A fire breaking out on Cape Towns, Signal Hill, is not an unfamiliar sight to local residents. I happened to be in the right place at the right time when this fire engulfed a small grassy area on the side of the mountain. I grabbed my camera and wide angle lens and rushed in as close as I could get without putting myself in too much danger.
I was always amazed by the helicopters dumping giant buckets of water on the fire and I knew I had to get the shot. After enduring what seemed like forever in the thick smoke, with not much success, I was almost ready to give up. Its was just then when all the stars aligned.
Amongst all the smoke, confusion and worry about my personal safety - i pressed the shutter release button, instantly knowing that this was not just another photo. That 1/3000th of a second is now so perfectly frozen in time. It would be a great waste if I did not share the photo. =)
Disqualification Details
You must retain your original, unedited file (exactly as recorded by your camera), and provide it to the Site Council along with a list of your editing steps within 48 hours of any validation request. Files that have been saved or altered with any editing or transfer software are NOT originals.
Statistics
Views since voting: 1746 Views during voting: 340 Comments: 25 Favorites: 10 (view)
This is incredible! While I don't want to take anything away from the top 3 photos from this challenge, I don't understand why this didn't take the top spot. If there's anything I've learned from or about photography, it's that you have to be in the right place at the right time to get THAT defining moment, and you did exactly that with this image. You can be very proud that you managed to capture this photo. Walk tall and be very proud of this achievement.
I can see that you had the idea before you got the shot, and that the elements came into composition as you were poised to shoot it. Well done, and thanks for sharing. Good lens choice, and excellent timing.
This is a most excellent shot! A perfect example of being in the right place at the right time as well as having the professional skill to know what to do with it! Well done!
I keep coming back to your photo and decided I had to change my vote from the original 9 I gave. This is now my only 10 for the challenge!
It's beautifully captured and the B&W works very well. I gave you the exra point as I really appreciate photos that are captured well when not staged. Being at the right place at the right time is one thing but capturing the shot showing the drama with the right amount of subject as well as nailing the challenge shows real skill. I'll be disappointed if this doesn't get a ribbon. Good luck.
Wonderful shot. Nicely framed. The shadows of the rotor blades fall in a good position in the image. Lots of interesting detail but yet my attention always comes back to the "bird". Top 5.
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