Taming the Beast II
May, 2016Views
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karinmcfarlane
October 25, 2016
Great photo, captures the dangers of the job. I come from a family of Firefighters... Hubby is a Retired Firefighter & my son is a Firefighter...
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken during a training session or Hot Drill taken at Station 33 in Modderfontein, Johannesburg South Africa. These Drills are an essential part of Firefighter Training, giving candidates essential experience in a controlled environment.Time
This was early afternoon.Lighting
Working with Fire (and Smoke) can be challenging at the best of times for a photographer. The constant changes in lighting as the flames dance and the smoke billows make getting the right exposure difficult, but the old adage of "F8 & Be There" works well for this kind of action.Equipment
I rarely use a Flash or Speedlight when working with Emergency personnel- they have so much reflective material on their bunker gear & uniforms it's just not practical. The Canon 5D Mark III handles low light situations extremely well, but actually the light from the flames is more than enough to enable me to work at lower ISO's. As for lenses, I'll generally use Canons 16-35mm II f/2.8 or the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 depending on the shot I'm going for.Inspiration
I had climbed the tower to get a different perspective of the exercise, and as this team advanced on the fire a break in the smoke let the sunlight fall directly on the team- it was a no-brainer!Editing
I only use LightRoom for post, and in most cases I'll adjust the contrast & clarity sliders slightly. I may also drop the highlights if the Flames start to get a bit blown-out. LightRoom rocks!In my camera bag
It really depends on the shoot. If I'm limited in what I can carry (sometimes mission dependant, sometimes just because I'm on my motorcycle) I'll take a small pack with the Canon 5d Mk III with the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6. If I'm shooting aviation or motorsport, I'll still use the 5D, but also a 7D mk II with the 100-400mm II. In my main bag I keep plenty of memory, cleaning kit, spare batteries....and SUNCREAM! I also keep a military spec knee pad attached to my pack....my knees aren't what they used to be!Feedback
Many Fire Departments will welcome photographers to a drill- but always get permission from the Chief first, and make sure you stick to the safety rules. Sharing your work with the Firefighters will ensure you're always welcome at the next one. Although the Drills are controlled, there is an element of danger, and the heat is real. Don't forget to look for reflections in the pools of water on the Hot Zone (Training area), and even when the fire is extinguished, the steam can result in some pretty dramatic images. Oh- and if you're not already doing so- shoot in RAW!
