my volunteer job

Artist: Christopher Ewing
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my volunteer job

last night (or tonite? havent been to bed yet) wednesday night!
our volunteer fire dept got a call about a old restaurant here in townsend (old landmark) had smoke coming out of it, the restaurant had been closed for years, and even tho a tubing company had taken it over (which has been closed for two years now), the locals still refer to it as the old restaurant
just as we got there, we could see the fire, and of course started doing our thing…putting it out
within 3-5 minutes the house was completely engulfed in flames, my first mission (believe it or not) was to put fire out, and of course thinking the whole time..man i need to get shots of this!! (yes, im addicted to photography), but as we had some backup come in, and it was my time to take a break…straight for the camera i went
and grabbed over a 100shots, going around the building
we were there getting this completely out to where it was safe to leave until 1am.
talk about a total rush, meanwhile feeling a sadness as a townsend landmark is now rubble

this shot was published in the Knox News Sentinal on Jan. 25,2008 :) , Knoxville Tn’s largest newspaper.

Helen Bascom KMA, 5 months ago

So sorry about the fire. I’m glad no one was hurt. It is a fantastic photo though.
Linda Syms, 5 months ago

I hope no one was hurt Chris but what a capture.
Christopher E... in reply to Helen Bascom KMA’s comment, 5 months ago

thanks helen i think its my fav out of all i shot..something about it..i just like :)
Jayne Wozniak, 5 months ago

Well done mate..You fella’s amaze me..I know first hand what it’s like to go thru fires and have seen first hand what fire fighters are all about…....Great photo …great job….Have a good rest…best wishes Jayne and family
Anne van Alkemade, 5 months ago

Oh, that’s brilliant. The other is stunning, but this is action. This is really what, in my opinion, photo journalism is all about. Really like that – if I was editor it would be front page.
Christopher E... in reply to Linda Syms’s comment, 5 months ago

thanks linda, nope no one was hurt, came close for us tho when the building started coming down, but we all were A ok, the place was closed, no one living there,,thank goodness, it is questionable tho about the fire, this was the 4th time this place has caught fire
Christopher E... in reply to Anne van Alkemade’s comment, 5 months ago

thanks so much anne.and im hoping that they do want this shot..funny, one of the local TV stations didnt take it seriously, until they saw it on another station! lol by the time the guy got there.we had it out, so being the nice guy i am >evil grin< i let him know i had some still shots…so he told me..send to TV station as soon as i could, i did ..so i guess ill know later..thanks
Christopher E... in reply to Jayne Wozniak’s comment, 5 months ago

thanks jane..im wired.and tired..ready to go to bed, and this reply thing is going to confuse the hell outta me til i get used to it! lol thanks again :)
Meach, 5 months ago

Great shot – I have tremendous respect for firefighters – thanks for all that you do
Adrian Richardson, 5 months ago

Amazing shot. the lighting that the fire produces is superb.
flower68, 5 months ago

wow!bless you guys.
midzing, 5 months ago

amazing capture,,,, and what a wonderful job firefighters do,,,, well done on both counts,,,
Anthony Pierce, 5 months ago

First, I’m glad that is not someones home, second that is a great capture. Great action and heroism, and like Anne said this would make a nice front page newspaper photo. Hey, I think I just came up with an idea for your new job. Newspaper photog!
whisperingruth, 5 months ago

Captured brilliantly Christopher . . . shame the town has lost this landmark . . .
micmac, 5 months ago

Well They missed something great there ,fantastic capture.
Christopher E... in reply to Anthony Pierce’s comment, 5 months ago

lol tony i have Tried to get on as a newspaper photog!! they keep saying they have plenty!! grrr! lol maybe one day?
Christopher E... in reply to Anne van Alkemade’s comment, 5 months ago

ok..try this again..lol one of the local tv stations did post one of my shots, i tried to “link” it, but to no avail
so here is the link the old fashioned way
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=53827
Anthony Pierce, 5 months ago

Hey, that’s freakin awesome! Looks like they used more than one.
Christopher E... in reply to Anthony Pierce’s comment, 5 months ago

they did..they used Four :) out of Nine..ill accept that! at first i didnt think they were interested, took them long enough to decide! lol Im Hyped!
Antanas, 5 months ago

perfect documentary capture
jlynn, 5 months ago

Amazing shot, tells the story perfectly
LocoCow, 5 months ago

Phenom momnent to capture, Kudos to you…
Al Bourassa, 5 months ago

Great shot of the firefighters!! Great composition.
Anne van Alkemade in reply to Christopher Ewing’s comment, 5 months ago

Way to go Chris. You must be getting a real buzz from that.
You’re famous! LOL.
But seriously, the photos are awesome. It’s not surprising they wanted to use them.
AnnieG, 5 months ago

You know Chris, I have been a fan of yours for over a year but this one really impresses me! Just my initial technical breakdown, you have a clear shot of the structure on fire, you used the light of the fire to show not only the air conditioner in the front but also a glow off the trees, the size of the fire compared to the fire fighters and accented the fire fghters in this shot. Your proportions on this are on the mark!!! The size of the fire fighters compared to what they are battling and the looming danger of the woods next to it catching fire as well. The stop action of the hoses….I could go on and on. Your photojournalism skills are really showing here! I know you love nature and landscape and have been working on this end a bit but I think this might be your calling?

