I can’t stop looking at this astounding photograph of a “fire-breathing dragon of clouds” – and it was snapped with just a smartphone

Professional photographer Maximilien Lamy's photograph of a "fire-breathing dragon of clouds" has captivated many this week. The standout aspect of the image is not only the awe-inspiring cloud formation rising from a wildfire but also the beachgoers calmly relaxing under umbrellas on the shore. The contrast between the serene beachgoers and the ongoing crisis ignites a powerful message, reflecting the reality that life continues amidst a state of emergency as wildfires rage since mid-July.

This dramatic weather phenomenon, described by NASA as a "fire-breathing dragon of clouds," was captured using a Huawei smartphone, proving that a captivating photograph can be created with any gear, given the right composition.

Other striking images from photojournalists this week include a photojournalist in Kyiv, who captured people seeking shelter in a metro station during a missile strike. The top-down perspective from an escalator provides a gripping view of the crowded station and the desperation of the situation. A funeral photograph taken from a circular angle at late US Senator Lindsey Graham's memorial service highlights the iconic architecture of the US Capitol Rotunda, drawing attention to the flag-draped coffin.

Finally, a drone shot of a wildfire's aftermath on a farm near Madrid, Spain, showcasing goats on scorched earth, provides a stark reminder of the destruction caused by these natural disasters.