Memphis, TN

Over the past 40 years I have witnessed countless house fires caused by fireworks, some resulting in fatalities, all resulting in tragedy. I took this more than 25 years ago in Memphis, Tennessee. I think of it often. This little boy burnt his house down playing with firecrackers on the 4th of July. He is seen with his mother, sitting on a neighbor’s porch as they watch their home burn to the ground. I can still hear him crying like it was yesterday.

This image was a full frame shot on Tri-X, with a Nikon F3P with an 85 or a 180 I believe. It ran 6 columns across the metro page of The Commercial Appeal newspaper.