For acclaimed photojournalist Josh Edelson, the relentless roar of an advancing wildfire is a sound etched into memory. From the front lines of California's most catastrophic blazes, his camera has captured both the terrifying beauty and the profound human tragedy of these climate-fuelled infernos.
In an exclusive insight into his work, Edelson recounts the visceral experience of documenting disasters like the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which ravaged entire neighbourhoods with shocking speed. "You're driving through these communities and it's just… gone," he describes, the memory still vivid. "Houses are levelled to the foundation. Cars are melted. It's apocalyptic."
The Perilous Pursuit of the Shot
Edelson's process is a calculated dance with danger. He meticulously monitors fire scanner apps and weather conditions, often arriving before official roadblocks are established. His essential kit—a respirator, fireproof clothing, and gallons of water—is as crucial as his camera equipment.
"The heat is immense," he explains. "You feel it through your shoes. The embers are flying everywhere, and the smoke is so thick you can barely see, let alone breathe." This commitment to authenticity means placing himself in the path of the blaze, a risk he takes to convey the full scale of the emergency to the world.
Beyond the Flames: Capturing Human Resilience
While the raging orange walls of fire make for dramatic imagery, Edelson's most powerful work often focuses on the human element. His lens tells the stories of exhausted firefighters working to the point of collapse, and of devastated families returning to find nothing but ash where their homes once stood.
These images serve a dual purpose: they are historical records of destruction and powerful catalysts for public awareness about the escalating climate crisis. Edelson's photography transcends news reporting; it is a stark visual testimony to a new era of megafires and a tribute to the resilience of those who confront them.
