One photographer has an incredible addition to her arsenal of wedding photography after capturing a newlywed bride and groom while a burning building formed the backdrop.
Portrait, couple, and wedding photographer Megan Allen of Studio 22 Photography had just left the wedding reception of Dillon and Corrie Jameson in order to snap some pictures of the pair on their big day.
Recalling the excitement, Allen said, “Immediately, I ran toward the bride, Corrie, to alert her, and I was thrilled when she met me halfway through the reception hall, breathless, and said, ‘We have to go to the fire for photos!’”
The venture was no easy feat, including climbing up a gravel hill and crossing a train track to get a spot close enough, something less than ideal in a wedding dress. The images seem to have been worth it since what resulted is a series of epic photos that have a volcanic feel to them.
Photo by Megan Allen.
Allen described the couple as “fearless,” and said she’s always willing to go as far as her couples are.
Thankfully, the burning building was confirmed by police to be abandoned and that nobody was hurt. Two juveniles were arrested on a count of arson.
All images used with permission, and are copyright Megan Allen.
Talking about opportunity. Well done.
IMHO it's in poor taste.
I agree. I thought I was the only one who thought it bad.
I think had it been anything other than a disused, abandoned building, I'd have agreed with you
in the heat of the moment —no pun intended— how does one know if it is an abandoned building or not, or if anyone was hurt or not?
Exactly... she's all "dope dude," while in the meantime, there literally could have been people dying in the building behind her "moment." And couple this with the fact that they're all running on live train tracks that also could have been cause for more carnage. The end result was cool, but the ignorance was not.
Most likely by looking at it and its surroundings, and observing other circumstantial clues; it may have been obvious. I would say that they were in a better position to judge than us...
Something had to trigger the fire, even if that something was a rat drenched in chemical x, met another rat drenched in chemical y, and the exothermic reaction resulted in a fire. The point being, the photographer had no way of knowing what great tragedy happened to cause a fire, or if the building was indeed empty of human lives. People may have entered to start a dope lab, or to inspect for a possible purchase, or survey for proper demolition.
We just don't know, even if standing there looking at the fire.
Cool pics. There's definitely a dichotomy here of using a situation that is someone elses as a cool opportunity. I could see how this could backfire...
Cool pics, but I find it hard to believe that people are still crossing railway tracks to get pictures.
https://fstoppers.com/news/teenager-dies-during-train-track-photoshoot-1...
Crossing rail road tracks is bad now? Shooting on them is one thing, but if no one could cross them, I'd never be able to get to work!
I guess different parts of the world have different volumes of traffic with different requirements.
In the UK places where folk are allowed to cross train tracks are pretty rare; doing so anywhere else is a criminal offence - with good reason
Not sure what the good reason is... unless the tracks are so busy that it would be impossible to cross safely.
Simple: tracks can look clear but it's often impossible to react quickly enough to get out of the way when trains come through.
Maybe in some parts of the world you can be sure that trains will only move slowly enough to be avoided. That's not so in the UK.
Yeah, seriously. I live one block away from a very busy railway. I have to cross the tracks to go for a run in the park, get to my friends' house, or even access the freeway entrance. Doesn't mean I'd conduct a photo shoot in the middle of the tracks, but there are signals at most crossings and it's pretty obvious when a big-ass freight train or Amtrak is approaching.
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, they're cool pictures.
But on the other: trespassing -- train tracks are considered private property. And it was dangerous. The sparks could've easily flown onto the dry grass or their clothes.
I'm a bit of a debbie downer, it seems.
Crazy cool pics. Talk about seizing the moment.
Yep, be very careful around railroad tracks. "Poor taste" ? Not if the couple likes it and no injuries were reported.
I like the second pose much better. I never understand the looking-in-opposite-directions pose. That's after twenty five years of marriage.
One of my sons got married recently and the photographer did a looking-in-opposite-directions shot, along with other similar poses. I don't like them. No. Not a bit!
Agreed. I don't see any intimacy in these pictures.
«…and no injuries were reported.»
So we wait to hear if any injuries were reported then decide if it is in poor taste or not?
I think some of you are making this out to be more than it was. This occured in downtown Dayton Ohio. The railroad that runs through is a freight only rail system at very low speed. The venue they walked from was not that far away. They were not impeding any traffic or firefighting efforts. This was a spontaneous opportunity that the couple and photographer took advantage of with very low risk of injury. Have included a map of the area.
How dare you present a reasonable perspective... prepare to be ignored, and perhaps even chastised!
I say get in line and prepare to wait, the line is long with many people ahead of you.
it's different. some love it, some hate it. most would wish they shot it. to me, it was a empty building and no one was hurt so i have no problem with this. if it was a house full of babies and puppies then it would be in bad taste. opinions are like assholes..........this is mine.
«if it was a house full of babies and puppies then it would be in bad taste.»
So we wait to find out what kind of building, and if anyone was hurt, to decide if we should shoot, or if it would be in bad taste?
yep. plus if it was full of puppies and babies you could probably hear them. and just for the people with no sense of humor........that was a joke.
It is usually safe to say that there are no babies and/or puppies in an abandoned industrial building. Making observations of one's surroundings and circumstances then applying logic and reasoning will go a long way; jumping to conclusions in ignorance from behind a computer screen, not so much.
unless it was a baby/ puppy factory you meant to say.
Right, well there's that.
«…had just left the wedding reception…. “Immediately, I ran toward the bride, Corrie, to alert her, and I was thrilled when she met me halfway through the reception hall, breathless, and said, ‘We have to go to the fire for photos!”»
That does not sound like, “Hey, I just realised that an abandoned building with no one in it is burning. Let's….” Even if the photographer knew that the building was, as you described, an abandoned industrial building, it does not mean that she knew no one was in it, (unless the photographer arranged the fire herself ;-) ).
Something had to trigger the fire in an “abandoned” building, even if that something was a rat drenched in chemical x, met another rat drenched in chemical y, and the exothermic reaction resulted in a fire. The point being, the photographer had no way of knowing what great tragedy happened to cause a fire, or if the building was indeed empty of human lives. People may have entered to start a dope lab, or to inspect for a possible purchase, or survey for proper demolition.
We just don't know, even if standing there looking at the fire.
Will the photographer be nearby when/if their marriage ends up in smoke??!!
Superb work. The wedding photography industry has changed dramatically. As more and more photographers are interested in taking up weddings professionally, many firms are focusing on wedding photographers with news products. Last year I had met Jon-Mark Photography. They are very famous in their area so I hired them for my ceremony. I am waiting for your next post.
Given the circumstances of an abandoned building in flames, and that the bride herself was excited about shooting in front of the flames, I think this is pretty cool. I especially like the second image of the couple standing on what looks like embers. Sure, there is lots of room to make jokes like their marriage will go up in flames, but it can also be taken in many positive ways, like their love will go on until the end of the world or if they have nothing else but each other.
The second pose is also excellent, and the lens compression pulls them closer to the background, so props for that.