The Fire: Directing Water Spray by Remote Control

This firefighter uses controls at the base of his ladder to control

a hose and nozzle remotely from the top of the ladder to spray water

on the blaze which engulfs this 4-story residential apartment

building. This photo was shot as much for the composition as the

newsworthiness. Available light at 3:30 a.m. or so, so please make

allowances for conditions. Your ratings and critiques are invited

and very welcome. (If you rate harshly or very negatively, please

submit a helptful and constructive comment to help improve my

photography). Thanks! Enjoy! John.

I like the composition and the colors, it draws the viewer right into the action. That must have been quite a fire.

However, the only thing that bothers me is the extremely bright light on the right. I think a slight crop so that the whito of the halo is just gone, but at least one or two of the windows are still visible would make an improvement. You might even be able to use photoshop and burn that part after the crop, so that nothing or little of the halo remains.

Otherwise nice job.... (wasn't your apartment on fire, was it?)

I went for the 'realistic' look with as many lights, etc., visible to capture the 'business' and the reality of the scene, so I intentionally left the light, right, in the photograph. I probably took another with the light out, as I took lots and lots of photographs, but I like this one, and partially because the light is, for me, an accent, or helps 'balance' the composition as well as emphasize the drama of the scene with its dispersion rays thrown into the burning night (no, wasn't where I live -- only 'fire' I see is the sun going into the ocean).

Respectfully,

John

This firefighter is talking into his walkie talkie while he directs the fire, it appears, and so I recall.

Such scenes are incredibly 'busy' and it's that 'busyness' I tried to capture, doing so aesthetically, as well.

John

Further: This is not a garden party or a still life where one arranges the flowers and the fruit in the bowl.

I wanted to show that the fireman was staring directly into the light, and all the distractions one has to deal with while the building burns and he's trying to manipulate the remote controls to pour water on the fire from the nozzle at the top of the ladder (all while talking on his walkie talkie).

It was that sense of confusion and pressure that I wanted to capture. (no sarcasm intended in the above remark.)

Respectfully,

John

You should have seen the sorry photos the local newspapers ran -- devoid of action -- just standoff shots showing the building burning, and nothing more. Very sorry. I always try for something more. They wanted this photo also, but weren't willing to pay for its worth, so I refused them.

John

Subscribers -- those with the special symbol -- I know you rare photos rather sparely because you have seen all the repeated themes and 'ordinary' photos, no matter how well done, so when I saw that more than half the ratings were from subscribers, I was extremely flattered.

Thank you all especially, for taking the trouble to rate this photo -- it carries special meaning to be rated by subscribers.

John