San Francisco-based independent photographer Josh Edelson has been named a finalist for the 2025 Varenne/Canon Grand Prize for his coverage of wildfires in Northern California, according to an announcement from Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Edelson, who has worked with AFP since 2012, submitted images documenting what he described as “megafires” that presented unprecedented challenges during the 2021 fire season. “10 years covering wildfires in California, I’ve never seen anything like what this year brought. The new normal now seems to be that every fire season brings a new surprise,” Edelson told AFP.
The Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards, awarded by the “Covering Climate Now” coalition of over 450 media organizations worldwide – including AFP – recognize exceptional reporting on climate change. Winners will be announced in early October.
Edelson’s recognition comes as California continues to grapple with the aftermath of increasingly destructive wildfire seasons. Recent reports indicate that rebuilding efforts for victims of past fires are being hampered by disputes with insurance companies, delaying recovery for many communities.
The 2025 award follows a year of significant wildfire activity in both Oregon and California, prompting hundreds of evacuations, according to reports from CNBC. The ongoing threat underscores the escalating challenges posed by climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
Edelson’s work joins a distinguished list of finalists, including Behrouz Mehri, recognized for his photojournalism, Luis Tato for international news photography, and Brendan Smialowski, honored for both general and domestic news picture stories.
