The Making of February’s Photograph of the Month: “Cover.”
Fire photography is always a tricky business. One way or another, wildland fires can find ways to make your life miserable. Smoke inhalation has probably been the most significant hazard for me over the years, and I’ve learned to take it seriously. We’re just beginning to discover how dangerous some of the toxic chemicals within the smoke really are. On the other hand, smoke can be extremely photogenic. This shot was captured with a normal focal length lens on a digital SLR camera with no tripod and no filters. In fact, this image is straight from the camera with no post processing; I couldn’t imagine a way to “improve” it, so I left it alone. Ironically, I was scheduled to give a lecture on wildland fire hazards this afternoon, so I only managed around a hundred shots before I had to leave. In the top center of the photograph you would usually see the Denver skyline. As such, “Cover” seemed an appropriate title.
Cold thoughts for a warm day.
I’m looking out my window at a line of cumulus clouds developing over Denver. Tall cumulus clouds. You know, the kind you look at and think, hmmm… I wonder if that’s going to become a thunderstorm. It’s a beautiful sight this time of the year, as many of us long for the high-sun days of spring, filled with turbulence and rain and wind and whatever else the atmosphere is in the mood for. But this is the middle of January, and such things shouldn’t be here now. Not at 40 degrees latitude and over 5000 feet above sea level. I should be looking through frost-covered windows. At a frozen lake. Surrounded by snow-covered pines. Despite a few snowstorms, this is turning into the winter that never really was. We’ve seen many days like today, when the proverbial mercury has made its way above 60 degrees, and it just doesn’t feel right. I’m not ready to start thinking about twisting clouds, crackling thunder, and fist-sized chunks of falling ice just yet. I still want to shiver a little as I walk out onto the trail, still want to get a little lost in the snow, still want to need that cup of hot tea. Speaking of…
Squall line thunderstorms photograph added to the “B-sides” gallery.
