Fire on the Beech (Street)

For the most part, working during the holidays is pretty uneventful in the Pueblo Chieftain photo department. Each year the paper's editors find a way to fill much of the paper with an in depth series or extended project allowing many members of the staff to take vacation time between Christmas and New Years.

Since spot news doesn't seem to follow a schedule both the police reporter and members of the photo staff may find themselves in the middle of some pretty interesting and intense stories while other members of the staff are saying "Pass me another piece of fruit cake."

Wednesday was one of those days.


After doing spending some time in front of my work station I asked the paper's managing editor if there was anything else he needed me to do (even though I didn't do much to that point), he said no and I headed out the door after writing my cell number in the book so that if something were to happen my number would be easily located.

About 90 minutes after I left the newsroom I got a call from our weekend editor to tell me about a house fire. It was kind of hard to understand what she was saying as she was suffering from a cold. I did manage to catch the two cross streets and the word fire from her virus-laden utterings.

I, hung up, grabbed my coat, and told my kids I had to go to a fire. Any more, they just nod and say "Okay Dad, see you later." My boys aren't easily impressed any more. They have been to so many assignments with me that most of the time they are happier to stay home.

As I was heading across town I could see the column of thick black smoke rising from the burning home. When this happens it is easier to get to the fire without having to look for a particular address and it also tells me I am missing some really good flames.

My days of driving to a fire like I was driving the fire truck are behind me now, but I still get frustrated when I feel like I am hitting every red light all the way to the scene. This time was no different. Most of the time when covering fires there isn't much to shoot other than wet ashes when I get out of my truck. That was what I thought I would be shooting at this fire. I jumped out of my truck, grabbed my camera and bag and headed toward the fire.

I have been on scenes like this so many times over the years that most of the police and fire personnel leave me to my job. Many of them have seen me at fires and crime scenes before and those who haven't don't say much as I look right at home in these situations. (Usually if you walk in like you own the place, most people will think you do.) At this fire my access was good and I went to work.

The light was fading and the fire was being attacked by an aerial truck. I figured there would be no more flames. There were two fire fighters standing near the house with a hose. They had been spraying the fire but stopped when the aerial truck started to attack the fire. Then there was a bit of a pause and the flames popped back up, but the fire fighters in front of me weren't moving. I shot a few photos of them standing there with the flames dancing on the roof of the house. It was good flame, but no action. I crossed my fingers and waited. Then they picked up their hose and directed a spray of water into the window of the home as the flames on the roof made another appearance. I got my photo and then made my way back to my truck to head back to the newsroom.

While driving back I heard one of the firefighters on the radio say that they would probably be there a while as the roof of the home was insulated with straw.

I mused to myself that had the house not burned it may have been blown down by a wolf!

Cornered!

The playmakers are over for the fall season and I am back to doing regular daily assignments. While biding my time until the winter sports season ends and I get to do five more playmakers.

The other day I was sent to shoot some high school girls swimmers as part of their season preview. I shot the head shots I needed to do and then needed to a portrait of two of the girls. I thought I had the photo worked out in my head on the way to the school. But when I got there, one of the two girls was absent and wouldn’t be there for the photo as scheduled.

I had to come up with a photo of the one remaining girl that would carry the story as well as the page in the sports section that it would run on.

I knew I wanted to shoot her in the water, but at the same time I wanted the image to have a bit of a “different” look to it. I don’t know why I came up with the photo of Madison Krall in the corner of the pool, but I did.

The photo had a bit of a “playmaker” feel to it but I give all the credit to Madison. She is the reason that the photo works. Her “permasmile” as well as her hand placement really completed the image.

I count myself lucky as I managed to shoot the photo from the side of the pool and do two very important things. I kept my feet out of the frame and stayed dry. Woohoo!

Madison is the kind of subject that photographers dream of. She is was patient, and a a real joy to work with. Plus she did things on her own that helped. I look forward to getting to shoot her again.

Tennis playmaker

Last but certainly not least, Pueblo County High School’s Joey Patti is the playmaker for boys tennis in 2007.

I told Joey to wear his varsity uniform and bring his racquets and a can or two of balls to the studio. Joey was happy to honor my request even though he didn’t seem real sure of what kind of photo we were going to do.

Before he showed up I spent a little time getting things ready. I found a green gel that I could use to throw some color on the background. The school’s colors are green and gold so I figured the green gel would be the best color to go with.

I got the lights set up. Then I asked Joey for his racquet and one of the better looking tennis balls that he brought with him. Joey watched as I grabbed a couple of zip ties, zipped them together, and to the face of Joey’s racquet. In hindsight I think I would use some string or fishing line to do this the next time. It was just too much work to remove the zip tie from the image with the help of Photoshop.

After we got everything set I started to photograph Joey. When I use the SB-800s in the studio it is a bit more difficult because the strobes don’t have modeling lights. What we did was set up the camera on a tripod, then I would pre-focus on Joey and turn off the overhead lights to shoot the photo. I coached Joey with, “Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move, don’t move.” He did a great job and made my job easy.

Thanks Joey.