Griffth Fire

Published! In JPG Magazine Issue 16

by Andrew Hara

Uploaded 31 Mar 2008 — 262 favorites

© Andrew Hara

The Griffth Fire was one of the many fires in Los Angeles during some incredibly dry months in Los Angeles.

When I was across the I-5 highway photographing the fire, I met this gentleman who was crying because he could hear some of the animals running and some screaming from across the highway. He said that this was a visual cue of armaggedon- this is what the world would look like if we did not start changing our perspectives on how we impact the world.

Some of the design and technical aspects of the photograph:

There were several helicopters struggling to control the fire, which are shown as the streaks in the sky. The two bursts at the ends of the streaks were the helicopters shining their spotlights directly at the camera at the time of the exposure. My silhouette was created by the sodium vapor lights along the Los Angeles River. Throughout the duration of the exposure, I attempted to stand still while I intermittently checked my metering to ensure that the foreground, background, and sky would expose properly.

65 responses

  • m s

    m s said (31 Mar 2008):

    You have my vote!

  • Warren ~Mangione~

    Warren ~Mangione~   gave props (31 Mar 2008):

    Holey Moley! Cosmic event! I am speechless. I love it! I won't even ask how you did this.

  • Adam Balkovic

    Adam Balkovic gave props (31 Mar 2008):

    Wow lots going on here.... insane!

  • Michael Wesley

    Michael Wesley gave props (31 Mar 2008):

    Wow, amazing!

  • Andrew Hara

    Andrew Hara said (31 Mar 2008):

    Hey guys! There are no tricks in this photograph, those are the real colors, the silhouette's color is from a flashlight that I gelled to balance the super warm temperature of the fire. Glad you guys like it!

  • Timothy Schenck

    Timothy Schenck gave props (31 Mar 2008):

    wow, amazing work. definite vote from me.

  • Jonas Lara

    Jonas Lara said (31 Mar 2008):

    these are one of my favorite shots of yours . . .

  • Kreddible Trout

    Kreddible Trout said (1 Apr 2008):

    the story about the man is heart wrenching. Even though I'm not religious & the whole Armageddon thing doesn't bother me, the thought of a man crying at the sound of panicked animals is a desperate enough image to make me agree. yes, Armageddon (in which ever sense) is not too far off unless we change our ways.

  • Andrew Hara

    Andrew Hara gave props (2 Apr 2008):

    Thank you for the comments, it was one of those really intense moments when the city came together, which is pratically unheard of in Los Angeles.

  • Neall Mercado

    Neall Mercado said (2 Apr 2008):

    I love the lights. Amazing photograph. You got my vote man.

  • Andrew Hara

    Andrew Hara gave props (3 Apr 2008):

    Thanks man! The lights were the helicopters attempting to douse the fire.

  • Andrew Darlow

    Andrew Darlow gave props (3 Apr 2008):

    Really amazing photo and story. That was a terrible event for many people and animals.

  • KRITZ ARTWORKS

    KRITZ ARTWORKS gave props (4 Apr 2008):

    Your works is amazing and original!!!!!

  • Ognjen Karabegović

    Ognjen Karabegović gave props (7 Apr 2008):

    Exelent!!!!

  • Natalie Franco

    Natalie Franco gave props (22 Apr 2008):

    I remember this. It was non stop sadness in LA !

  • Sherry Davis Johnson

    Sherry Davis Johnson gave props (22 Apr 2008):

    My heart skipped a beat when I saw this photo. I live in an area ravaged by fire in 1993. This is a magnificent stunning and capture that should be a part of our postcards that tourists collect. Brilliant.

  • Travis Lowry

    Travis Lowry gave props (23 Apr 2008):

    this is magnificent

  • Joseph Kennedy

    Joseph Kennedy gave props (25 Apr 2008):

    Awesome night shot!

  • Bhasker

    Bhasker gave props (30 Apr 2008):

    Gorgeous picture.... Perfect.

  • Jeff Stein

    Jeff Stein said (15 May 2008):

    Freaking incredible!!!

  • Ciro Carreño

    Ciro Carreño said (15 May 2008):

    amazing amazing amazing!

  • ! Slimeface

    ! Slimeface said (19 May 2008):

    Great work!

  • Christopher Smith

    Christopher Smith   gave props (27 May 2008):

    wow.

  • Dario Saltari

    Dario Saltari gave props (31 May 2008):

    This is a masterpiece...compliments! ;)

  • Chance

    Chance gave props (2 Jun 2008):

    great job! how long was the exposure?

  • Darren Pearson

    Darren Pearson gave props (2 Jun 2008):

    What an incredible shot.

  • Sierra Smith

    Sierra Smith said (3 Jun 2008):

    This photo is beautiful!
    I lived in Southern California, San Diego to be exact; and i just wanted to say that those wildfires have nothing to do with Global Warming- Southern California is naturally dry as it is a mediterranean desert. I just wanted to clear up this misconception, and again, awesome shot! This really is a qork of art! Keep it up!

