2008 Telegraph Fire Near Yosemite National Park

Recently, I became a volunteer for Cal Fire.  With my friend Wes Schultz, I will be photographing wildland fires this season.  The last big wildland fire I photographed was the Telegraph Fire in 2008.  Lucky for me there wasn’t much hiking involved because both of my knees were bone on bone.  In May 2009, I had bilateral total knee replacements, so I am ready to go again.

Friday, July 25, 2008, some guys were target shooting and their bullets hit rocks that sparked a fire.  The Telegraph Fire started at 3:15 p.m. near Telegraph and Sherlock roads in the Midpines area.  By 7:00 p.m. that night, my neighbors and I were photographing the first big flames ripping up Telegraph Hill.  I spent seven days photographing the fire working for Getty, Polaris and Associated Press.  I posted most of my images to Photoshelter.  Here are some of the images that tell the story.

July 30, 2008

A Cal Fire bomber drops retardant on Division L at the leading edge of the fire. Division L was threatening Greeley Hill.

July 28, 2008

Horses on Jenkins Ranch off Bull Creek Road are oblivious to a smoke plume from a blow up at Branch Three of the fire.  This part of the fire is on the north side of the Merced River and is heading toward the community of Greeley Hill.

July 28, 2008

Helicopter drops water on a spot fire off Bull Creek Road.

July 26, 2008

On the second day of the fire, a DC-10 tanker drops retardant on Mt. Bullion ridge to protect cell phone towers.  I photographed this image from Highway 49 between Mt. Bullion and Bear Valley.

July 28, 2008

Branch Two of the fire throws a plume of smoke and ash into the sky over the Merced River Canyon near sundown.

July 29, 2008

Guide plane leads retardant bomber on Division M in an attempt to slow down the progression of the fire up Halls Gulch toward the Greeley Hill community.

July 30, 2008

Day begins as a California Department of Corrections fire crew heads out to cut fire line on Division L.

July 28, 2008

Fire rips up a hill in part of Division M on Branch Three.  This part of the fire is on the north side of the Merced River and was heading toward the community of Greeley Hill.

July 30, 2008

Erickson Sky Crane drops water on the leading edge of the Telegraph Fire.

July 30, 2008

Captain Roy Johns of the Union City, California Fire Department watches burn-out on Division N.  When the fire gets too hot, he will have his firefighters use hoses to cool down the fire. Division N was in the northeast portion of the fire in the Stanislaus National Forest.

July 30, 2008

Kern County Hot Shot fire crew returns after a shift of cutting fire line on Division L.

July 30, 2008

Union City firefighters use hose on trees at Division N to cool down fire during burn-out.

July 29, 2008

A Kern County fire truck moves along the firebreak as things heat up in Division M of Branch Three.  In the background, a fire blows up near Halls Gulch and Bull Creek Road.

San Bernardino firefighter takes a moment to get information at Division L on the leading edge of the fire.

July 26, 2008

Standing on Highway 49 between Mt. Bullion and Bear Valley, I use my 10mm lens to capture smoke rising over Mount Bullion and Fremont Ridge.

July 29, 2008

Cal Fire firefighters watch blow-up at Division M of Branch Three as the fire bumps over the line.

July 31, 2008

Bomber drops retardant to pre-treat a hot spot near Bull Creek Road on Division M.

July 30, 2008

California Department of Corrections fire crew takes lunch after cutting fire line on Division L.

 

 

49ers 2010-11 Season

In 1982 I became the Chief Photographer at The Modesto Bee and took on the extra job of covering the 49er games.  The sports department told me the Niners weren’t very good but obliged me by helping me get credentials.  Who knew that Bill Walsh and Joe Montana would take the team to the Superbowl that very year. It was a heck of a ride and I am still photographing games.  Two years ago in late May I had both of my knees replaced.  I didn’t miss any games, but it wasn’t easy getting back to kneeling at Candlestick Park.  This past year, at 6-10 the 49ers were even shakier than my knees.  If you would like to see the rest of my 49er images click here.

August 28, 2010 San Francisco 49ers quarterback David Carr (#5) gets caught by Oakland Raiders defensive tackle William Joseph (#94).

December 12, 2010 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan (#84) stiff-arms Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux (#27).

August 22, 2010 San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (#52) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (#4).

September 20, 2010 San Francisco 49ers running back Anthony Dixon (#24) celebrates making a touchdown.

December 12, 2010 San Francisco 49ers linebacker Travis LaBoy (#54) strips the ball from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (#8).

September 02, 2010 San Francisco 49ers linebacker Matt Wilhelm (#57) sacks San Diego Chargers quarterback Billy Volek (#7).

September 20, 2010 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan (#84) attempts to break away from New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter (#22).

August 22, 2010 49er and Viking fans team up to cheer.

November 21, 2010 San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements (#22) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (#5).

 

 

California National Guard training with Cal Fire

April 16, 2011: Recently I became a Cal Fire Volunteer and was fortunate to be invited to photograph a joint Cal Fire, Army, and Air Guard training at the Cal Fire Academy near Ione, California. I want to give a big thanks to Wes Schultz, a photographer, retired firefighter, and fellow Cal Fire Volunteer, for helping to make this opportunity possible. The training centered around Guard helicopters practicing water drops for the upcoming fire season under Cal Fire direction. The most exciting part of the day for me was my first flight in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. I got to ride in the gunner’s seat on the right side. Wow, what fun! First, we chased a CH-47 Chinook around. The following image is of the Chinook making a drop with Lake Pardee in the background. If you would like to see more photographs just click here to go to my Photoshelter gallery.

Being able to hover near this UH-60 Black Hawk while they dip the bucket in the lake made an interesting image.  The wave effect and the rainbow were cool.  During the fire season you just don’t get this close.  Safety comes first during active missions so even if you have a helicopter you need to steer clear of the drop zone.

While we were hovering to make our images, I photographed this army sergeant watching the activities.  He was sitting in the big seat in the back so Wes and I could use the gunner’s seat to photograph from.

I’m also excitedly awaiting the next issue of Grizzly News Magazine, a monthly publication of the California National Guard, which will publish some of these images.  I’ll be sure to share the final product as soon as it comes out.

Hey Ma, I’m blogging!

Here I am circa 1968

It’s been over a year since I created a blog, and I’ve yet to get it started.  So, all excuses aside, I’m going to just jump right in and get going.  I want this blog to be a place where I can share current and old work as well as serve as a resource for anyone interested in photography.  At the age of 68, I feel there is so much more for me to learn, and I would like to share all of the things I’ve learned over the years.  Having been a manager of photographers and other creative people, I have always enjoyed fostering a photographic community where everybody learns from and shares with one another.

Since I’m still learning the ropes on this whole blogging thing, I’d love to receive feedback on where to take this blog.  OK, back to scanning and imaging.

Check back tomorrow for my first real post with images!