Andy Hall

Residents across Clacton, Jaywick and Frinton-on-Sea express sharply divided views about Nigel Farage after his resignation as MP triggered a byelection. Some support him because they see him as charismatic, hardworking and the only credible alternative to the established parties, while others criticize his absence from the constituency, immigration rhetoric, financial controversies and use of Clacton as a political platform. Count Binface’s candidacy adds a comic dimension to a contest involving 34 candidates, but is not expected to seriously threaten Farage. The conversations also reveal deeper concerns about seaside decline, homelessness, poor housing, disability, inadequate services and the stigmatization of Jaywick. Local initiatives such as Sunspot, Rainy Bakes and a community carnival demonstrate residents’ efforts to improve the area and challenge negative portrayals, even as many remain distrustful of politicians and uncertain that the byelection will deliver meaningful change.

Coal heating is making Ulaanbaatar one of the world’s most dangerous cities for winter air pollution. Coal-fired stoves and boilers, especially in the city’s ger districts, produce extreme levels of fine particles and carbon monoxide, contributing to thousands of deaths, respiratory illness, cancer, miscarriages and premature births. Climate-driven livestock losses are pushing more nomadic families into the capital, worsening overcrowding and dependence on coal. Experts and residents say insulating homes, improving fuel and sanitation, expanding clean electricity and developing solar, wind and other renewable energy could reduce pollution, but weak government coordination, high energy costs and limited housing have stalled progress.

A photographic essay documents life across Mongolia’s eastern steppe and in Ulaanbaatar, showing how climate change, harsh winters and livestock losses are pushing herders toward informal urban settlements. Coal-burning stoves and boilers, combined with winter temperature inversions, trap severe smog over the capital and create a major health crisis, particularly for children. The images also highlight the continuing cultural importance of nomadic herding, horses and Mongolia’s traditional way of life.

A photographic gallery by Andy Hall documenting the energy, diversity and community spirit of London’s Notting Hill Carnival across several years. The images and captions feature costumes, dancing, sound systems, food, family celebrations and carnival bands, while reflecting on the event’s Caribbean roots, the effects of gentrification and regulation, and the shadow cast by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Photographer Andy Hall contrasts historic Downtown Las Vegas with the newer Las Vegas Strip ahead of the city’s 2023 Formula One race. Once the center of gambling and Las Vegas mythology, downtown declined as the Strip developed into a corporate resort district, while its low-rise streets became associated with cheaper casinos, motels and social neglect. Despite this deterioration, the Fremont Street area is portrayed as lively and inclusive, retaining neon Americana through its casinos, wedding chapels, performers, tourists, locals and eccentric street culture.

A photo gallery documenting alternative views of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, focusing on mourners, crowds, waiting spectators, public screenings, procession scenes and everyday moments across London, Windsor and Wales.

Guardian photographers document Britain’s mourning after Queen Elizabeth II’s death, focusing on crowds at Buckingham Palace, the queue to see her lying in state, floral tributes, royal processions and ceremonies in London and Edinburgh. Their reflections describe a generally respectful, communal atmosphere shaped by grief, historical awareness, military pageantry and widespread smartphone recording. The photographers portray the public response as both personal mourning and a desire to witness the end of an era, while noting the contrast with the more shocked response to Diana’s funeral.

A photographic history of Birmingham presents fourteen archival and contemporary scenes, spanning its markets, sporting venues, civic landmarks, canals and neighborhoods. The gallery connects the city’s industrial and wartime past with stories of migration, Black British life, civil rights, the Birmingham Six and sporting culture, while highlighting Alexander Stadium as a main venue for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The UK recorded its hottest day on record, with temperatures exceeding 40C in parts of England and unusually warm overnight conditions. Guardian photographers documented how people in Manchester, York, Worcester, London, Boston and Swansea coped with the extreme heat, including workers taking breaks, residents seeking shade or water, tourists using umbrellas and fountains, and unusually quiet city centres. Wales also experienced record temperatures before rain arrived in Swansea, underscoring the volatile conditions associated with the climate crisis.