  • Nicholas Pantages 

    Nicholas Pantages  gave props (5 Jun 2008):

    great idea.

  • jesse baker

    jesse baker gave props (9 Jun 2008):

    so sad, eye opening, amazing... what more can i say... i love it, and i love that you shared it with the world!

  • Arul Prakasam

    Arul Prakasam said (10 Jun 2008):

    What did you shoot this on Andrew?

  • Mohamed Salem Korayem

    Mohamed Salem Korayem gave props (12 Jun 2008):

    this is EYE CANDY...nice story i may add

  • Joseph Calvo

    Joseph Calvo gave props (16 Jun 2008):

    This is a crazy, awesome, amazing, superb and phantastical shot!!!

  • Mohammad Taheri

    Mohammad Taheri gave props (20 Jun 2008):

    amazing!!!!!!!!

  • siobhann bellinger

    siobhann bellinger gave props (26 Jun 2008):

    This is wild, frightening and beautiful.

  • Michael Goermann

    Michael Goermann gave props (26 Jun 2008):

    Very well done!

  • nick lo

    nick lo said (26 Jun 2008):

    incredible shot!

  • Nathan McNamara

    Nathan McNamara   said (30 Jun 2008):

    I really love the mans shadow, standing in aw almost.
    Great colors, glad this was published!

  • Dilip Yarabothu

    Dilip Yarabothu gave props (5 Jul 2008):

    probably the best photo on this site so far!

  • Meagan Miller

    Meagan Miller gave props (8 Jul 2008):

    The description you added makes this photo in my opinion. It's beautiful on its own, but with the background info, it's gorgeous.

  • Jacqueline Truong

    Jacqueline Truong gave props (10 Jul 2008):

    This was a crazy fire. There's actual a photographer who was showcasing his work in a gallery in LA a few months ago about the animal skeletons made during the fire. It's so sad what the animals have to go through. I love the shot though.

  • Dave Mangels

    Dave Mangels gave props (10 Jul 2008):

    great story behind the shot! beautiful colors keep up the great work!

  • Andrea Coan

    Andrea Coan gave props (14 Jul 2008):

    this is soo amazing~

  • Andrew Manley

    Andrew Manley gave props (19 Jul 2008):

    truly a magnificant shot. from the flames, to the exposure, to the shadow and not to mention the beams in the sky... well deserved.

  • Scott Baker

    Scott Baker said (20 Jul 2008):

    Awesome shot. I like your description of how you took the picture and explaination of some of the elements. Cool shot - sad story.

  • Jenifer Nagle

    Jenifer Nagle gave props (23 Jul 2008):

    Took my breath away! How long was the exposure?

  • Brian Howell

    Brian Howell gave props (27 Jul 2008):

    Great shot - I was in this area a few days after the fires, and saw all the burnt brush. This make it look out of control.

  • Kristina Kurtzke

    Kristina Kurtzke gave props (28 Jul 2008):

    Gorgeous and heartbreaking photo all at once!

  • Vidyavati Chandan

    Vidyavati Chandan said (30 Jul 2008):

    congrats!!!

  • Tansie Stephens

    Tansie Stephens gave props (4 Aug 2008):

    i am speechless

  • Simon Bramley

    Simon Bramley gave props (28 Aug 2008):

    impressive! - the whole process - thanks for explaining

  • Adam Makarenko

    Adam Makarenko said (31 Aug 2008):

    awesome

  • Mal Stewart

    Mal Stewart gave props (23 Oct 2008):

    Great work Andrew.

  • Kyle Santos

    Kyle Santos said (7 Nov 2008):

    Hey man, I saw this in the first issue of JPG I bought. . . when I saw your name attached to it I flipped. Nice work Andrew!

  • Steven Maguire

    Steven Maguire   gave props (15 Nov 2008):

    Great work!!! Beautifully captured!!!

  • Helen Kington

    Helen Kington gave props (22 Nov 2008):

    Amazing shot !!!

  • Eric M

    Eric M gave props (30 Nov 2008):

    Great photo!

  • j. mesina

    j. mesina said (30 Nov 2008):

    wicked.

  • Laura Boston-Thek

    Laura Boston-Thek gave props (1 Dec 2008):

    WOW this is incredible!

  • Brandon Pendred

    Brandon Pendred   said (12 Dec 2008):

    absolutely beautiful!!

  • DAMBRA Xavier

    DAMBRA Xavier said (20 Jan 2009):

    Absolutely incredible

  • Bob Douglas

    Bob Douglas   gave props (23 Jan 2009):

    Nothing more can be said excpet to add to the chorus this image rocks!

  • Bentzion Elisha

    Bentzion Elisha gave props (26 Jan 2009):

    wow

  • Alexandru Valentin Iedu

    Alexandru Valentin Iedu gave props (30 Jan 2009):

    REALLY GREAT CAPTURED ...

  • Becky Krawczyk

    Becky Krawczyk gave props (15 Sep 2009):

    Wow, great shot.

  • shawn mac

    shawn mac   gave props (13 Nov 2009):

    absolutely insane shot.

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