Long, hard, sad week in an Oregon wilderness fire lookout tower.

[DemoTex]

We were hit very badly Wednesday/Thursday and, then kind of unexpectedly, Friday by badass lightning. Over 3000 strikes, maybe a lot more. At least 100 fires, probably many more, in the Deschutes NF. And a beloved Sisters, OR, firefighter (58 years old) killed fighting a fire near Greenridge as a contract "faller". Falling a snag, I hear - a "widow-maker" as we call them.

The I/A (Initial Attack), smoke jumpers, and helo-rappeller crews have amazed me this week. The Central Oregon dispatchers have become hoarse working the max hours allowable. The helo and fixed wing pilots all deserve DFCs. We lookouts have been on dawn to deep-dark since Wednesday.

I have many photos to choose from, but I'm posting a happy one from tonight. I took this after my boss called and told me to go off duty "early" at 8:00 PM, and go on duty tomorrow at 8:00 AM PDT. A break before the forecast lightning hits again on Tuesday.

A little about this photo. The moiré patterns on the digital negative gave me a clue that the final color JPEG was going to be special. It was a simple shot: sunset through the blinds by the bed on the west side of the lookout, focusing on the detail of the blinds. The moiré patterns did not show in the finished image, but the natural colors were awesome (IMHO). I used a Canon 50mm f1.2 lens with a polarizing filter on a Canon 5D-MK2. The horizontal bamboo strips of the blinds acted as another polarizing filter, thus (physics majors check me on this) the moiré patterns in the digital negatives.

The saturation is natural, so you saturation purists - and you know who you are - please tune out.

[MADem]

1. THERE YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your saturation is without flaw, too, btw. Another work of sheer brilliance...

I know there are a few folks who were wondering where you had gotten yourself to...

Sorry you've had such sadness, but glad you are well.

[Suich]

2. Beautiful picture!

Good to hear from you, Mac! I read about the firefighter...very sad.

There has been a lot of lightning here, too...numerous fires in Eastern Washington.

Sounds like you'll have another busy week ahead of you...good luck!

[DemoTex]

6. Thanks

Oregon needs more smoke.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. It's a great shot, my dear DemoTex!

I am grieved to hear about the loss of the firefighter.......too young, way too young...

[DemoTex]

9. Thanks Dear Peggy!

Your advice reminded me that I always have two fresh batteries and a sim card in my other camera body. So I was ready tonight!

Mac

[KT2000]

4. Beautiful photo

Sorry about the loss of the firefighter - the dedication just amazes me.
A friend is a dispatcher for the US Forest Service. She was a firefighter for years before becoming a dispatcher. They have sent her to Missoula from Portland because I guess it is bad there too.
Stay safe.

[arely staircase]

5. as a fellow texan i am sorry i don't comment more on your threads

but i have been reading them and loving your photography for a couple of years now.

[DemoTex]

12. That's OK

Just enjoy and learn. I've been gone from Texas (Dallas) for nigh-on 10 years. You probably missed all the posts about me training my dog, Sirius, to poop in Dick Cheney's yard in Highland Park. Those were the days!

[HeiressofBickworth]

25. But, but, but

Didn't the Court rule that Cheney was a resident of Wyoming and THAT's why he could run as VP for the Texan Bush? The Pres and VP can't be from the same state. Or, did I get that wrong, too - Bush was from Connecticut. Anyway, thank you for training your dog to do what the rest of us weren't able to travel to TX to do.

And take care out there. You're a brave one for watching out for fires!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. Beautiful shot

Glad you're safe.

Stay well.

[DemoTex]

10. Thanks bud ..

How are the travels on the road? Stay safe.

[freshwest]

8. Sorry about all these fires and the man who died. Keep safe.

[TexasTowelie]

11. I'm (along with other DUers are) glad that you finally had a chance to check in.

It was terrible news about the loss of the other firefighter along with the destruction to property. However, the photo is fascinating. Please take care of yourself.

[burrowowl]

13. RIP fire fighter

Love the pic!

Can one download it, I would love it as wallpaper on my phone!

[DemoTex]

17. All my photos are for your enjoyment and use

All I ask is no commercial use, and any reproduction beyond personal use (screen saver, wall paper, FaceBook, etc) be credited to me (W.M. Tippins).

[RudynJack]

14. Sorry things

were so bad this week.

But that is one beautiful photo.

[pa28]

15. It's hot, dangerous, thankless work.

http://www.nuggetnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=21343

Very sad day.

[davidpdx]

16. I hope you enter the photo in the monthly contest

I'll vote for it.

I'm also from Oregon, grew up in the southern part and living abroad now. I've heard a little bit about the fires from family back home. The smoke down in the Medford area was pretty bad.

[DemoTex]

18. Yep, wind from the south ..

I've got the choking smoke from Medford and the Oregon SW tonight. Love the USFS DIV 6 term "Asbestos Forest," that refers to the Oregon forests west of the Cascades. Bull-Shit! Where do they think the Biscuit Fire (500,000 acres in 2002) was?

But I don't enter photo contests. I have gallery shows. That gives me more joy and less headaches. There are some real asshole critics at DU, which is why I don't post any more photos than I do. In 2009 and 2010 I was posting 10-20 photos a week to DU, plus quality blogs. There were a couple of jackasses who ALWAYS tore my photos down (not that I cared then). Now there is one, but he is virulent.

So here 'ya go! My greatest pic this year:



RIGHT CLICK => SAVE

[davidpdx]

19. OMG thanks

That is beautiful! When was it taken? This looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on exactly where. I often go from Medford over to E. Oregon through (or near) K. Falls and then up through Christmas Valley (no man's land) and then up through Burns then east. The last time I went that way we encountered cows on the road (which is common) and I got out of the car and started making loud "mooing" sounds. Needless to say the cows were not very happy.

[DemoTex]

20. I think I took this photo on 6/15/2013

I might have posted it here.

[pinboy3niner]

22. Yes--you posted it the next day

Last night's sunset over the Three Sisters
http://www.democraticunderground.com/103618633

[bearssoapbox]

21. WOW!!!

That took my breath away! Awesome!

So sorry about the firefighter. I can't imagine going into something like a forest fire.

You take care and stay safe.

[Hekate]

23. My. God. That is nothing short of stunning

Love the one in the OP as well. Always good to hear from you, DemoTex. I'm sorry for the bad stuff that's been happening and the loss of your colleague. Take care of yourself, be safe.

Hekate

[aquart]

26. I can't imagine criticizing your photos. I feel such gratitude when I see them.

[Lochloosa]

32. Right Click = Set As Background

Thanks

[Skittles]

24. glad to hear from you and so sorry about the Sisters hero

[Scuba]

27. Stay safe, and thanks for your work DemoTex.

[spanone]

28. k&r..

[CrispyQ]

29. My sympathy on the loss of your friend.

The photo is beautiful. I always enjoy your posts & photos.

[cascadiance]

30. Indeed a sad day for those firefighters, and ironically also for a snowboarder buried alive...

... that as we speak this morning on Sunday they are trying to dig up ice and snow in Oregon's Mount Hood area to see if they can find him and are hoping that he might be still alive after he got buried alive snow boarding yesterday...

http://www.katu.com/news/local/snowboarder-buried-mount-hood-218281261.html

Oh the climate and weather changes are affecting us all here now too in many and a variety of dark ways this week.

[DonRedwood]

31. Thank you from those Oregon Trees!

I appreciate that you all are there for the forest.