General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLong, hard, sad week in an Oregon wilderness fire lookout tower.
We were hit very badly Wednesday/Thursday and, then kind of unexpectedly, Friday by badass lightning. Over 3000 strikes, maybe a lot more. At least 100 fires, probably many more, in the Deschutes NF. And a beloved Sisters, OR, firefighter (58 years old) killed fighting a fire near Greenridge as a contract "faller". Falling a snag, I hear - a "widow-maker" as we call them.
The I/A (Initial Attack), smoke jumpers, and helo-rappeller crews have amazed me this week. The Central Oregon dispatchers have become hoarse working the max hours allowable. The helo and fixed wing pilots all deserve DFCs. We lookouts have been on dawn to deep-dark since Wednesday.
I have many photos to choose from, but I'm posting a happy one from tonight. I took this after my boss called and told me to go off duty "early" at 8:00 PM, and go on duty tomorrow at 8:00 AM PDT. A break before the forecast lightning hits again on Tuesday.
A little about this photo. The moiré patterns on the digital negative gave me a clue that the final color JPEG was going to be special. It was a simple shot: sunset through the blinds by the bed on the west side of the lookout, focusing on the detail of the blinds. The moiré patterns did not show in the finished image, but the natural colors were awesome (IMHO). I used a Canon 50mm f1.2 lens with a polarizing filter on a Canon 5D-MK2. The horizontal bamboo strips of the blinds acted as another polarizing filter, thus (physics majors check me on this) the moiré patterns in the digital negatives.
The saturation is natural, so you saturation purists - and you know who you are - please tune out.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Your saturation is without flaw, too, btw. Another work of sheer brilliance...
I know there are a few folks who were wondering where you had gotten yourself to...
Sorry you've had such sadness, but glad you are well.
Suich
(10,642 posts)Good to hear from you, Mac! I read about the firefighter...very sad.
There has been a lot of lightning here, too...numerous fires in Eastern Washington.
Sounds like you'll have another busy week ahead of you...good luck!
Oregon needs more smoke.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,514 posts)I am grieved to hear about the loss of the firefighter.......too young, way too young...
DemoTex
(25,389 posts)Your advice reminded me that I always have two fresh batteries and a sim card in my other camera body. So I was ready tonight!
Mac
KT2000
(20,567 posts)Sorry about the loss of the firefighter - the dedication just amazes me.
A friend is a dispatcher for the US Forest Service. She was a firefighter for years before becoming a dispatcher. They have sent her to Missoula from Portland because I guess it is bad there too.
Stay safe.
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)but i have been reading them and loving your photography for a couple of years now.
DemoTex
(25,389 posts)Just enjoy and learn. I've been gone from Texas (Dallas) for nigh-on 10 years. You probably missed all the posts about me training my dog, Sirius, to poop in Dick Cheney's yard in Highland Park. Those were the days!
HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)Didn't the Court rule that Cheney was a resident of Wyoming and THAT's why he could run as VP for the Texan Bush? The Pres and VP can't be from the same state. Or, did I get that wrong, too - Bush was from Connecticut. Anyway, thank you for training your dog to do what the rest of us weren't able to travel to TX to do.
And take care out there. You're a brave one for watching out for fires!!!
A HERETIC I AM
(24,360 posts)Glad you're safe.
Stay well.
DemoTex
(25,389 posts)How are the travels on the road? Stay safe.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)TexasTowelie
(111,894 posts)It was terrible news about the loss of the other firefighter along with the destruction to property. However, the photo is fascinating. Please take care of yourself.
burrowowl
(17,632 posts)Love the pic!
Can one download it, I would love it as wallpaper on my phone!
DemoTex
(25,389 posts)All I ask is no commercial use, and any reproduction beyond personal use (screen saver, wall paper, FaceBook, etc) be credited to me (W.M. Tippins).
RudynJack
(1,044 posts)were so bad this week.
But that is one beautiful photo.
pa28
(6,145 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I'll vote for it.
I'm also from Oregon, grew up in the southern part and living abroad now. I've heard a little bit about the fires from family back home. The smoke down in the Medford area was pretty bad.
DemoTex
(25,389 posts)I've got the choking smoke from Medford and the Oregon SW tonight. Love the USFS DIV 6 term "Asbestos Forest," that refers to the Oregon forests west of the Cascades. Bull-Shit! Where do they think the Biscuit Fire (500,000 acres in 2002) was?
But I don't enter photo contests. I have gallery shows. That gives me more joy and less headaches. There are some real asshole critics at DU, which is why I don't post any more photos than I do. In 2009 and 2010 I was posting 10-20 photos a week to DU, plus quality blogs. There were a couple of jackasses who ALWAYS tore my photos down (not that I cared then). Now there is one, but he is virulent.
So here 'ya go! My greatest pic this year:
RIGHT CLICK => SAVE
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)That is beautiful! When was it taken? This looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on exactly where. I often go from Medford over to E. Oregon through (or near) K. Falls and then up through Christmas Valley (no man's land) and then up through Burns then east. The last time I went that way we encountered cows on the road (which is common) and I got out of the car and started making loud "mooing" sounds. Needless to say the cows were not very happy.
DemoTex
(25,389 posts)I might have posted it here.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/103618633
bearssoapbox
(1,408 posts)That took my breath away! Awesome!
So sorry about the firefighter. I can't imagine going into something like a forest fire.
You take care and stay safe.
Hekate
(90,526 posts)Love the one in the OP as well. Always good to hear from you, DemoTex. I'm sorry for the bad stuff that's been happening and the loss of your colleague. Take care of yourself, be safe.
Hekate
aquart
(69,014 posts)Lochloosa
(16,057 posts)Thanks
Skittles
(153,104 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)spanone
(135,777 posts)CrispyQ
(36,413 posts)The photo is beautiful. I always enjoy your posts & photos.
cascadiance
(19,537 posts)... that as we speak this morning on Sunday they are trying to dig up ice and snow in Oregon's Mount Hood area to see if they can find him and are hoping that he might be still alive after he got buried alive snow boarding yesterday...
http://www.katu.com/news/local/snowboarder-buried-mount-hood-218281261.html
Oh the climate and weather changes are affecting us all here now too in many and a variety of dark ways this week.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)I appreciate that you all are there for the forest.