FIREWIRE Magazine Winter 2019: Celebrating 5 Years | Page 36

BEHIND THE LENS OF
Photographer
Highlights
BERNIE DEYO BRANDY NICOLE
My family has a long history in the fire service; my
father was a retired Los Angeles County Fire Department
captain, my grandfather was a Pomona firefighter and
my two cousins worked for Cal Fire and OCFA. I’ve
been infatuated with the fire service ever since I was
a little boy and my dad turned me onto the TV show
Emergency!. Over the years, as I began to document,
archive and witness as much firefighting activity as
I could, I found a real passion in photography and
eventually went on to combine my two greatest passions
into ever-growing world the fire photography, and fire
journalism. I have been documenting fires and other
emergencies through photography for over 10 years. I have been a professional photographer for
over 10 years. My passion for emergency
services photography has led me on a life-
long journey to provide photos and videos
capturing, in real time, first responders
and the communities they serve. I gained
experience and knowledge from working
in the fire service for many years, and that
has helped me to become a full time photo
journalist today.
BRETT MARKS JAMES QUIGG
Brett is an award winning, internationally published
photographer, and owner of HLM Photography. After
founding HLM in 2012, he currently serves as a
stringer for OnScene TV, where he films breaking news
in the High Desert and surrounding areas. He has also
completed the wildland fire academy at Victor Valley
College and is currently enrolled in the law enforcement
academy. Brett is a native of the High Desert, where he
and his wife raise their three children. James Quigg serves as the chief photographer
for the Daily Press newspaper in Victorville.
A veteran of covering numerous High Desert
fires, Quigg recently completed the master
of fine arts degree from Academy of Art
University. His project Tragedy through a
Teapot, which documented recovery after the
2016 Blue Cut fire, was recognized as the
top photo essay by the California Newspaper
Publishers Association.
TOD SUDMEIER
I have been photographing fires and emergency
incidents since the early 1980s. I started
photographing professionally in 2009 and
continue today. What drives me to get the shots
I do is the ability to show the public what fire
departments actually do. The work is tough and
dangerous and I have always felt that in general
the public is unaware. I have a strong passion
for getting action shots of firefighters engaged
in fire suppression and rescue operations.
I currently shoot for several departments in
Southern California that provide the opportunity
and access I need to get photos used for
publishing or posting on my social media. This
is my passion and I make every effort to get to
the working incidents and always show the fire
department in the most positive way.
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FIREWIRE • Five Year Anniversary
Winter 2019 • FIREWIRE
37