I have been thinking about this photo ever since you posted it. I finally have to put in my two cents worth. I realize that this is a calender shoot and most people do not see the same thing as a professional firefighter would. So here goes. His gear and helmet are clean, I mean extremely clean, way too clean, however his face is sooted over as if he was standing over a smudge pot. He doesent have the look in his eyes that you see in those of a firefighter. The look of the adreneline rush, anxiety, fear, and anticpation, all in one. If you are looking for realistic, follow the trucks to a real fire sometime and look at the guys. Sweat, snot, spitting, hurting, dirty gear, and tired. This is the image of the real firefighter. Of course this doesnt sell calenders like some chiseled jaw young man with clean gear. Maybe I put in more than my two cents worth, but it is a hell of a lot harder to do the job that the gear demands than to just put it on. I know, I have done it for about 20 years now, and wake up each day with so much pain, physical and emotional, from the fires that I have fought, and the death that I have seen. However, thank you for the opportunity to vent myself and your desire to photograph the lonely old fireman. And I hope that I did not offend you in any way. Keep at it! Later my friend,
This really is an excellent capture. The confident and manly type of expression is very appropriate for this type of shot. Looks like Buz Light year...(Toy story) to me. The closeup motion of the water in my opinion is what makes this well above an average shot. Good one!
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