L.A., in two takes

For Angelenos, 2025 was a disaster from start to finish.

The Eaton and Palisades fires, ignited on Jan. 7 and spread by dry Santa Ana winds, swept quickly across the mountains of greater Los Angeles. By the county’s estimates, 31 people perished; a later study found around 400 more indirect deaths related to choking smoke and other factors.

Photojournalists Justin Sullivan and Mario Tama covered the fire’s early days for Getty Images. Recently, they sought out the same vantage points to see what had changed. Mr. Tama recreated aerial scenes, like the one above, while Mr. Sullivan worked at street level. Their “before” photos are from Jan. 8 to 19; the “after” photos range from Dec. 18 to Dec. 28.

Over the holidays, Californians who had lost their properties before risked losing them again to heavy rain. Mudslide warnings and evacuation orders came and went in the burned lands, before Christmas Day brought better weather. But in much of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, where the photographers took these shots, no one was at home to see that. The backlog for rebuilding permits is long and the costs ahead are steep. As 2026 begins, many in Los Angeles are unsure when, if ever, they can go home.

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