Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Altered Arts

Besides interfering with vision, the Station Fire is altering vision as well. I keep finding strange light, and I've heard of unusual sunsets all along the coast.

The smoke is doing stuff to my throat and nose, too, but I haven't figured out how to make art out of that. At least nothing I'd want to share with you.

22 comments:

Cafe Pasadena said...

Yeah, these have been some bad June Gloom daze of late.

Dina said...

Clean air is such a blessing we seldom think about. I hope your personal airways hold up until this disaster is over.

Vanda said...

Yeah I noticed the warm light too. I believed it is caused by all the smoke and ash in the air diffusing the sunlight. Pretty much same principle what photographers call the magic hour.

Shell Sherree said...

I feel for you all there and thereabouts - I can't imagine. If I lived in Victoria, I'd be sadly well equipped to empathise. The coverage on TV here has been vague about the exact areas of the blaze {so it's been a relief of sorts to find out more from you, Petrea, and altadenahiker}, but they said the smoke clouds were as far away as Colorado.

Sarah said...

Hi Petrea,
I have left you an award on my blog, however if it is not your thing feel free to ignore it ;)

Margaret said...

The light is very science fictiony, and so is the throat/nose stuff.

Petrea Burchard said...

Roberta Martinez emails: "Ah, the noble Neti Pot." I had to look that one up. She has a point.

The light is actually quite lovely (if "science fictiony"). But weird.
Magic hours all day.

Still can't see the mountain this morning, but I understand the towers at Mount Wilson still stand. Amazing the smoke has reached Colorado, but I guess it has to just keep going until it gets to you, Shell. It'll pass Dina and Sarah on its way! Oi!

Thank you, Sarah, I'll come and see. I'm honored.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I don't like the light at all. It looks the way it smells.

WV: Fullyrat. Like that.

Shan said...

I'm just catching up (sadly, out of touch with the news is a regular state of mine)!

So sorry Petrea! These photos are fascinating but of course we wish they weren't happening! I'm thinking about your surrounding areas today and pray that it is all contained in the safest, quickest manner possible.

Petrea Burchard said...

Fullyrat. I admit I like the light, but it's not worth the cost.

Shan, I sympathize. I don't usually pay attention to the news. But this is a story I'm compelled to follow, of course! Thanks for your good wishes.

Katie said...

Strange light for sure. As much as it makes for compelling photographs, I hope that soon your air is free of smoke and you have your views back.

Petrea Burchard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Petrea Burchard said...

Okay, I received this information from Greg Sweet regarding Chantry Flat:

"I have just received word from a Forest Service briefing that they are going to let Chantry Flat and Big Santa Canyon burn. The Station fire is to the west and they have cut a fire break to the east. This canyon is home to 80 historic cabins, 113-year-old Sturtevant's Camp, and the last pack station in Southern California. It would be a shame to loose this piece of history, but to have no intention to defend it is disgraceful. This canyon is a living museum and as much a part of LA history as the Observatory. PLEASE pass this along - and fast!

Angeles National Forest
Contact: Sherry Rollman
626-574-5208
srollman@fs.fed.us

Supervisor's Office
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
Jody Noiron, Forest Supervisor
jnoiron@fs.fed.us
(626) 574-5200
FAX (626) 574-5233
CRS 1 800 735 2929
M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

District Ranger
Mike McIntyre, District Ranger
mmcintyre@fs.fed.us
(818) 899-1900
FAX (818) 896-6727
CRS 1 800 735 2929
M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm"

I did ask Greg for verification and he sent me the following:

"Sue Burgess, the mother in the mother-daughter ownership team of the pack station, called me from Chantry Flat immediately after a briefing from Engine 17 of the Forest Service (based at the bottom of the hill at the Forest Supervisor's Office).

Sue Burgess - suzanne.burgess@att.net
Deb Burgess - dburgess@burcon-group.com"

The safety of the firefighters is paramount but I do hope Chantry is safe; it would be a terrible shame to lose it. It is a special, special place and the history there is irreplaceable.

Laurie Allee said...

This light is not like magic hour. Magic hour is sparkling and glows with full color spectrum. This light is like a bad filter on a good camera.

And all hail the neti pot. Seriously.

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Allow me to shew you the booger sculptures in the garden...

this one is called The Thinker.

Petrea Burchard said...

Bad filter indeed, Laurie. I needs me one of them neti pots. I wonder where the name came from.

Ahahahahaha! Miss H. Puhlease do not touch the artworks.

Petrea Burchard said...

I've been watching the pyrocumulus cloud today. It comes and goes. Moved quite a bit east, came back west, dissipated, returned. That tells me the fire continues to change constantly.

Lori Lynn said...

Argh, hope you are OK breathing all that smokey air. Yesterday Wilson and I did not take our walk. As a Boston, he has breathing issues in even clean air. Today was a little better.

The light is eerie. When I first moved here in 1981, just a few years after I knew you, we had a wildfire sweep across our home in Simi Valley. It was so weird, the fire literally passed over the house. I went outside and then fainted. I had never experienced anything like that before. I will never forget the light.

The weather seems to be getting better, hoping it continues...
LL

Petrea Burchard said...

More news on Chantry Flat posted in comments on AltadenaHiker today.

Petrea Burchard said...

Lori Lynn, that's so strange about it sweeping over your house. And I can't picture you fainting.

Unknown said...

'S not quite what I've come to expectorate of you …

Petrea Burchard said...

Yes, yes, Miss H and J. Yes.