Fire photography

{{short description|Photography genre}}

Image:Fire inside an abandoned convent in Massueville, Quebec, Canada.jpg

Fire photography is the act of taking photographs of firefighting operations. People who practise this form of photography are called fire photographers.

Since fire photography involves being close to dangerous situations, fire photographers must have special skills and knowledge about emergency incident scenes, operations, health, and safety.{{Citation

| last = Phillips

| first = Chris

| title = Fire Photography

| url = http://www.swpp.co.uk/professional_imagemaker/Fire.htm

| access-date = 2008-02-26

| archive-date = 2008-03-16

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080316143642/http://www.swpp.co.uk/professional_imagemaker/Fire.htm

| url-status = dead

}} Fire photographers are often required to wear firefighter protective equipment.{{Citation

| last = Nicolas

| first = Landry

| title = Fire photographers in action

| publisher = Journal Le Reflet

| url=http://www.hebdos.net/lrd/edition262005/articles.asp?article_id=94652

| access-date = 2008-02-26}}

Uses of fire photography

The work of fire photographers encompasses multiple applications. These include:

Involvement with fire departments

Fire photographers may or may not be directly employed by fire departments.{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Michael|title=Volunteer firefighter doubles as emergency scene photographer|url=http://www.thereporteronline.com/general-news/20140209/volunteer-firefighter-doubles-as-emergency-scene-photographer|access-date=23 February 2014|newspaper=The Reporter}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/units/photo/fires/122602/122602_towerladder_front.shtml |title=FDNY Photo Unit |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701025720/http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/units/photo/fires/122602/122602_towerladder_front.shtml |archive-date=2016-07-01 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Official Chicago Fire department photo unit site |url=http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/tag/official-chicago-fire-department-photo-unit-site/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=chicagoareafire.com}} They provide a specialized photography service which may involve a fee per photograph. Access to safety perimeters can be an issue for fire photographers; thus, they usually develop good relationships with their local fire department to improve access to fire scenes. Such access may, at the fire department's discretion, require additional training or other arrangements.{{cite news|last=Beattie|first=Chris|title=Next on scene: First-response photographer's pictures attract widespread attention|url=http://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/news/next-on-scene-first-response-photographer-s-pictures-attract-widespread/article_af57981e-be85-525e-bd41-21c7f9c233be.html|access-date=23 February 2014|newspaper=McKinney Courier-Gazette}} Large departments do often have professional photo service units, such as those in New York City and Chicago.

Certification

A formal fire photographer certification process is being drafted by the International Organization of Fire Photography.{{Cite web |title=Fire Photo- The World of Fire Photography |url=http://www.iofp.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227053454/http://www.firephotography.com/ |archive-date=2014-02-27 |website=firephotography.com}} The intent of this certification is to attest that an individual has sufficient training, skills and knowledge in relevant areas (health & safety, firefighting operations, etc.) to operate within a safe perimeter of an emergency incident scene.

See also

References

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