighting for their lives and homes.

THE AFTERMATH

After the fires, families went back to their homes to collect their belongings. Many went back to discover their homes were completely gone. This couple hugs as they stand over the rubble that once held all their memories. They embrace tightly, reminiscing on all that is now lost. The cracks in what was once their walls and roof is a contrast to their tight embrace, symbolizing that their love is stronger than physical objects. They are better as a unit, and they can rebuild and create new memories together.

THE apocalypse

In what looks like a scene out of an apocalyptic movie, cars are decimated from the fires. The cars are bunched together presumably in a used car lot, but it feels like they are trying to escape like everyone else. They are packed together tightly, unable to leave and forced to accept their fate. Everything is dead in the surrounding area, even the billboard is empty and desolate. Climate change is leading to more and more catastrophic weather events that are destroying everything in its path. If we don’t act now, we could be looking at the future of our entire planet.

what it all means…

Pictures show us moments in time, but they also tell a larger story. All the images shown above are authentic, emotional, raw and relevant. These are all essential elements in visual storytelling. I hope to have told the story of real people experiencing the real consequences of climate change, and why we should all care deeply about these implications.