Santa Barbara Tea Fire

Since I tinker with photography, I naturally enjoy the photography of others -- especially the real professionals. Someone just sent me the link to these amazing images that Alan Kim Boling, Jr. captured of the Tea Fire burning in Santa Barbara in November. It's always surprising how something can be horrifying and beautiful at the same time.

These images are especially powerful for me, because I grew up in Santa Barbara and my parents had to evacuate. I spent a sleepless night watching from afar as images like this appeared online, the line of fire marching uphill toward their home. Fortunately, their neighborhood was spared.