Photo: Roman Signer

Today's Friday photo goes out to those craving air conditioning (or at least ice cream) on this steamy July Friday. It's "Tisch (Table)," a 1994 photo by Swiss artist Roman Signer, best known for his "temporary sculptures" such as this large white table bobbing off to commune with the glaciers in Iceland (click "continued..." to see the table's explosive fate). Signer is one of 18 photographers to have made the recently announced shortlist for the Prix Pictet, a major new global photography prize focused on sustainability and sponsored by Pictet & Cie, in association with the Financial Times. The theme of this year's competition is water, and other shortlisted artists include Chris Jordan, David Maisel, and Edward Burtynsky. The winner of the Prix Pictet, who will receive CHF 100,000 (approximately $99,400), will be announced on October 30 at a dinner at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, where shortlisted images will then be exhibited through November 8.