JPG Magazine: Photos: "Smokey sunset" by Matthew Bennion

Smokey sunset

By Matthew Bennion

On 13 November 2006

Favorited 67 Times

This photo is hot! Share it!

October 29th, 2006 (my 30th birthday)

A wildfire near Los Angeles starts on October 26th, at approximately 1 AM. Believed to be started by an arsonist, this small brush fire quickly becomes a fire storm, common to Southern California. Santa Ana winds (fast winds blowing in from East to West, coming from dry deserts) make this wildfire spread incredibly quickly, and create very dangerous conditions. The wildfire blackened an area nearly three times the size of Manhattan, killed four firefighters and critically burned a fifth.

This area has been hit by 2 other major fire storms - one in October of 2003 and another in October of 2007, both of which were also started by people, some on purpose, some on accident. September, October and November are dangerous months for fire storms in Southern California.

This photo was taken 60 miles South of the fire, in San Diego, California. The smoke, heavy in the air, creates amazing sunsets.

13 Responses

On 21 February 2008 Stuart Robertson said:
Great Shot! Great Caption!
The image gives me chills as I remember how smoky, ashy and orange everything was for those few days in Oct 2007. I live in Rancho Bernardo, one of the worst hit communities of those fires, nearly lost my house and know many people that did. This shot is where my neighbors house was... http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/319813
On 21 February 2008 Daniel Kieft gave props:
Wonderful light..
On 22 February 2008 Jennie said:
Beautiful. I love this!
On 22 February 2008 Luke Gaffney gave props:
It looks like a scene from Mars.
On 24 February 2008 Jan Hoffman gave props:
Excellent and perfect for the theme' good back-story
On 25 February 2008 Jason Seda gave props:
wow, Yeah!
On 27 February 2008 Adrian Rodriguez gave props:
Awesome........You have my Vote
On 28 February 2008 Anthony Neste gave props:
nice ...another yep
On 7 March 2008 Michelle M gave props:
Excellent shot! Gets my vote!
On 10 March 2008 Jeff Jordan said:
Nice.
On 16 March 2008 melanie scott gave props:
haunting...
On 26 March 2008 Katie Bushueff gave props:
This is incredible...
On 31 March 2008 Matthew Tauzer gave props:
lovely colors.