{
  "id": 17157,
  "title": "I can’t stop looking at this astounding photograph of a “fire-breathing dragon of clouds” – and it was snapped with just a smartphone",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/i-cant-stop-looking-at-this-astounding-photograph-of-a-fire-breathing",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-07-31T16:48:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/photojournalism/i-cant-stop-looking-at-this-astounding-photograph-of-a-fire-breathing-dragon-of-clouds-and-it-was-snapped-with-just-a-smartphone"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nOther 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.",
  "summary": "I'm a professional photographer, and these are some of the best images that I've seen this week",
  "key_points": [
    "Maximilien Lamy's photograph captures \"fire-breathing dragon of clouds\"",
    "Image taken with a Huawei smartphone",
    "Beachgoers calmly relax under umbrellas in the foreground"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}