Hey everyone!

Another long time has passed since my last journal!  Fire season is finished for the year and I'm currently enjoying a week of time off before my next job begins on Wednesday.  

Every year the forest industry companies here in Ontario contract the job of burning the debris left over from their operations.  This entails igniting thousands of barn-sized piles of tree tops and brush left over from the de-limbing process.  The job can be grueling and involves a lot of long hours in remote areas riding ATVs from pile to pile to ignite them using drip torches.  Since I have my Incident Commander level 3, I will be overseeing the burning ops for my 8-man crew.  Time is of the essence and we will be hard pressed to finish the job before the weather craps out up north near Armstrong, Ontario.

So because of this 3-week sojourn, I won't be around dA or even have access to the internet from the 11th to possibly the end of October. (yes! you'll finally get a break from my ambitious posting schedule! )

I plan to bring my camera along to hopefully capture some flame pictures such as the ones above and below I took a few years ago.  While fighting forest fires fires I don't have much opportunity to do this because we're generally too busy putting the fire OUT ... but since I'll now be lighting the damn things, I should be able to pause long enough to 'capture the beast' in all its glory!

Some news concerning my photography: I've been selling my prints both locally and online and the ongoing battle to promote my passion from hobby to business continues.  I'm working to put together both a calendar and a coffee table book.  I owe a lot to my dearest love Debrah for being so understanding and supportive when I disappear with my camera.

Looks like I scored a book cover deal also.  I've been contacted by a German publishing company about the possible usage of one of my photos for the front cover of a paperback!  I'll let you guys know if this all pans out.  I found this pretty exciting ... thank you Hanna

~Inebriantia has asked me to sit on the panel of judges for his ongoing 'Earth' photography contest.  He's been very understanding of the fact I'll be away during the end of the contest and says I'll still have time to throw my vote in.  Read all about it here: 'EARTH' photography contest and check out ~Inebriantia's journal for updates and further details. Lots of goodies being given away there as well as features in many journals... my own included.

Many people have been featuring my work around here and I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for all the wonderful support this dA community has shown me.  I just broke the 4000 watcher mark since my last journal too! .. so it's time to revive my 'Recent WOWs' section of the journal and return the favor. It's a selection of my very favorite deviations found lately while surfing the site.

So anyway, it's time for me to hit the road on Wednesday ... I just want to wish you all the very best and I'll be back in action by the end of the month.  Until then...

luv y'all!

Skinner







Don't forget to use these great links once and awhile!:
RANDOM DEVIANT
RANDOM DEVIATION</u>




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My latest prints:</u>

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From my gallery:</u>