Harbinger
A photoessay on the 2023 McDougall Creek Wildfire
Initiaion
The Morning
Looming
Sunset in Smoke
Arrival
Trails
Getaway
Blooming
Firelight Dance
Dreamcatcher
The Watchmen
Soil Nutrients
Compare and Contrast
Compare and Contrast, 02
Discard
Shards
Dumpster Fire: After
Drip
Melty Glass
Autobody Rust
Shadow Play
Horizon Smoke
Desolation
Barren
Survive
Burnt Powerline
What Remains
(Wide)
What Remains
(Close Up)
There was nothing left but this. The entire lot was … black. When I saw this little white thing, I initially thought it was just a really white rock. Seeing a smoothed out and charred golf ball was unexpected.
Beach Boys, 2023
While trying to photograph the smoke, I went into downtown Kelowna to get pictures of the bridge. To my absolute surprise (and frankly concern? ) I saw these two guys casually swimming in the Okanagan Lake. Despite it being an air quality rating of 11+ , these two were out there laughing, swimming and having a good time? When they saw me taking photos, one of them was bold enough to call me crazy — and the other asked what I was doing.
”Well, what about you?” I replied. “I’m documenting, not swimming.”
”We’ve been swimming here once a week all summer together and then we get a beer after. We ain’t letting a little smoke stop us!”
They both laughed and we all continued on.