Seeing Climate Change: A New Perspective

BY BOJAN FÜRST

Published 6:30, June 19, 2025

A photo of a burned forest against a blue sky.
The aftermath of a forest fire in the Northwest Territories (Pat Kane)

In 2011, researchers Darryn DiFrancesco and Nathan Young studied news about climate change. They found that most articles featured images of politicians instead of the environmental issues themselves. This made the coverage feel disconnected. According to Young, the visuals were “emotionally benign,” failing to create a real sense of urgency.

However, there’s a shift happening. A recent feature in The New York Times Magazine showcased teenagers living in climate chaos. Their struggles were depicted candidly, evoking powerful emotions. Readers reacted with empathy, denial, and acceptance, making the issue feel more personal.

Photographers are now exploring new techniques to tell these urgent stories. Jonas Harvard, a media professor, explains that in today’s attention-filled world, capturing moments that connect with audiences emotionally is essential. This means moving beyond typical disaster images to show the deeper human impacts of climate change.

For instance, Daniel Schwartz, a documentary photographer, warns against making environmental damage look beautiful. He believes this can allow corporations to hide behind a façade of caring. He emphasizes that we should focus on the reality of loss, especially in regions affected by rising sea levels.

Canadian photographer Pat Kane recently faced an evacuation due to wildfires in Yellowknife. Observing the media’s focus on the flames rather than the human impact inspired him to document the personal stories of evacuees.

Months later, Kane met those evacuees and took their portraits, highlighting both the emotional weight of their experiences and the shortcomings of emergency plans. His work shows how local stories amplify the climate narrative, enriching the broader discussion.

Meanwhile, in Australia, photographer Lisa Hogben captures the profound grief caused by climate change. Her ongoing project, “Burnt,” depicts landscapes and wildlife forever altered by severe bushfires. She challenges the idea of presenting these subjects as mere art, pushing for a deeper connection to the environmental crisis.

As climate change events increase, our communication strategies must evolve. Photographers like Schwartz, Kane, and Hogben highlight the importance of personal storytelling in raising awareness. Their work calls for editors and art directors to support this shift, using visuals to convey both the urgency and emotional weight of our current crisis.