EPJ - 2nd HM

Outstanding image Thomas! When I first looked at the thumbnail image I thought the foreground was some grass, not very tall trees! That little bit of color in the smoke is quite nice as well.

Very striking image - I like the subtle colours, but wonder what a bit more orange sat would do.
Sandy

Hi Thomas, this tells a story without the viewer's required attendance! (thankfully...) At first the foreground looked like grasses...then ...opps...they are spindled fire ravaged spruce.. that realization made this photo for me... by putting a size reference to the scene. Eerriiee... looking like a bull charging. Nice capture. Will you continue w/shot crew for another season? So-called sequestration is hitting every seasonal and contracted job with a sledge-hammer. Best wishes to you!!

Intense shot Thomas. The little Black Spruce add the right amount of scale. Interior fires can be wild!

Thanks Ken, No I won't be back on the shot crew this year because I got a job with the Grangeville Smokejumpers. I was worried that they might retract the offer because of the sequester, but it seems like it'll be ok.

Wow, Thomas, that is amazing. I'm glad you survived to tell the story and share the image! There's no color other than the orange from the fire -- very effective.

I like the contrast between the lines of the various plant remains in the foreground and what has gone up in smoke from their cohorts in the background, from which I take it you got your title; viz., the destruction of the foliage by fire. So that, for example, if it were a bunch of people in the foreground, some knocked over, with a mushroom cloud in the background, then the "apocalypse" concept would suddenly become more evident.

Anyway, that's my interpretation; sort of an apocalypse for these plants which we can make, potentially, into a visual metaphor for mankind as well. If that is the case to any extent, consciously or unconsciously, then I think the general darkness of the image is definitely in order, as is the muted color of the fire. Because this is not about something to be celebrated in any way, including visually; this is about something tragic. And we don't parade bright colors at funerals.

Congrats Thomas on the smokejumper selection. That is an elite group. Stay well... Oh...but stories...we want stories with those photos. And after you get your 300 jump pin in x yrs....have your exit strategy in place.

This is truly an awesome shot! I would leave the color as is...yikes, I prefer to see the image than to be there!

Wow.

Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Congratulations.

Love the way you have placed small grass at the bottom against the mountain of smoke.

Holy cow!! That is an awesome shot! Reminds me of the volcanic explosion of Mt. St. Helens because it is so hard to imagine the scale of that plume. How it makes a full grown forest of mature Spruce trees look like a few little burnt toothpicks.

Thank you so much for what you are doing, Thomas! Another vote for awesome.

Hey, Congrats on the selection for HM honors. Well deserved!

Ken S

Incredible - the trees give it a needed perspective.
Congrats on the 2013 EP!

Sandy