A photographic gallery captures the atmosphere of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, showing celebrities, models, industry professionals, local residents, tourists, paparazzi and security personnel sharing the Croisette and surrounding venues. Scenes include Tom Cruise's arrival, red-carpet crowds, private parties, beach screenings, promotional activity and the work of local photographer Luzzi.

Pfizer and BioNTech began testing an Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine, hoping it could be ready for regulatory approval by March. The UK reported 439 deaths within 28 days of a positive test and 94,326 cases, while Boris Johnson faced mounting pressure over Downing Street lockdown parties and a forthcoming Sue Gray report. Scotland announced a phased return to offices, and Sajid Javid said 77,000 NHS workers remained unvaccinated while mandatory-jab policies should be reviewed in light of Omicron. Across the world, cases continued to surge, including in Italy and Russia, while restrictions were eased in parts of Europe. Researchers also identified an antibody pattern that may help predict who is most vulnerable to long COVID.

A photo gallery documents the return of workers and commuters to the City of London, showing office districts, stations, trains, bridges, lunch venues and after-work socialising as activity resumes following coronavirus restrictions.

A photographic tour of sites across Black London, featuring statues, murals, memorials and plaques connected to Black history, culture and activism. Locations include Brixton, Lewisham, Kensington, Dalston, Stockwell and Parliament Square, with subjects such as the Battle of Lewisham, Windrush-era service, Mary Seacole, Nelson Mandela, C. L. R. James and hip-hop culture.

Photographs by Andy Hall document Southend, Bournemouth, Margate, Broadstairs and Whitstable as English seaside resorts reopen during the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in April 2021. The images show cafes, stalls, beaches, amusements and beach huts gradually returning to use, alongside visitors socialising and enjoying the warmer weather while some signs of the lockdown period remain.

A photographic record of the City of London during the COVID-19 lockdowns from April 2020 to February 2021. Empty streets, deserted offices, masked pedestrians and isolated workers illustrate how the pandemic transformed the traditionally busy financial district into a ghost town, while raising questions about whether remote working has permanently changed the relationship between the City and its workforce.

A Guardian photo gallery by Andy Hall documents conflict, political transition, drought, displacement, poverty, music and everyday life across Africa. Images and captions cover South Africa’s transition to democracy and the violence involving ANC and Inkatha supporters, refugee arrivals at Kenya’s Dadaab camp, drought and food insecurity in Chad, Burkina Faso and Turkana, Angola’s civil-war legacy, Rwanda’s genocide memorialization, and urban deprivation in Nairobi and Monrovia. The gallery also highlights cultural life through Staff Benda Bilili, Senegal’s Blues du Fleuve festival and traditional sporting and musical events, alongside conservation work to preserve Botswana’s endangered plant seeds.

A photographic tour of Berlin landmarks and memorials ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall. The captions revisit Checkpoint Charlie, Mauerpark, Potsdamer Platz, Brandenburg Gate, Bernauer Strasse and the East Side Gallery, while recalling the Wall’s role in dividing families, restricting movement and causing deaths. They also highlight how former border zones have become tourist, leisure and cultural spaces.

A photographic exploration of the historical, cultural and contemporary ties between England and France, featuring coastal communities, cross-Channel travel, Norman and Second World War heritage, migration around Calais, and everyday scenes from places including Portsmouth, Brighton, Dover, Ouistreham, Bayeux and Le Havre.

A photo gallery documents efforts to enroll Syrian refugee children in schools and non-formal educational settings in Lebanon and Jordan. The Back to the Future project, funded mainly by the EU Madad Fund and implemented by NGOs, provides catch-up education, psychosocial support, transport, language tuition and child-protection assistance. Despite progress, many children remain out of school because of poverty, transport and documentation barriers, language difficulties, child labor and early marriage risks. The initiative received €15 million over three years and its organizers hope to expand the work, including potential future support for children returning to Syria if conditions become safe.

A photographic exploration of life in London's City financial district ten years after the 2008 crash, showing commuters, tourists, workers, traders, construction and street activity around landmarks including the Bank of England, Lloyd's of London and Broadgate. The gallery recalls Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy as a defining event in the crisis and depicts the area's post-crash construction boom and everyday public life.