United We Stand
One of my favorite journalistic shots. I captured these firefighters trying to catch their breath after attempting to extinguish a massive house fire in Washin...
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One of my favorite journalistic shots. I captured these firefighters trying to catch their breath after attempting to extinguish a massive house fire in Washington Township, Michigan.
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Nov, 2015Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Impactful Images Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Romeo, Michigan (where I grew up). My friend's father is a captain at the local fire department and that's how I was informed of this huge house fire not long after it was dispatched. It's not often that we have fires where I live so I was quick to get to the scene.Time
This photo was taken in mid-December, late at night. The temperature was very low but with my adrenaline running I didn't even notice. There were no fire hydrants in this neighborhood so there were more than a dozen fire departments (with multiple stations per department) assisting with hauling water into the scene as fast as they could. There was easily close to 50 fire trucks. It was a very chaotic but organized scene.Lighting
This photo was taken at night and it's never an easy task catching action in the dark. Luckily for me there were many lights all around attempting to illuminate the scene for the firefighters. This particular photos doesn't have much movement in it but I was very surprised how well my basic Canon 50mm 1.8 captured this event. I've since upgraded and now have a small arsenal of fast lenses.Equipment
I used my old Canon T5i and the very affordable Canon 50mm 1.8 lens. This was a handheld shot (like 95% of my work). I normally don't have a chance to pull out the tripod and set it up. I always recommend to anyone who is starting to make sure they have a 50mm 1.8 in their bag. It's extremely affordable and is great for portraits and anything low light (at close range).Inspiration
I love capturing candid moments and the energy that goes along with it. Telling a story with a single frame is not an easy task but when you get that special shot it really makes all of the effort worth it. Ever since I picked up a camera, telling a story has been my main goal. I love pulling people into my photography. I've always been a story teller with my mouth so portraying a moment with a photo is a huge plus.Editing
There was not much post-processing done here. I adjusted the levels slightly and added a little overall clarity but this photo really came out clean directly from the camera.In my camera bag
I always carry my bag with me and inside includes the following. Canon 7D MarkII, Tamron 150-600mm, Canon 60mm Macro Prime, Canon 10-18mm Ultra Wide Angle, Canon 24mm prime, Canon 18-135mm, Yongnuo Speedlite 568EXii, Manfrotto tripod, Extension tubes, and much more gear and this is just in my bag. I also have a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone that I really need to get out and use more. I am looking forward to getting some cool aerial shots in the near future.Feedback
Take your time and work the scene. It's easy to get caught up in the moment when you are trying to capture a high energy scene like this but you have to take a deep breath and use all of the techniques you've learned. I know I had to take a second to catch myself here and slow down (mentally). I would've been pretty upset with myself if I got home and all of my photos were blurry or not exposed properly. Biggest piece of advice is to remember to always have fun!
