Norwest bank fire

A good photographer often skirts the fine line between getting the picture and getting in the way. Step on a fire hose on a night like this and someone will teach you the difference pretty fast.

Freelance photographers have at least one thing in common with calamities. Neither keeps bankers' hours. I sold this picture to United Press International before the fire was under control, and by dawn it was on the front pages across the country, including the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune.