Rebirth Redirect - Bonny Doon Fire One Year Later

Well I almost did it. I was in deep on a technique entry involving different Photoshop approaches to salvaging underexposed images. An interesting topic for sure as there are some useful strategies far beyond upping the exposure one can employ. The problem for me is coming up with meaningful examples that compare the workflows with a minimum--read blog like--amount of text. I also spoke to myself and questioned the appropriateness of trying to teach a subject I've only just begun to explore. File it in the draft folder and lets move it on--on to something more about taking pictures than endlessly working on them. ...

High above my small community by the sea is a place called Bonny Doon. Last Summer as I looked to the sky I noticed a plume of dark smoke stretching from hills to the ocean. It was growing by the minute and for a moment it almost seemed like the flames were set on moving down the canyon. What would I take ? Hard drives, photos ? I called my friends who actually live in Bonny Doon and after a few calls on their side it was clear this was bad. They were under evacuation orders. Our house was not. The lower level winds were not blowing our way, but it was blowing their way. Two days later with fire contained and most houses, including our friends, saved, I headed to the hills and found in the ashes and still burning embers a stark, gutted yet somehow beautiful scene. I offer three photos, one that day and two I just took one year later.This is the Bonny Doon Ecological Preserve. A rare sandhills habitat with endangered plants and animals and a will to survive--if not thrive. Let the pictures be my text.