Photographing fire trucks on-scene

I took in a small fire this evening in Wheeling (IL). The firefighters made quick work of containing the fire which didn’t leave much for me to photograph except the overall scene. The fire occurred at dusk on a street lined with large trees. Though it was just past sweet light, the apparatus with a combination of emergency lights and ambient light was very colorful … red and white trucks with lots of green surrounding them.

When photographing fire trucks on-scene, there’s the obvious decision of whether to ramp up the ISO and go for the natural lighting or add supplemental light from a flash. I chose the ambient light for these images which make the Sutphen tower ladder stand out.

Sutphen tower ladder dramatic photo
Wheeling FD Truck 24 hooked to a hydrant at a fire scene at dusk. Larry Shapiro photo
Sutphen tower ladder dramatic photo
Ambient lighting with a high ISO provides for the feel of the scene as it occurred. Larry Shapiro photo