Call 911! There's A Fire!

The above photo is using a semi-sepia filter while the image below was captured by utilizing the morning sun which naturally saturated the rust color and the blue sky.

Where do "firemen", and later the use of fire trucks appear in history? When a courageous band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors-FIRE. As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths. Thus, these men became our first firemen and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each hero a badge of honor - a cross similar to the one firemen wear today. As technology progressed and fires became more numerous (not just during war) fire vehicles (trucks) became the mode to which fires were fought. Here is an "old" firetruck found decaying in a field on Rt. 29 North. I really enjoyed this "shoot". I really like what I was able to do by using different tools available to me as a photographer- lens flare (again, done purposely for affect), black and white, sepia and cropping.

I worked hard to take the above photo. It was difficult to use the blinding sun in a productive manner, rather than having it wash-out the picture. Below, black and white, taken during a passing cloud which filtered the sun, is my favorite. I've seen too many Stephen King movies but I get a "Christine" feel to the image. (If you saw the movie you may understand my feeling).