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01/11/2006 08:55:14 AM · #1 |
...the continuing (if sporadic) chronicles of my freelancing...
last weekend, i covered SEVEN basketball games; 3 were high school, 4 were college. by monday evening, between the squinting to shoot and the post-processing, i could barely see straight. i was really looking forward to taking a break...
then, yesterday morning, the phone rings, and it's the photo director of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, wanting to know what i was working on at the moment. without hesitation, i asked, "what do you need me to do?" he told me there was a fire at a house down on southside. i told him i was on it, but it would take me 20 minutes to get there (even though that meant i would be driving like i was going to a fire.).
so, i grabbed my bag and ran out the door. when you think about it, 20 minutes can be either a blink, or an eternity; it's really a matter of what you do with it. i spent the 20 minute drive thinking about just how God-awful a fire would be, wondering about what i would find, and planning on what to shoot. i wanted to be ready for anything.
i also took a moment to check my basic settings. as it was a sunny day, i decided to go with iso400. i knew that would cover me with whatever lens i happened to be shooting with. i switched to av mode and set the f-stop at 2.8. i then switched to tv mode and set the shutter to 1/125. lastly, i switched to manual mode, and set the shutter to 1/500 and the f-stop to 7.1. i already had my 70-200 mounted, so i was basically ready.
as it turned out, it wasn't a house--it was an apartment building. the fire was out (it had actually already been put out by the time i got the call) and at this point, the FD was soaking the hotspots and starting their investigation into the cause. since it was 11am, there seemed to be more fire and rescue personnel there than residents. i quickly found out that no one was seriously injured. a couple people were taken in for smoke inhalation, but fortunately, that was it.
when i saw the yellow tape up all across the front entrance to the courtyard in front of the building that had burned, i decided to go around to the backside to see if there was a better view. there was another building that was perpendicular to the burned building, and there was a woman out on her balcony...so, i told her i was from the paper, and asked if she would let me in. my original thought was to get some shots from her back balcony, but, instead, she lead me right through to the back door of her building which opened up right in front of where the fire was!
ok, let me say right now, DO NOT CROSS A POLICE OR FIRE LINE!!!
i walked out the door, got a few shots, realized i was where i shouldn't be, and got the hell out of there!
i went back around to the front, and shot some from across the tape. while there, i saw a guy from a tv station talking to a FD person. turns out, he was the public information officer for the city FD. i introduced myself, and he told me if i needed any information, just to let him know. this was good.
from there, i decided to go around the building in another direction, just to see what i could find. i found another tape line, and started to shoot from there. and, while there, the officer i had just met came up and asked if i would like to get closer! yes!!! he lead me right to the back side of the building, and that was where i got the shot that made the paper.
some notes...
* again, DO NOT CROSS A POLICE OR FIRE LINE!!!
* go where you want behind the line, but do not cross without an escort
* try to find an official you can talk to without interrupting their work
* if you are going to shoot victims, be discreet and empathetic
* DO NOT ARGUE WITH A POLICE OR FIRE MAN ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO!!! if you do your job professionally and carry yourself professionally and respect them for doing their jobs, everyone will get along just fine. on the other hand, if you act like an ass, you will be treated as one.
* if you are escorted by someone, stay with your escort and do not wander off. just because you are lead behind the tape does not mean you are free to wander wherever you want to go.
cheers,
skip
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01/11/2006 09:33:16 AM · #2 |
| yowzah. great story. great shot too. |
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01/11/2006 09:37:55 AM · #3 |
| I love these insights Skip it helps with more information than you'd know... |
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01/11/2006 09:40:18 AM · #4 |
| Great story, great tips, great photo. You 'da man, Skip! Keep 'em coming! |
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01/11/2006 10:10:59 AM · #5 |
Very nice. I have one added bonus for me...I'm *ON* the local fire department and when available am the photographer for them. One thing you might want to consider (depending on how much free time you have) is spend some time at the fire house and get to know the firefighters (especially the officers). That way when you get to a scene they know you and are more than willing to let you cross "The Line."
I remember the first fire I was shooting. I was standing there in jeans and a t-shirt and they waved me over and I went INSIDE the building while it was still on fire (it was actually a training fire). I learned one thing that time. It's not easy to take pictures in a smoke filled burning house unless there is good ventilation.
Oh yeah, now that I've gotten off your kudos post I'll come back. GREAT JOB SKIP!!!! |
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01/11/2006 10:30:59 AM · #6 |
| Thats awesome!!! Never thought about all the tips you gave!!! Thanks for that! |
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01/11/2006 11:06:22 AM · #7 |
I always look for your posts and love hearing your about your latest adventures! You're my hero! :)
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01/11/2006 03:26:22 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by colyla:
I always look for your posts and love hearing your about your latest adventures! You're my hero! :) |
lol, you crack me up!
Message edited by author 2006-01-15 07:31:20. |
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