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Terrible Desolation

Earlier this week the Angeles Crest Highway reopened through the Angeles National Forest. This road has been closed since the Station Fire back in August which was the largest wildfire in the recorded history of Los Angeles County. This terrible fire consumed more than 160,000 acres and resulted in the death of two firefighters.
Having taken pictures of the Station Fire I thought I’d take a drive up to see what could be seen. The change in scenery was astonishing compared to the area I had enjoyed hiking in earlier in the year. It’s going to be a painfully long time before the area recovers and trails can be made safe again. I really regret not hiking many of these trails before this. In my photographic quest this morning, I did not venture off of any of the wide turnouts that are dotted along the highway. I was in no way interested hindering any of the recovery. Unfortunately there were other people that I saw along the road walking off of the turnouts and into the fragile scorched soil around.

My first glimpse of the desolation

My first glimpse of the desolation

This is quite a sight to behold considering that back in April the hillsides looked something like this:

Angeles National Forest as seen from Josephine Peak

Angeles National Forest as seen from Josephine Peak

Instead, there is the strange alien world that now exists there.

Torched trees along the highway

Torched trees along the highway

Only the Yucca remains, with a few fresh green sprouts nearby

Only the Yucca remains, with a few fresh green sprouts nearby

This miniature rockslide chute illustrates what lies ahead for this area, since the vegetation is gone and nothing is left to hold back the soil. I hope our rains our nice and gentle this year.

A small fragment of a big problem

A small fragment of a big problem

There is hope. Fire is of course a natural part of the cycle of life here. As you can see some of the bushes have already sprouted forth new growth as the roots still live.

Burned area and new sprouts

Burned area and new sprouts

New sprouts from burnt trunks

New sprouts from burnt trunks

An oddball red tree amongst the devastation

An oddball red tree amongst the devastation

Burnt branches frame Strawberry Peak

Burnt branches frame Strawberry Peak

Burned brush along the highway

Burned brush along the highway

Desolation along the highway

Desolation along the highway

The surreal, brown, dead landscape near Angeles Forest Highway

The surreal, brown, dead landscape near Angeles Forest Highway

Note the bits of green where foliage was spared the wrath of the fire

Note the bits of green where foliage was spared the wrath of the fire

I sincerely hope that those responsible for this fire are brought to justice. With up to an inch of rain in the near term weather forecast, the Angeles Crest Highway may close again just a few days after opening. The entire road seemed to have been repaved, with construction crews working all over on drainage projects and repairing other damage to the road, guardrails and signs. Thanks to the construction crew for working so hard to reopen this road.

I started the day at Devil’s Gate Dam, and will be posting pictures from that location as the next blog update.

December 12, 2009 - 9:02 pm

TGiblin - Very nice photos. I see that the “penny pines” plantation at Clear Creek was thoroughly decimated. I used to hike in the San Gabriels in the 1970’s. I always said that those plantation pine trees would never have a chance in a brush fire on that south facing, chapparrel covered flat, and that it was just a matter of time. A friend of mine helped plant those trees. Sad, but those pines never should have been planted at that spot in the first place. It’s brush country.

Video from El Matador

Here is some video I shot with the 5D II at El Matador:

November 25, 2009 - 12:04 am

Michael Bandy - Very cool and crystal clear. You can hear people from our group yelling about something at some point. LOL.

December 4, 2009 - 3:11 am

Sean - Wow man that is awesome. Great job.

December 10, 2009 - 12:39 am

Cary - Great video! Soothing Sounds of the Pacific, brought to you by Kurt. Haven’t been to your blog in awhile, fantastic shots.

El Matador State Beach

On Sunday afternoon I decided to take the 5D Mark II out for a shoot. I’m still getting to know this camera, and thought a trip to El Matador State Beach. To my surprise I ran into 7 or 8 other photographers who were arriving about the same time. We didn’t have the best weather for spectacular sunsets (not a cloud in the sky) but there are always good images to be made here. This is my second time visiting this little gem off the Malibu coast, and no doubt I will be back again and again. Here are some images from yesterday’s shoot:

More El Matador in twilight II

More El Matador in twilight II

El Matador rocks

El Matador rocks

More El Matador in twilight

More El Matador in twilight

Another view at El Matador

Another view at El Matador

Sunset starburst

Sunset starburst

El Matador Beach

El Matador Beach

A golden footprint glistens in the sand inside a cave

A golden footprint glistens in the sand inside a cave

Inside a cave at El Matador

Inside a cave at El Matador

Stairs to someone's lucky house dip down to El Matador beach

Stairs to someone's lucky house dip down to El Matador beach

Crashing waves and birds

Crashing waves and birds

Birds perch on rocks at El Matador State Beach

Birds perch on rocks at El Matador State Beach

November 25, 2009 - 12:01 am

Michael Bandy - Great shots Kurt. You definitely have a great eye and strong grasp of photography. Well done. It was good meeting you the other day. Be well man!

December 8, 2009 - 10:47 am

Anthony - Great work. Haven’t been to the site in a few weeks and I love all the new photos. Keep it up.

Some recent shots

Since I have new gear burning a hole in my pocket, I had to go shoot. The Ferris Wheel was shot on Friday night and the boat was shot on Sunday morning. Just the week before I had kayaked around the boat “Zenji” when it was docked at the gas station in Marina del Rey. It’s a really massive sailboat.

Pacific Park Ferris Wheel, Santa Monica Pier

Pacific Park Ferris Wheel, Santa Monica Pier

Sunrise over the massive sailboat "Zenji"

Sunrise over the massive sailboat "Zenji"

"Zenji" and birds

"Zenji" and birds

"Zenji", Malibu Pier and Fisherman

"Zenji", Malibu Pier and Fisherman

Seaweed, Malibu Beach and Pier

Seaweed, Malibu Beach and Pier

Upgrade

Palm Tree and Puffy Clouds

Palm Tree and Puffy Clouds - Canon 5D Mark II with 16-35 2.8L @ 23mm, 1/200 at f/9.0 ISO 100

After months of deliberation and planning, I’ve finally upgraded to a 5D Mark II. I’m hoping this new camera will help take my photography to the next level. The resolution is more than double that of my 40d (21.1 megapixels vs 10.1) and I have long been looking forward having a full 35mm sized sensor. Moving from an APS-C sized sensor in the 40d to full frame means that my 10-22mm lens will no longer work, as this lens physically not fit in front of the larger mirror box. For the ultra-wide focal range I have decided to replace the 10-22 with the 16-35mm f/2.8 L lens. This is a nearly identical field of view range but for the larger sensor and at a constant 2.8 aperture. The above image, a quick snapshot on my way to work, was taken with the new combo. When I downloaded the morning’s images I was stunned to see the sharpness in the palm tree. Below are 100% crops from the raw image. There’s a little bit of processing in Lightroom (default sharpness is used). This is a tremendous improvement on image detail, and I’m really looking forward to using this new tool in the field.

100% crop near the center of the Palm image

100% crop near the center of the Palm image

100% crop from the top of the Palm image

100% crop from the top of the Palm image

100% crop of the bottom trunk in the Palm image

100% crop of the bottom trunk in the Palm image

I have many more updates planned. I can’t wait to go out and shoot with the new gear!

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