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Things that go boom in the night and Military
Police.
There is a loverly penal code in California that allows the press great
access to explosions, disasters, accidents etc.
The problem is that certain law enforcement types ( like the Marine MP's
when on public property) either ignore the law or simply don't know it.
Friday night was a case in point. We had a major explosion at one of
the solar plants here - just a few miles from my place.
I went racing to the scene and was there within 20 minutes of the initial
explosion and subsequent fire. Was waved through by the CHP dudes and
then stopped by some snot-nosed-19-year-old-with-a-gun-Marine-MP before
I could get to the staging area.
Number one they had no business being there in the first place. Evidently
they came to help out until all the law enforcement in the entire county
could arrive.
Number two they did not have jurisdiction over me and could not prevent
me from going down to the staging area where the fire trucks were. The
little sh*t *said* he called down to the scene and spoke with a deputy
"Bob Smith" that said I couldn't come in. ( I just hate it when people
lie to me - found out later- there ain't no Deputy Bob Smith.)
I showed him the penal code, explained again that the law said I could
go down the road. He said that if I proceeded past him he would arrest
me and put me in jail.
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At that point I said "Yeh, you and your mother." Don't ask me what
I meant. I don't know! I just was pissed off. And don't ask me what
he *thought* I said!
This is the second time these jerks have pulled this and after
the first time I thought we had the problem solved. Evidently not.
I really really REALLY hate it when people tell me I can't do something
or try telling me what to do. Just makes the witchy part of me come
out.
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A fire burns out of control at the Sunray Inc.
solar plant in Daggett, CA after a massive explosion shook the plant
and surrounding area.
This photo ran five columns on Saturday morning in both the Desert
Dispatch and the Daily Press. It was picked up by AP and even garnered
a phone call from them praising the shot. That made me feel great.
It was shot with a 100mm lens with me standing up on my car. Photo
By Lara Hartley
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So off I went into the desert on a little dirt road I knew about and
circled around to get a good shot of the fire. Drove with my headlights
off and then snuck across the desert on foot up to the fence where I could
shoot through.
As things were still going kaboom in the night I didn't stay long, moved
back to my car and shot some more from there.
I had to hurry back to Walmart to get the film processed and filed by
deadline. My stuff was on AP before their shooter even arrived. Yea Lara!!
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After that I went back to the scene to see what was happening -
900,000 gallons of mineral oil were still blazing away. I hung out
with the cops I knew and schmoozed with the firemen I didn't know.
It paid off. One fireman dressed me in a fire-dude outfit and the
Public Information Officer took me and two other shooters into the
scene itself - within a few yards of the fire. OH MY! That is one
of the most beautiful and awesome sights I have ever seen. Huge
flames and black clouds roiling into the night sky. I was transfixed.
I could have shot forever.
The next day I went back for "ruins" pics.
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Firemen talk with company officials during
the fire in which 900,000 gallons of a mineral oil burned.
This image ran five columns on Sunday as
part of a three shot package that included the fire investigator
and the ruins. It was also shot with a 100mm lens. I saw this as
soon as the PIO took us to the scene and I raced to get in place
not waiting for him to say it was ok. He didn't mind my location
and waited until I was finished to take me around upwind of the
fire. Photo By Lara Hartley
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The fire still smolders and burns more than 14
hours after it started. Photo By Lara Hartley
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Today my editor talked with the public affairs guy on the Marine
base to try and get this thing straightened out with their MP's.
Next time I am going to push a bit and see if they really arrest
me. If they do, "there will be hell to pay" said Merrill.
And I'll sue!
P.S.
Technical note. My digital camera is in the shop (all together
now - aaaawwwwwww) and I am *forced* to use film once again. I am
SO happy! If I had shot this fire on digital the flames would have
been purple/magenta. Really yuckky and grainy. I truly love film
and especially my camera. Maybe the digital will get lost.
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A fire investigator looks over the burned
out remains of the fuel tanks.Photo
By Lara Hartley
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"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable
man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore,
all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
-- George Bernard Shaw
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