Excellent shot!
Tracey Bransfield, 5 months ago

Great action shot… bet that one made it to the local newspaper!
GlennRoger, 5 months ago

A real life situation beautifully captured. An amazing image.
Craig Watson, 5 months ago

From one volunteer fire fighter (Country Fire Service or “CFS” in Yorketown, South Australia) to another, a job with a challenge has been handled well and the shot captures it! Well done!

I had my first run on the fire ground at the Edithburgh grass fire in mid Dec 07 and a daytime and an overnight session on another fire the next few days near Warooka. Went to another on 29th Dec for a full day. You need to learn a lot in basic training before accreditation but it is only when you get on the fireground itself that you really start to learn from the experiance… I have some Road Crash Rescue training coming up… once again, the real learning curve will take off at the first incident I attend!
Denzil, 5 months ago

Great shot Chris, and what a terrific job you blokes do!
Christopher E... in reply to Anne van Alkemade’s comment, 5 months ago

anne just to let ya know, this shot is going to be in our local newspaper here, i officially signed the papers, they are going to probably run it tomorrow :) at least that is the plan, if they do, ill post the link for on the web, if not..ill scan that sucker and post it! LOL
Christopher E... in reply to AnnieG’s comment, 5 months ago

ann..wow..thanks so much, ill admit out of all the shots, this one Is my favorite, and the chief’s as well, the newspaper too :) and i just might start working for the local paper, he asked if i would go on assignments if called..my reply…..Hell Yeah!! you have my number..dont be afraid to use it! :) I am now officially on their payroll also :):):)
Christopher E... in reply to Tracey Bransfield’s comment, 5 months ago

thanks tracey..and im hoping so by tomorrow morning, the paper did buy the shot, well let me check bank account before i say that! lol
JustCards, 5 months ago

Wow quite a blaze. The light on the firefighters is great. Super capture
Anne van Alkemade in reply to Christopher Ewing’s comment, 5 months ago

Great news about the Job Chris. Make sure you only sell first publishing rights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
solarrain, 5 months ago

both you and your co workers do an awesome job…
dinghysailor1, 5 months ago

I missed thi syesterday but this is AWESOME – a real action shot!!! very well done indeed!
budrfli, 5 months ago

this one is awesome, the light on the friemen is perfect!
AngelPhotozzz, 5 months ago

Wow chris this is an outstanding capture a very big congrats!!!!
MarissaBillings, 5 months ago

great shot. it really tells a wonderful story. well done
Lisa Kenny, 5 months ago

What a great shot !!
Michele Duncan..., 5 months ago

Great photojournalistic shot!
Wanda Faircloth, 5 months ago

Awesome shot! I think Ann Graham nailed it. The fire looks so intense!!!! And the firefighters right up there fighting it!! Way to go Chris!
Ellen, 5 months ago

A very good photo! Well done…
coolowen, 5 months ago

This shot is amazing and THANKYOU for being a volunteer – I DONT know how you guys go into burning buildings …............................
Christopher E... in reply to coolowen’s comment, 5 months ago

thanks so much donna..for all the comments, we didnt go into this building, it was a goner…quick!! a couple of guys were tempted, but i hollered at them dont go in!! the 2nd floor was caving in as it was burning! all we could do was a “defense” attack on this one, so the woods behind it didnt catch fire, or anything else around it..thanks again :)
Sherri Hamilton, 5 months ago

This is a fav of mine, awesome shot!
Charlotte Ottilo, 5 months ago

One of my “want to take photos” is of a firemen finishing up dowsing a fire with soot on his face.. Its on the list … I still say this is one the heroic and noble worthy jobs!!! Great capture
Kate Purdy, 5 months ago

First of all, thank you for doing a job that is so dangerous! Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. This shot is incredible. Glad you’re safe and hope you’re rested up!
KBSImages, 5 months ago

WOW!!!! First let me say Thank You for volunteering your time, from a Sevier County Resident….This really is a GREAT shot of this tragic situation. Stay safe!!! Kim
Shaun Johnston, 5 months ago

This is a really well executed shot. Nice work!
Jacqueline Baker, 4 months ago

Would love to see any others you have/get, not wishing any misfortune on anyone though but fire is sooooo fasinating and doesn’t it reflect how we feel inside sometimes!
dehk, 4 months ago

The compo of this photo is just fantastic, exposure is great, its just, superb, no wonder its on newspaper :)
NewDawnPhoto, 3 months ago

What a shame to lose a landmark. Absolutely beautiful capture though.