Fire @ 1st St S/25th St E - Minneapolis, MN

Change of pace.

I smell like a smoke pit (as opposed to news print? I'll take it).

On Thursday's I tend to go out and find a new place for lunch with my friend, Evelyn, and we do the best we can to make a photo adventure out of it afterwards. We worked backwards today. Already starving, we decided to have a cigarette on the porch and then head out. Not even 10 minutes into my arrival, without time to even light the cigarette, all of the following photos you are about to see started to happen. Which led me to check out the house, mumble some profanity of disbelief, followed by running to get my camera, running back to the scene (dropped cig), and photographing for a good 10 minutes before chief decided to yell at me to back off, which he has good reason to do. I just want to clarify and let you all know that I wasn't that arrogant guy getting in the way of everyone. I made damn sure to stay out of their way huddled up against a car and out of walking paths...but I was close to the work firemen were carrying out (...still hungry).

After being yelled at the first time, I decided to join the crowd outside of the fire area in the smoke laden city block. Everyone had their point and shoots, cell phones, etc, armed and ready for more to happen past what they already missed (sorry guys. You were all a few minutes late. All the big stuff already happened). By this time I'm feeling bold again, and take a different approach to the scene, eventually leading to another firefighter telling my to back up and keep my distance. This triggered my retreat, and my sense of urgency in getting the images off of my card and sent to the newspaper (stomach is eating itself). Is something going to print? You never know. Never hurts to get all your shit together before someone else designated by the press does. Power to the people for that one.

I narrowed the 100x2 photos down to a whopping 20 for the ease of viewing. You're welcome.

It started out with an uneasy approach.

...needless to say, that whole adrenaline rush kicked in. I felt like a kid in a candy shop just taking all his shots.

...this was about the time where I felt my heart race, the heat of the flames, the cover of smoke rolling into my face, and I thought to myself, "should I retreat?..." I never did answer my own question. Things just kept happening and I practically forgot at the same time I asked.

...and then I bought jawbreaking 10cent gum at an antique store. Go figure.

I have concerts to photograph on 4/3 (Braids), 4/4 (The Luyas), and 4/5 (Callers). Stay tuned.

-B <3

ps. I'm rather happy I have shed my unfortunate haits of forgetting to insert my memory card or recharge my battery. I've had one to many white knuckled "fuuu----" moments over these things. This would have been one of those times if I hadn't. Almost positive.