‘The Palisades fire explodes’ by Eric J Smith
January 2025 saw a series of extreme wildfires burn through Los Angeles.
The Eaton and Palisades fires resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, forced more than 200,000 people to evacuate, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures and burned over 57,000 acres of land.
A scientific study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) collaboration concludes that a trifecta of climate impacts contributed to the fires’ ferocity. It states that global heating caused by fossil fuel burning, low rainfall between October to December and high fire risk conditions all contributed to the increased chances of fires during the peak Santa Ana winds, when small fires can rapidly blaze into infernos.
‘The remains of the Altadena Community Church destroyed by the Eaton fire’ by Eric J Smith
The Eaton and Palisades fires are the most destructive in LA’s history and are likely to be the costliest in US history. Six months on, LA’s streets still house the charred remains of lost homes, their residents living with friends and family or in hotels, hostels and shelters.
As they continue to process the trauma of everything they’ve lost, communities have been left to contemplate how to get their homes back quickly while fireproofing them for the future – a task made increasingly difficult against the backdrop of immigration raids ordered by President Trump.
LA-based photographer, director and designer Eric J Smith has photographed the impact of the fires since they first broke out, with friends who lost their homes to the disaster asking him to document their experience.
Here, Smith discusses the importance of capturing the LA fires, depicting the loss and resilience of communities who are rebuilding their lives, and the destructive reality of climate change.
‘Aimee finds the remains of porcelain keepsakes in the ruins of her Altadena home’ by Eric J Smith
How did you get involved in photography and with the RPS?
My mother was a photojournalist for local newspapers around Philadelphia when I was a child. I grew up with a darkroom in the basement but ultimately went to art school for graphic design and spent years designing for television and film.
Photography found me again on a journey to the Galápagos Islands 15 years ago. Within two years it became my profession.
I was hired by a division of American media company, CBS, to document social good around the world. While photographing UK-based charities, I discovered the RPS, and was immediately impressed by the quality of members’ work and decided to join.
‘The charred VW Beetle parked in an Altadena driveway’ by Eric J Smith
What approach have you taken when documenting the LA fires?
I’m an empathetic person and witnessing scenes of such devastation is a challenge.
The friends I photographed reached out to me to document this historical pivot point in their lives. I knew the remains of the homes would only be around for a few weeks before the lots were cleared, so finding a time where they were emotionally strong enough to be onsite, when the condition of their houses were as they existed at the end of the firestorm, was a delicate balancing act.
While on location, I kept gear to a minimum while the families sifted through the debris. I acted like a fly on the wall looking for moments that were impactful. At the very end of the session, they posed for some quick portraits.
‘Eric and Aimee return to the remains of their home in Altadena, California’ by Eric J Smith
Has it been difficult to document the loss felt by your communities?
Probably like many Society members, the act of making images is so inherent in my daily life that it becomes a safety blanket in a way. The craft can be a coping mechanism in times of tragedy.
I’m also inherently curious about events taking place in my community and feel the need to bear witness to what’s happening around me. This act of bearing witness is so intrinsic to how I work that I named my first book Bearing Witness.
Why is it important for you to document the people and places impacted by the fires?
Entire communities have been razed, and people have lost all their worldly possessions. Creating a record of the loss is in many ways the first step to healing. Acknowledging this through photography can be the beginning of the long rebuilding process.
‘A young man surveys the remains of his family home’ by Eric J Smith
What has this experience taught you?
The people of Los Angeles are extremely resilient, but there’s a lot of trauma to bear.
I’ve been a resident of this city for 25 years and it seems to me that many of the most beautiful places to live are also the most fraught. Thousands of people are hurting, but they’re picking up the pieces and soldiering on.
On top of the devastating fires, this city is now ground zero for invasive federal immigration raids. People that have lived in our communities for decades or since they were babies are being disappeared before our eyes by masked federal agents. In addition to natural disasters, we’re also dealing with man-made disasters.
This experience has taught me life can change in the blink of an eye, so don’t take good days for granted.
‘A couple stands in front of their Altadena home, the sole surviving structure on the block’ by Eric J Smith
How have people reacted to your images?
The most important reaction to the photos was from the subjects themselves. They were very emotional when I sent them and immediately shared the pictures with their networks.
It was a record of what they’ve been going through documented by someone other than themselves. I think there was a certain validation for them.
The reaction from the public has also been very positive.
What do you want people to take away from your images?
I want people to understand climate change is not the figment of some liberal imagination. These extreme weather conditions – like the hurricane force winds that spread embers for miles creating historic firestorms – are the new normal around the planet.
We must do all we can as human beings to lessen the impacts.
‘Sunrise in the Hollywood Hills the morning after the fires erupted’ by Eric J Smith
What do you have planned next?
Following the fires I’ve been actively documenting the protests of the immigration raids here in LA.
On a lighter note, I’ve also been photographing the hundreds of fading neon signs, murals and other street vernacular of Hollywood’s bygone era. They’re a ubiquitous part of our urban landscape and many of them will not be around for much longer, so I’m creating photographic art of them.
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