phoenix rising

it was chilly this morning, 48 degrees f. we are decidedly heading into fall. although we have burned fires during the summer (for psychological comfort i guess), lighting a fire this morning seemed downright justified. newspaper, kindling and logs - it was going.

finding my blip for the day is never far from my mind. sitting at the kitchen table, eating my morning cereal, listening to the crackling fire, my fingers itched for the camera. over the next hour or so, i fed the fire and took way too many photos. this was my first experience with photographing fire. to me, it felt similar to photographing water, yet less predictable. a "roaring" fire photographs differently than a "crackling" fire, differently than a "dancing" fire, etc. by the time i got the "dancing" fire going - my fire of choice - the room was about 90 degrees. all the doors and windows were open and i was down to the minimal acceptable amount of clothing. even my lens was hot to the touch from nudging it closer and closer to the flames. when i could stand it no longer, i shut the doors to the wood stove and went outside for some chilly fall air. it was downright refreshing!