One of the most interesting topics for me during my time as a professional newspaper reporter is fire and firefighting, and the great visual potential is there for anyone approaching the matter with a little preparation. and knowledge.
Fires and wildfires are often tragic events that require large amounts of resources to fight and often leave a trail of damage and even death after they occur, so they are not a cause for concern. . But at the same time, they also deserve to be widely reported to highlight the community’s firefighting efforts. On top of that, the nature of fire means that well-taken photos are often incredibly dramatic and fun to take. If you decide you want to dip your feet into these waters, it’s important to approach it with caution and with utmost respect, or you’ll risk your own life, the safety of others, and the safety of others. waste valuable time and resources by hindering the fire fighting effort from the emergency response.
If you’re a certified journalist, you’ll have an edge over a photographer who just wants some stunning photos. First of all, your access is usually a bit better. I have spent many years building good relationships with the various fire brigades in my area, which includes 13 centrally-run cities and is a very rural but large area in Central. Utah. That relationship has helped me tremendously in my pursuit of good fire coverage, as the fire brigade trusting your judgment as a journalist is more likely to allow you to get up close. than the fire itself.
It is very important that in your pursuit of fire shots you never create a situation where you put yourself in the kind of danger that teams may need to take time to evacuate you from the area. They have more important work to do. Building trust with your local fire brigade means they’re less likely to just deny you any coverage access, but it’s still possible.
A good way to start building trust with your local fire brigade is to find out about them in advance and find out if they have any controlled burn plans that could give you a chance to be safe when your feet burn. wet feet dry into the job of covering and catching fire without fire. These controlled burns are commonly used for training purposes, safe building demolition, reducing excess fuel, or a combination of two or more of these. Because the fire brigade sets the fire on purpose and ultimately extinguishes it with a whole carefully planned and controlled process, the factor of safety is higher and they are more likely to allow you access to cover. fire, because they don’t have to worry about much with the well-being of nearby citizens.
Never show up at an active fire and claim access to the area, you will only burn your bridges with them (no pun intended). Even if you’re a certified journalist, this is just a quick way to make sure they make it difficult for you to get your photos in future fires as well.
With the risk of wildfires and extreme drought that our desert state often has during the summer, wildfires become a big problem. If a fire starts and spreads, the main entrances will be blocked by emergency responders, and although you can often find back roads that allow you a better angle of fire, be careful about the distance you come close. Wildfires can spread extremely quickly, especially in dry and windy conditions. Before you approach any wildfire, make sure you’re familiar with your best escape routes and any other exits you might have in case something serious happens. and the fire begins to threaten your position. Do Not Wait until the last minute to get out.
When covering flames in daylight, I’m a fan of high-quality, versatile zoom lenses that allow you to move quickly and get a variety of compositions without swapping lenses too much. under dusty and smoky conditions. Most recently, I’ve come to love an extremely versatile and relatively new device Tamron 18-300 for my Fujifilm camera system. For a lens with such a huge zoom range, it does a great job in image quality for my needs, and the in-lens stabilization helps a lot at long periods and when the light is dim.
If the fire is still burning after dark, I always try to take some night shots if possible. For this purpose, I find a quick standard to be a good choice, and at wider apertures like F1.8 or F1.4, sometimes the light of the flame is bright enough that you can shoot handheld. , but you should bring a tripod, even if you have a camera body with built-in stabilization. A long exposure based on a tripod at night can be a particularly fun photo to take.
Some sites will allow you to listen to your local emergency radio system, and during my active career as a print reporter, I always had a hidden print page and when I got a call you could Discover the locations of active fires in basically real time. I was even able to arrive before the emergency response, but if this happens it is important that you take care to keep your distance and that you and your vehicle do not block any necessary access to the vehicle. fire brigade when they arrived.
If you are like me and regularly use drones for photography purposes, you right resisted the urge to put it in the air, as fires frequently require air support, especially wildfires, and if a drone is detected in the sky, airborne fire crews must ground until it disappears. In some cases, you could be criminally charged if you obstruct the air response in this way. With that said, don’t forget that air reaction can also provide some interesting shots, such as an airplane flying over an active fire and releasing a bright red flame suppressant powder. It usually takes a long lens to get this shot well, but it’s worth it if you can show the magenta powder layered over a row of burning trees.
It is absolutely important that you never attempt to enter any burning structure or wasteland for the sake of your coverage. The speed at which the raging flames can travel is faster than the speed you can run, especially when fully equipped.
If you pay responsible attention, stay safe, and are extremely attentive to your impact on the fire brigade’s ability to fight fires, a photojournalist can get very impressive photos. Be open to your coverage and think about any negative effects your presence or actions may have. Stay safe, and good luck.
