California’s wildfires are not to be taken lightly. They sweep over the land, incinerate entire towns and forests, and leave destruction in their wake. Every day, firefighters battle to keep the flames away from homes and businesses, while residents are sometimes forced to evacuate.
It seems hellish, but Los Angeles-based photographer Stuart Palley sees another side to the fires, as well. In these blazes, he sees majestic beauty.
For the past few years, Palley has been taking long-exposure night shots of the fires in California.
These exposures allow him to capture glowing light, trails of embers, and all of the stars beyond.
The series is called Terra Flamma, andit comes after tireless years of work.
He also captures the entirety of the landscape, showing how fires relate to the land on a larger scale.
The blue and green lights on the left are artificial lights, and the orange light on the right is the blaze.
Images like this highlight the ways in which these devastating fires affect people, as well.
The large-scale shots really emphasize how massive California’s forest fires can become.
In case you’re wondering, that ring of light is from a helicopter, not a UFO.
His work also pays homage to the brave men and women who battle these blazes.
Palley is no fool when it comes to the power of California’s fires. Each time he goes out to shoot, he takes precautions to ensure both his safety and the safety of any firefighters who may be working close by. He’s also completed a U.S. Forestry Service course on wildfires. Safety first, everyone!
You can see the rest of Terra Flamma and more of Palley’s work on his website, as well as on Twitter and Instagram.
