sarahallegra

Singed Wings

"Eric's voice was calm – some said the calmest they'd ever heard him. At 4:47, he radioed his last transmission: 'Deploying.' And then, just like they'd pract...
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"Eric's voice was calm – some said the calmest they'd ever heard him. At 4:47, he radioed his last transmission: 'Deploying.' And then, just like they'd practiced, the Granite Mountain Hotshots climbed into their shelters. The 19 Hotshots were all together. No one panicked, no one ran. Travis Turbyfill and Andrew Ashcraft, the sawyers, were at the edge of the group, closest to the flames. They were cutting lines up until the end."

The Last Battle of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, by Josh Eells: http:--www.mensjournal.com-magazine-print-view-the-last-battle-of-the-granite-mountain-hotshots-20130911

I initially created this image to be a companion piece for this photo of Katie and I, http:--www.flickr.com-photos-artosthebear-9249215130-, honoring the fallen firemen in Yarnell, Arizona almost a year ago. A childhood friend of mine, Andrew Ashcraft, had been one of the lost. As I do with most painful things, I channeled my grief into my art.

Though it always makes me cry to think about it, there is such beauty in the mens' calm acceptance of their sacrifice, their unity, that they were a complete, solid unit until the very end.

I loved what I had gotten from this shoot but it took many months before I felt like I could emotionally handle editing it. I didn't consciously realize we were coming up on the anniversary of their deaths, but I must have felt it subconsciously. I've been haunted by memories of Andrew recently and finally felt that it was time, urgently time, to finish this piece.

Visit my blog to read more about the Granite Mountain Hotshots and this image: http:--wp.me-p17spB-Hq

Models:
Katie Johnson - http:--www.facebook.com-KatieJohnsonActress
Bryce Rankins - http:--www.modelmayhem.com-3042499

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*Facebook: http:--www.facebook.com-artosthebear*Blog: http:--sarahallegra.wordpress.com-*Prints: http:--www.etsy.com-shop-SarahAllegraArtistry-*Red Bubble - a wide range of items to choose from! http:--www.redbubble.com-people-sarahallegra*Site: http:--www.sarahallegra.com
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