Cameron Peak Fire

[JAS]

From Aug 13, 2020 until it was declared contained on Dec 2, 2020 the Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado burned across 208,663 acres/326 sqm/84,443 ha. The impacted area was massive with hundreds of buildings destroyed and incredible damage done to the ecosystem, plants and wildlfe. While recovery is underway, the damage is overwhelming and visible anywhere one looks. The following are shots from our drive up Poudre Canyon on 8 May 2022.

Most often we focus on the beauty around us when out with pour cameras. I have spent the past forty plus years looking at the other side with environmental cleanups and restorations from various sources. We should all pay attention to keeping things well as we are out and about with our gear. Marvel at what we have and be aware of what can be lost.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[G Wright]

Beautiful job capturing a sad subject.

 

[jeffnles1]

I may regret this post.
I have mixed feelings about the topic. On one hand yes, making people aware of the harm we can inflict on the natural world is worthy of capturing and using for teaching moments. On the other, there is so much sad and horrible news out there, pandemics, war, hunger, crime, the list goes on, I wonder if the world maybe needs more uplifting images. I enjoy capturing the beauty of nature and sharing those images. My hope and desire is to get people to love and appreciate the beauty and maybe think about protecting it before it becomes destroyed.

I was in Yellowstone in 1989 the year after the big fire and it looked devastated like in your images. My most recent trip was in 2013 and there is little “smack you in the face” evidence of the fire. Areas with smaller trees and a few standing charred stumps but unless one had been there right after the fire, he/she would have little visible evidence to suggest it was once a charred wasteland. Fire is part of the ecology of that region.

I think there is a place for both types of photos. For me it comes to what I enjoy doing and the message and story I want told through my photos.

 

[JAS]

I may regret this post.
I have mixed feelings about the topic. On one hand yes, making people aware of the harm we can inflict on the natural world is worthy of capturing and using for teaching moments. On the other, there is so much sad and horrible news out there, pandemics, war, hunger, crime, the list goes on, I wonder if the world maybe needs more uplifting images. I enjoy capturing the beauty of nature and sharing those images. My hope and desire is to get people to love and appreciate the beauty and maybe think about protecting it before it becomes destroyed.

I was in Yellowstone in 1989 the year after the big fire and it looked devastated like in your images. My most recent trip was in 2013 and there is little “smack you in the face” evidence of the fire. Areas with smaller trees and a few standing charred stumps but unless one had been there right after the fire, he/she would have little visible evidence to suggest it was once a charred wasteland. Fire is part of the ecology of that region.

I think there is a place for both types of photos. For me it comes to what I enjoy doing and the message and story I want told through my photos.

I understand your perspective though it is diiferent from mine. I have worked in the environmental/ecological investigation and remediation/restoration field for over 40 years. I can say there aere few greater joys than seeing a mess that you helped cleanup become viable habitat and usable, accessible places for people, plants and animals to thrive. This is not the forum to describe those projects, but they have been good ones to work on.

I do look forward to driving this road over the next several years to watch where and how it will recover. Best wishes to you and pursue the types of photography that tell the story you want to tell!

 

[jeffnles1]

I understand your perspective though it is diiferent from mine. I have worked in the environmental/ecological investigation and remediation/restoration field for over 40 years. I can say there aere few greater joys than seeing a mess that you helped cleanup become viable habitat and usable, accessible places for people, plants and animals to thrive. This is not the forum to describe those projects, but they have been good ones to work on.

I do look forward to driving this road over the next several years to watch where and how it will recover. Best wishes to you and pursue the types of photography that tell the story you want to tell!

Thanks. I wasn’t trying to be critical and I’m glad you saw my post in the spirit in which it was meant.
Jeff

 

[Wink Jones]

I was in Yellowstone in 1989 the year after the big fire and it looked devastated like in your images. My most recent trip was in 2013 and there is little “smack you in the face” evidence of the fire. Areas with smaller trees and a few standing charred stumps but unless one had been there right after the fire, he/she would have little visible evidence to suggest it was once a charred wasteland. Fire is part of the ecology of that region.

In the 1990's and early 2000's I bow hunted in the Lolo Pass area on the Idaho side of the border at the top of Kelly Creek. We rode and hiked through areas burnt in the 1910 fires that are still showing a lot of evidence of the fires. We also rode through areas that are fully recovered and show no evidence. Mother nature is incredible.