Photos: A fire on Saturday left some downtown Juneau businesses wondering what's next?

Firefighters and emergency personnel work the scene of a possible fire Saturday night, April 15, 2017, in the 200 block of Seward Street, downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Tripp J Crouse)

I had just gotten home from walking around Juneau and Douglas, almost six miles in all. It was early evening, and I had started to change to put on my PJs for the night.

And then I heard a fire truck, and then another, and another.

Two went by.

I looked outside our atrium that looks out over downtown Juneau.

I could see smoke coming from somewhere near the Subway, but couldn't pinpoint which building might be on fire. I could see people standing at the corner of 2nd and Seward staring up the latter. I grabbed my best camera, swapped the 50mm lense for the 28-200, and headed out the door. 

(I regrettably left my phone, my second camera and my audio recorder behind me. I typically pack everything in a sort of "go bag," so that I have everything in reach when I need it. However, I had lightened a little so that I could walk around with it earlier in the day.)

ONE OF THE CHALLENGING things about covering a fire in the evening is that even in Juneau, where the sun hangs over the sky a little longer than the rest of the Lower 48, your natural light is limited ... and you become progressively dependent on artificial light (which you can't count on) and your camera settings (of which I have not mastered yet). I was grateful enough to have captured some awesome images. 

Alex Brown, the general manager at Alaskan Dames Consignment Shop, captures a video Saturday, April 15, 2017, while firefighters and emergency personnel work the scene of a fire in the 200 block of Seward Street, downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy Tripp J Crouse)

I ALWAYS TRY TO remember a few things. Get a range of near-middle-far photos. And Also try to establish something in the foreground, midground and background. Those two principles are my key. After that, I try to frame something so that it pleases my eye, make sure my settings are as close as I can get them, and snap. I do multiple captures, because sometimes I can't always get the one shot I want. And waiting to set something up isn't always a luxury you have while shooting spot news.

A firefighter attempts to start a chainsaw Saturday night, April 15, 2017, amid smoke coming from a fire in the 200 block of Seward Street, downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy Tripp J Crouse)

I ALSO HAVE A NEW FAVORITE game: I basically try and shoot other journalists working a story, but particularly the KTOO staff. I tag a folder in my Flickr account called the Way We Work, and it features all the photos I have of people working on stories or out in the field.

KTOO reporter Quinton Chandler records audio Saturday, April 15, 2017, for a news report on the fire int he 200 block of Seward Street, downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Tripp J Crouse)

Disclaimer: All photos are currently Creative Commons. If you share these photos or use them for publication, you must give me credit and link back to the source. I also really appreciate if you send me a message to let me know you are using them.