images of life i: working portfolio Unable to watch any more as her Bowling Green, Ky., apartment burns, Rachal Smith turns in despair while her husband Shane covers his head while leaning on a police cruiser. Married only two months,th

A structure fire destroys the apartment of a newly wed couple.

very well caught this tells us the story, you feel for the couple.

This picture moved me. I almost feel like crying also. What I really like, is that both streams of water happen to form a triangle that pushes your eye to the crying young lady. I just can't take my eyes off here. Had I not read your caption, I would have never noticed the guy in the black shirt. Truly powerful.

If the background is clear, then this picture is perfect.

I think the background is just fine as it is. You can still see exactly what is going on but it's being out of focus causes us to direct our attention more to the girl. If the background was sharp as the previous poster suggested, the girl (who makes the photo) would be lost in the clutter. Excellent photo.

The photo is not about the fire. The photo is about the emotions of the people watching their apartment burn. The background does not need to be sharp for us to know what is going on. A sharp background would only detract from the powerful image of the couple in the foreground. Good job.

Incredible photo Paul. Thanks for sharing it.

It gives me chills.

Was this shot for a newspaper? This is photojournalism at it's best ...

Excellent photojournalistic photo.

my editors would have taken this shot over the fire pics I got a few months back any day. Background is fine, focus is where it should be.

Wow, very strong shot. I love this whole folder. You have a real talent for capturing people at the right moment while at the same time keeping them technically on-target.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

This photo never ran. I was working part-time for the Bowling Green Daily News and going to college for photojournalism. It did win several state and regional awards. Sweet revenge. I was actually being pushed back by an officer when I shot this. It took a day to get the names as it was such a huge fire. The reporter got the names and helped me confirm the identities. It pays to be prepared and to shoot a lot of fires. When you start "focusing" on people instead of flames, you start getting better photos.

Picture excellently envisages emotion and atmosphere of the event.

It seems a almost perverse to take pleasure in this shot.........but its so good.......Hope things turned out well for them in the end.

I was immediately drawn to the women, I almost cried. You can sense the despair from the man.

This picture communicates the story very well (and the background is perfect)

The composition is wonderful. Leaving the background out of focus draws your eye to what really counts, which is the pain of the couple. Well done. Do they know that their picture is posted?

Stuff: Who needs it?

Great photograph, without a doubt. My only criticism, is that it is too tight. I would have liked to have seen more of their bodies, at least to the waist. I do realize that it might not have been possible, considering the circumstances you mentioned, in shooting this image. Great job! Keep up the excellent work!

This is a good shot, probably like to see a little wider angle, to see more of their bodies and body language. What a sad story. Nice way to throw the background out of focus, not too much, not too little

Really good. Obviously, you can't go posing distraught fire evacuees, especially when the police are dragging you away, but as others have said, it would have been even better if there were a bit more on the bottom--the husband in particular is so low in the corner that I missed him at first. The rest of it is framed wonderfully--the water arcing in from both sides, the three vertical color/tone bands in the sky.. and.. well.. the emotion you caught in her.

one minute you got it all, the next, well, shit happens. Nice shot, very well done,

 

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