London burning

London burning serves as a visual record of the unprecedented events that unfolded on July 19 th 2022 when London hit record temperatures of forty degrees Celsius, igniting multiple fires across the city. The photos from this series bring home the harsh reality that in this metropolis where climate change often feels like a distant problem, no place is immune from its devastating consequences.

Going beyond mere documentation of an event the images encapsulate the human aspect of the experience, where in this deprived city suburb we see marginalised communities struggle to cope with the infernos. The juxtaposition of the ordinary and extraordinary is striking - the burning estate as the backdrop, with the young residents documenting the unfolding catastrophe engulfing their neighbourhood on their phones in the foreground. The series is characterised by a haze of smoke that permeates the photographs, shrouding the images in an eerie, apocalyptic ambiance. The subtleness and muted colours evoke a sense of foreboding vulnerability, underlining the fragility of our man-made urban landscape in the face of nature’s fury.

In choosing to photograph a fire in London, the series brings the issue home and encourages viewers to reflect upon and confront the presence of the climate crisis in our own backyards, it has become undeniable and demands our attention. ‘London Burning’ invites us to confront society’s fragility and to acknowledge the pressing need for radical change, resilience, and the necessity of a collective response to safeguard our future in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

More stories by Polly Tootal