SoCal Fires

[Russinator]

I took a few pictures of the smoke this morning [SoCal fires].

The top one was taken at the beach.

The lower one was taken in out backyard

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/RussC_02/smoke1.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/RussC_02/smoke2.jpg

[Cmcburnett]

Russ, the pictures give me chills. My heart goes out to the folks who are effected by the fires. So sad.

[pixlbandit]

We are having an even more colorful sunset here in Orange County due to the smoke in the air.

[JulieM]

Russ, thank you for posting your very sobering pictures. I hope you and your family stay safe...

[AngelicKim]

Russ, hope you and your family are safe. You should look at Sela's thread. I don't know what page number it was but JonJon posted some horrifying shots a little while ago of the fires there.

I am praying for all of you in California that are effected by this.

[BrendaC]

My nephew is stationed in San Diego. The fires triggered a terrible asthma attack for him. He just arrived in San Diego last Thursday...he hates it.

[Cmcburnett]

My nephew is stationed in San Diego. The fires triggered a terrible asthma attack for him. He just arrived in San Diego last Thursday...he hates it.

Brenda, asthma is one of my concerns for the folks living near the fire. This past spring we had wild fires in south GA which is about 250 miles from metro Atlanta and the smoke from that far away was causing kids and the elderly to be hospitalized for breathing problems. I am so sad about what is happening. The fire not only destroys people homes but it can take a toll on their health. The firefighters and volunteers put their life and health in danger to help others. I think there is a special place in heaven for all of them. They are truly a Godsend.

[nkeevers]

Thanks for posting the pictures...that is so horrifying! My heart and prayers go out to everyone out there who comes in touch with the fires. I hope you and yours are way out of the way and all is well. The news in the paper don't even begin to make me imagine what it's like...but your pictures say it all! I hope all they are trying to do brings some relief in the situation.

[Russinator]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. Our home is in no danger, we're about 20 miles from the closest fire and not in a brush area.

Charlotte, I have no desire to have a special place in heaven. I just want to get there to see my parents, grandparents and loved ones again.

Russ

[smiles]

My thoughts and prayers go out to those effected by these horrific wild fires.

[Cmcburnett]

Charlotte, I have no desire to have a special place in heaven. I just want to get there to see my parents, grandparents and loved ones again.

Russ

Russ, I don't know your personally but I have a feeling you will have no trouble getting through heaven's door to see your loved ones:)

[Russinator]

This is the same beach as the first picture in this thread, just two days later [Wednesday].

This picture is right out of the camera and exactly the way it looked.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/RussC_02/redbeach.jpg

[selawela]

Wow, Russ....scary...
sela

[smiles]

Wow, you can really see a difference in those two pics! Be careful out there!

[Russinator]

Here's the same beach, a few days before the fires started.

FYI: That's Catalina Island in the background.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/RussC_02/P2070011framed.jpg

[nkeevers]

Wow, what a difference...you can't even see in the distance! It must be awful breathing in that stuff. I'm glad to hear you guys are not near enough to have problems though.

[chas3stix]

What a stark difference between the two photos! WOW!
Take care,Russ.
Chas

[JulieM]

Russ, I haven't had time to browse the images posted on the news sites this week so I'm really grateful that you and others are posting your shots for us. The lone surfer in your most recent image makes the scene even more striking...

[Teacher617]

That is unbelievable ... may the winds die down and the hands of the firefighters work their miracles.

Tricia

[quillabee9]

How ironic; the surfers are still out there. got to love 'em

[pixlbandit]

Wow! The air quality sure is different. It isn't quite that bad around here, but still pretty grim. We had some small bit of overcast near the coast this morning. With the orange haze it definitely was eerie.

This is an aside, but I sure can tell those shots came from San Diego area, Russ: the way the waves come in and the shallow drop off are dead giveaways of the local geography and so different from a relatively few miles north in the Newport and Huntington Beach area.
Vicki

[pixlbandit]

Ignore the texture, because it doesn't compress well for web shots, but this digital painting is from some shots I took last March of the Santiago Canyon area. That whole area is pretty much toast now. If I get some time this weekend I'll do a little work on some more photos, especially of Modjeska Canyon which is the most devastated area and those of your from other parts of the country can see what our Southern California rural landscape (desert scrub brush) looked like before the fires. Since Russ is initially from my neck of the woods, he already knows.

http://www.paintermagazine.co.uk/users/339/thm1024/canyon_web.jpg

Vicki

[jazzfisher]

Here are a few I was able to capture--I did nothing to them--just out of the camera--will post link in other thread as well

http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Go.aspx?AID=62468&AT=3&VID=186756&ABID=96357

[Russinator]

Sherry, I enjoyed seeing your pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

Fires are terrible things, but they do make good photos.

Russ

[jazzfisher]

Russ,
the day you took the "good" pic of Catalina I was probably there--was there twice this month (jazz festival)

[Russinator]

Sherry, are you the one who winked at me?

Russ

[jazzfisher]

Russ,
I think that was my camera flash going off!

[Hankw]

Hi everyone.

They let us back into Fallbrook Ca this morning. Everything OK here. we just have a lot of ash all over the place. Clean-up starts in the morning but nothing else damaged. This side of town was untouched.

We were told to leave Monday. So we went to in-laws on the coast. Never had time to get the RV hooked up or we could have taken a week at the beach. However did manage to lose the Camera, Laptop and Cell Phone somewhere along the way but thats nothing at all compared to those that have only the clothes on their backs. Talk to you all Later

Hankw

[jazzfisher]

Hank,
So happy to hear you & yours are okay, that's the most important part. The rest is just incidental.
Stay in touch.

[Russinator]

Mission Viejo Lake with the OC fire in the background

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/RussC_02/MissionViejoLakewiththeOCfireintheb.jpg

[AngelicKim]

Russ, that is an incredible shot. I have so many mixed feelings for it and it is hard to described. It is a beautiful image and at the same time, sad and horrifying.

Wow, just noticed this was post 6000.

[JulieM]

Russ, that is an amazing shot! When was it taken? Which fire is that - Santiago?

[jazzfisher]

Wow Russ!
I don't think that community existed when I lived & worked at the Mission Viejo Mall.
Were there many homes lost there--Unfortunately all we are hearing here is news about San Diego.

[chas3stix]

Russ,
What an awesome photo! A Pulitzer Prize winner for sure!
Chas

[selawela]

Hey, Russ...yes, an incredible shot! Surreal. I too was struck by many emotions when I saw it.

Sela

[Storm1]

That is really something unreal. We were burning bad in 2003 & it was just awful.
Take care all of you. Storm

[pixlbandit]

Russ,
This is indeed an incredible photograph--terrifying in what it documents and stunningly beautiful, visually. You should enter it in every photo competition you find because it clearly is a winner.
Vicki

[Russinator]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. However, I'm afraid that I lead you astray. I wasn't the photographer.

The photo was emailed to me from a very good friend that I used to work with. I assume that he took the picture, but maybe not?

Anyway, I really liked the picture and wanted to share it with you all.

Russ