Film and filter for smoke from range fires

[mckenna]

This past month there were several large range fires in our area. Presented with the opportunity to make a picture I was at a loss how to meter the scene or if the film was ok and if a filter would add any value. I really hope that another opportunity doesn't present itself, but I would like to be better prepared if it does. (These fires move at 40+ MPH) Thanks in advance for your input.

Regards;

mckenna

Sorry! I should add that I shoot a Bronica SQA with either a 50mm, 75mm or a 150mm and usually have FP4 or HP5 on board. I thought about IR but have never used it.

 

[Dave Parker]

I ended up documenting the fires of 2003 in Glacier National park and surrounding areas, and I can't say that I ever found an effective solution to filtering and metering, I ended up putting every on auto on my AF camera and pushing the shutter button on high speed motordrive, on a manual camera, I would shoot at f/16 1/125 or 1/250 and pray for the best, wildfires are very difficult to shoot....

Here is one of the posters we produced from the 2003 fire season.

Dead Link Removed

Dave