Morris tribune., 1898-01-26
PHoToGRAP1lNG FIRES.
HsaEring and Picturesque Scenes Caught
by Amateur Firegoers.


by Amateur Firegoers.
There are in the city amateur
photographers who make speciality
nj fires. but whose Photographic in
itarest in fires is, after all, but sec
Hadary. They are primarily inter
sasted in fires and firemen. They are
diregoers, and with them, though
they may be well advanced in the
AR, photography but adds to the in
73erest they find in fires and serves
Knr the preservation of stirring
scenes of wonderful fire and smoke
EEf0cts and of the working of the fire
department under all sorts OF condi-
lions.
There are probably not more than
3naf dozen of the fire photogra-
sglRers here referred to. Many pho
augrapherS at one time and an
gther get picture Of fire, but only
casually, as opportunity presents. A
airs is not like scenery, or house,
or a bridge, that one can go out and
gsshOtograph when one wants to or
axhen the conditions are favorable,
hztit springs up Unexpectedly at all
snrts Of hours and in various places,
mnd TO get photograph of it one
msust have knowledge of the fire,
ExRssdom of movement and camera
smEways at hand, besides command of
kncilities for work after getting to
Nae fire. These requirements neces-
sarily limit the fire photographers
10 a very small number, confined to
the ranks of firegoers. u
There is probably no man whose
Blood is not stirred by the sight of
lire engine dashing along the street
aDa fire. Everybody is fascinated
by the spectacle of the fire itself; all
are interested in the fire department
and its work and everything pertain
ing to it. There are some for whom
these things have absorbing interest.
These are the fregoers, with an in
tense interest in the fire department
mad in everything belonging to it
wnd a like interest in fires.
The firegoer may be a business
man. He is likely to be man whose
time is more or less at his own COM
maand, who can come and go as he |
pReases. Of course he has a fire |
badge, SO that he is free within the |
fire lines. He is familiar with the !
working of the department An ap-
paratns going along the street has
Ter him significance quite beyond |
that which it would have even for
sne interested in such subjects, but
not familiar with them. There are
various things about the movements
III apparatuses that to him convey
&afinite information.
IL the firegoer is also an amateur
photographer, he has a camera at
ASS place of business or his office
ready, but he photographs many
E4Rer things about the department
besides fires. He has, for example,
= picture of the men turning out on
nm alarm, the scene in the bunk
room, with the tiremen jumping out
III bed. He has pictures of the hook
I1g mp In the engine house, with the
horses dashing for their places, and
fractures of speed exhibitions taken
al public displays of the department
aaat7 pictures of drilling men, men
Sw4n ping into nets, and that sort of
zSisl2G
AZ the fire he may take, besides
sspsgfures of the fire itself, picture
XXI "a big stream, of course, with the
1fSkalse and the men holding it. One
ga'ass looks at series of such pic
sEses realizes right away that he is
5s1ssalE szlg at something out of the ordi-
zsaEy- The fire photographer takes,
gssara5aps, a picture of the fire line,
with the policemen holding the peo-
z1&. back, and the men and the boys
60 posing 1.-THE fire line that ev-
s2gF>ody has seen On a still day he
3szakes a smoke effect-a fire engine
1s5tla great masses of white smoke
up from the smokestack and
Broadening out into great, rolling
g7x2xne above.
Afterthe fire he may take pictures
az the wrecked buildings or of
striking interior. He takes next day,
1T may be, the burned building as it
looks covered with play It is
not always possible to get a satisfac-
tory picture of the fire. It is COM
zsgTatIvely easy to get good pictures
nf the incidental happenings. Alto
gEther such pictures make series
of great interest. The photographer i,
gives copies to his friends, and some
times he has them mounted as Ian
term slides. Thus enlarged and
Grown upon screen, they make
gaGtures of most striking and in ,
szere&stlDg character New York
SEn !