I love the way the camera sees the world, it can be so unique, so different than what is actually there when I take the photograph. My goal is to take photographs that show the world the way I see it, using the unique photographic abilities that I have, the technical abilities of my camera, and my digital darkroom skills to output the best photograph "equivalent" that I can; a photograph that is wholly representative of my vision in photography and art. I am not a documentarian or a photo journalist, I edit, delete, and change as needed. My goal is photographic art and there is no "right" or "wrong" involved in that.
Wildfires, July-August 2026.
I live in the California foothills and not too long ago we experienced three fires in our area in one afternoon. One was perhaps a mile or two from my home, the first one called the Dove Fire, and the images below are from that fire. That fire was caused by humor error, a cigarette thrown carelessly into dry grass. A homeless male realized what he had done and simply ran away from the fire that was quickly growing in size.
As I write this (August 6, 2026), there is yet another fire raging, its consumed over 10,000 acres and was caused by human error, an older male person using equipment in an outdoor setting in dry grass without the proper fire protection nearby. In an interview I saw he was befuddled and apologetic but his life and the life of others is now ruined by his mistake, and he kept repeating, "it was a mistake." So very avoidable and so sad for everyone.
As a wildlife photographer I'm used to being put under pressure when photographing. I had been kicking back on the couch (my afternoon nap!), heard the fire planes very close by and not leaving (they generally fly very near or over my house but move on to the fire), and I got up to see what it was. I realized immediately that the fire was fairly near but that I was in no current danger. I calmly put on the correct shoes for walking up the short hill to get to the top to get good shots, then changed the lens on the camera to a 100-400 zoom lens, pocketed extra batteries and put on a cap to ward off the afternoon sun. I thought about bringing the water bottle and did not and that was a mistake as I was there for a couple of hours. When I got to the top of the hill I had a good vantage point to get some pretty decent fire drop and plane shots.
Photographing a fire scene is not unlike photographing wild animals, a mix of action and waiting for that defining moment, and no idea what is going to happen next!
As I write this (August 6, 2026), there is yet another fire raging, its consumed over 10,000 acres and was caused by human error, an older male person using equipment in an outdoor setting in dry grass without the proper fire protection nearby. In an interview I saw he was befuddled and apologetic but his life and the life of others is now ruined by his mistake, and he kept repeating, "it was a mistake." So very avoidable and so sad for everyone.
As a wildlife photographer I'm used to being put under pressure when photographing. I had been kicking back on the couch (my afternoon nap!), heard the fire planes very close by and not leaving (they generally fly very near or over my house but move on to the fire), and I got up to see what it was. I realized immediately that the fire was fairly near but that I was in no current danger. I calmly put on the correct shoes for walking up the short hill to get to the top to get good shots, then changed the lens on the camera to a 100-400 zoom lens, pocketed extra batteries and put on a cap to ward off the afternoon sun. I thought about bringing the water bottle and did not and that was a mistake as I was there for a couple of hours. When I got to the top of the hill I had a good vantage point to get some pretty decent fire drop and plane shots.
Photographing a fire scene is not unlike photographing wild animals, a mix of action and waiting for that defining moment, and no idea what is going to happen next!
