"Climate Ecstasy" and More: Our Photography Round-Up
It's true—people value the pictures we choose just as much as what we have to say about them.
One problem with our 24/7 media culture is that news that didn’t happen today or yesterday is treated like stale bread. That’s a shame, especially when it comes to photojournalism. Powerful news images do more than capture a moment; they place that reality in context, resonating both backward and forward in time.
Friends, welcome to our round-up, where we slow things down and appreciate some of the past month's news images.
Climate and Environment
Omaha
Although Chris Machian's thunderstorm photo from Omaha feels apocalyptic, it can’t be directly linked to the climate crisis. Still, I’m sharing it because climate change has ruined dramatic weather images for me. It's akin to your first earthquake after having kids—suddenly, every tremor feels like doom.
Some Strange Ideas about Ecstasy
Is the heat bringing you back to your body—or sending you to the ER?
The problem with this NY Times Magazine article is that heat combined with humidity is dangerous. Your sweat may not evaporate easily, making it harder for your body to cool down and increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. These conditions represent a dire threat in the record-breaking heat assaulting most of the country. While the article basks in nostalgia, the rose-tinted musing isn't just misguided—it's potentially deadly.
The Hajj
The Hajj marked the first extraordinary climate disaster of Summer '24. Traditionally, the pilgrimage is known for its awe-inspiring images of pilgrims circling the Kaaba at Mecca in vast, swirling masses. However, this year's event presented a stark contrast, as more than 1,300 attendees succumbed to extreme heat, with temperatures often soaring beyond 120°F (48.9°C).
Saleh Salem's image poignantly captures the disparity between the usual scenes of spiritual devotion and the heart-wrenching suffering, punctuated by an inverted umbrella that resembles a crushed insect or wilted flower.
The Photo Doubling as Commentary
This category is inspired by our post, “If This Summer Is Anything Like the Last,” and the brilliant work of photojournalists who use bitter irony or gallows humor to call out climate helplessness, hopelessness and political and corporate negligence.
Icons and Agency
With Smokey approaching his 80th, his famous slogan, "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires," now seems quaint compared to the roles played by the Exxons, the Blackrocks, the GOP, and countries like Saudi Arabia. With states and whole nations turned into tinderboxes, Kaylee Greenlee Beal’s photo points up how preventing wildfires has long outdistanced the singular focus on individual actions and the errant campfire or cigarette.
Having a Blast
Showing up early made for a timely photo by Eric Thayer showcasing the high-power fans Team Trump brought in for a June 9 rally in Las Vegas. Given the “hold onto your hat”-sized blast of air and the otherwise empty background, this picture qualifies as deadpan commentary. Adding insult to injury, Trump told the crowd he didn’t care if people fried—as long as they voted. Six people were hospitalized for heat-related illnesses as the thermometer hit 104°F.
Drowning
We are indeed drowning in plastic, recyclable and otherwise. Timur Matahari‘s photo is a perceptual knockout. We see no water. The waste is boundless. The humans are tiny and barely distinct. There are little things we can all do. Always choose paper over plastic. Use compostable containers, reusable shopping, and produce bags. Educate yourself on Big Plastic and the rise of microplastics in our bodies. And support the Global Plastics Treaty.
A Perfect Strike
In contrast to throwing soup at the (glass-protected) Mona Lisa, what made the annual Congressional Baseball Game in D.C. the perfect target for a protest by climate activists? Besides the symbolic location and high profile audience —Capitol Hill’s backyard and the legislators playing games while the world burns—there was also the sponsor criticism (looking at you, Chevron!), the non-destructive approach, and the visual impact. (See more photos from Ken Schles’ DC Congressional Baseball Climate Protest.
Democracy
Debate Disaster
The debate photos are too painful to see again, but this image of the Bidens is both intimate and revealing. The President needs his wife's help to exit the building, and her hand on her head speaks to every ounce of anguish. If you haven’t read or ruminated enough on Biden’s meltdown, you can read our focus on the media fallout, for better and worse.
Simultaneous Translation
It’s a picture worth 1000 Jon Stewarts.
The scene wouldn’t have been nearly as good if Guy Rose hadn’t photo-bombed his father, GOP Congressman John Rose, while he was railing against Trump’s felony conviction on the House floor. It's just sad that CBS focused on the photo while ignoring the political angle.
The Quiet Part Out Loud
The far right shows its true colors.
Gaza War
The Palestinians have become like ghosts, symbolized by the fog pouring from the rubble and the woman’s face covered in ash. And the raft-like mattress conjures a voyage of the damned.
Commemoration
Juneteenth
Julian Leshay Guadalupe's photograph from Juneteenth captures a moment that symbolizes the progress and ongoing struggle for equality in America. The striking composition highlights intergenerational connections and the continuing journey towards justice. Besides creating a metaphor for standing on the shoulders of giants, I especially appreciate the gender and age contrast.
Book & Magazine Covers
Blind Justice
What an effective commentary on the high court's rightward slide, especially the radical decisions concluding its last session.
"Vision" by David S. Tatel, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's successor on the D.C. Circuit Court, offers an emphatic metaphor: a blind judge with a clear judicial vision. Tatel's memoir contrasts his literal blindness with the insight of the current Supreme Court. His journey from concealing his visual impairment to embracing it mirrors his concern for a judiciary losing sight of democratic principles, especially the gap between true "blind justice" and the increasingly partisan and ideological Supremes.
Dear friends, as we approach the six-month mark of our newsletter relaunch, I would love your feedback and to hear what you want to see more of. Feel free to email me or leave a comment below.
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