By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson photographer Nick Hemphill explains why his are the photos you usually see following fires in the Salt City. It started with a commission for a video project.
"To kind of really make a video that I think stands up to the quality of their department, I asked, is there any chance we can just get some new footage?" Hemphill said. "To do that, obviously, someone would have to be present where that's their entire focus."
With that goal in mind, for about the past two years, Hemphill has been notified as the firefighters are so that he can take photos and video of their work.
"Since they are there almost all the time before I am, because obviously they have a little bit more luxury with going through stoplights and stop signs and stuff like that, the fires are mostly out by the time I get there, which is a testament as to how amazing these people are," Hemphill said. "Men and women, young, older, they all just come together as a tremendous team and they put those things out. When I get there, sometimes there is still fire going on. I try everything I possibly can to use the experience I have of getting to shoot photojournalism in a former life, so to speak and just cover the event. Families and friends have all just been so appreciative of getting to see their loved ones do what they do."
Hemphill's goal is to look for the helpers.
"For me, the important thing is, I focus on the people behind it," Hemphill said. "I don't want to show people those Pulitzer Prize type of photos where it's like, oh my gosh, look at my amazing photography. I want it to be, look at these amazing people. That's really my main focus."
Most of Hemphill's fire photos can be found on the Hutchinson Fire Department Facebook page when fires occur.