Arson Fire

[Lucky]

Albany, NY has had several arson fires over the past 3 weeks. Here are a few pictures of one of them.

http://lew.smugmug.com/photos/22246453-M.jpg

http://lew.smugmug.com/photos/22246459-M.jpg

http://lew.smugmug.com/photos/22246449-M.jpg

http://lew.smugmug.com/photos/22246460-M.jpg

[ChP]

no pics

[Lucky]

How about now?

[Vetteography]

As sick as it sounds, I have been hoping to catch a local fire. What can I say, I am a shutter junkie!

[Lucky]

Well I don't know if I should say I lucked out or not. The other day I was driving in the city when I heard the sirens. I looked up and saw the smoke so I followed it. I have some more pictures on smugmug.

[ChP]

How do people react to you having a camera there?

[skyphix]

Funny that you post these as I work in Troy and my girlfriend works nearly across the street from those fires (on the 100 block on Central Ave is where she works)

I wanted to take photos of the HUGE fire we had here in Troy at the recieving station, but alas, couldnt get close enough (fire was too big - shut down a major road way)

[Lucky]

ChP,

Funny you should ask. Walking around with a 20D with a white lens or a 17-40mm F4L and looking like you know what you are doing gets you places other people can't go. This is the second fire I took pictures of within 24 hrs. A Pro photographer I ran into at the first fire also with a 20D, asked me who I was shooting for. When I said I was shooting for myself he gave me a strange look. I saw him again at this fire and he introduced himself and we shook hands. Even the local news reporters and videographers were chatting me up. Access wasn't very restricted. Yellow Police tape was put up a couple houses away but I could still get good pictures. There was an alley behind this house which made shooting that much easier. At one point I was in the yard right next door taking pictures within full view of the Police with no problem. Hopefully they catch the arsonist before someone gets killed.

skyphix,

Yea, that was some fire over in Troy. Too bad you couldn't get closer.

[RAitch]

You know, they say the people starting the fires hang around and admire their work... be careful not to get suspicious!!! ;)

[Medic1]

interesting pics...thanks for sharing

[Keiffer]

As sick as it sounds, I have been hoping to catch a local fire. What can I say, I am a shutter junkie!
We all know you are "sick" LOL nah funny thing you say that because I too have been thinking the same thing LOL

[ChP]

I am surprised (and glad) pro photographers were okay with your presence. Has anyone had similar experiences, and if you are put in a position to identify who your shooting for what do you say? I understand saying you are shooting personally worked in this instance, but do you think it will always work like that?

I am asking because I have never done this sort of photography, and am curious to hear others experiences.

[sixshot]

Looks to be a good place to meet some pros...

[DwightMcCann]

ChP, my experience with Pros is that they are very understanding, friendly and helpful. When I shot my first boxing match at the casino for the casino we were not sure what would be allowed as the match "belonged" to ShowTime. There was one reserved seat at ringside for Tom Casino (no relation), ShowTime Photographer. When he arrived I introduced myself. He asked who I was shooting for and I explained. He made me sit in a chair next to his with elbows on the mat and chatted me up between rounds. He convinced me to switch to Canon from Nikon/Fuji as he shoots with a Canon 1D Mark II. Saw him at the next boxing match at the casino ... found out he didn't know about the firmware upgrades, so I had some info to trade him in return for sharing his boxing expertise. So, while I guess I am technically a Pro myself, I think you will find them very helpful. The police ... well, I think they allow what they think is safe unless you have official credentials. I shoot as a stringer for a local paper, but without printed photo ID I don't get any special access.

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChumashCollages/ShoBox-04222005-Collage-1000.jpg

[Titus213]

Nice pictures of a real dangerous mess. You shoot what you can get at and it looks like you got pretty close. Looks like an older neighborhood and the first picture shows what looks like a commercial trash unit. Was the property being renovated? Looks like the owner might have found a faster way to deal with it...

[redbutt]

How do people react to you having a camera there?

I've found in situations where I'm shooting, and there is a pro there, I just say I'm freelance if they ask. If you have the "right gear", and look like you know what you are doing, not many people will question you, but as Lucky said, the pros will chat you up sometimes. Take advantage of it. If you are polite and not behaving like a jerk, chances are you'll get some good shots as well as some good tips from the pros.

[Lucky]

Titus213,

At one point I was able to get in the backyard right next door. Most other times I was at or just inside the yellow Police tape. Didn't want to push my luck too far. This is an old house, probably 60-70 years old. Wood frame with a crawl space between the upper floor and the roof. That made it difficult to put out the fire. In the picture of the back of the house you can see the fire is pretty much out on the first and second floor. The crawl space is still burning though. Although this house was vacant the Large dumpster was actually in front of the house next door and not used for the house on fire.