Texas Wild Fires from 6,000 feet, stills and video

Yesterday afternoon myself and Fort Worth Star-Telegram photo editor Ian McVea took off from Grand Prairie Municpal airport and headed west to the wild fires burning in Palo Pinto County, near Possum Kingdom Lake. Most of the fires had been knocked down, but the destruction of 6,500 acres was unbelievable. The fires turned parts of the earth into a moonscape. Sorry for the shaky video (at the bottom of the post), but flying in turbulence with a telephoto lens and a 120mph wind rushing by an open window makes it difficult to hold steady. 

A dust devil, kicked up by hot dry winds, swirls dirt and ash into the air after a wild fire burned thousands of acres in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon WadeA firefighting aircraft flies over scorched earth whole looking for hot spots near Possum Kingdom Lake in this aerial view of the wild fire destruction in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade

Flame retardant (red streak) dropped from a firefighting aircraft divides scorched earth and green vegetation in this aerial view of the wild fire destruction in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon WadeA firefighting helicopter looks for hot spots after picking up a load of water from Possum Kingdom Lake in this aerial view of the wild fire destruction in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon WadeA wild fire hot spot flares up near Possum Kingdom Lake in this aerial view of the wild fire destruction in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon WadeA firefighting Chinook helicopter refills a water buck from Possum Kingdom Lake in this aerial view of the wild fire destruction in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon WadeAerial view of the wild fire destruction in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade

Pacific Northwest Trip - Seattle, Portland and San Juan Island

Lindsey and I took a week and half trip to the Pacific Northwest. We had to pickup our rental car in the SEATAC parking garage. It took me about five minutes to realize that we were outdoors. The weather was that comfortable. The warmest it got on the trip was 80 degrees. A barista even asked me if I wanted a iced coffee because it 'was so hot out.'

voodoo doughnuts in portlandRose garden in PortlandBrandon Wade takes in the view from the West side of San Juan Island.Whale watchers and a Orca.OrcasA sea lion basks in the sun.Brandon Wade poses for a portrait while kayaking looking for orcas.Lindsey Perkins poses for a portrait while kayaking looking for orcas.Lindsey Perkins poses for a portrait while kayaking looking for orcas.Brandon Wade and Lindsey Perkins pose for a portrait at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.A ferry carrying passengers and vehicles exits a fog bank enroute to Friday Harbor.Lindsey Perkins captures a Boeing 777 on final for Boeing field in Seattle, Washington.Brandon Wade poses in the 'Blue Comet' during a ferry ride back to mainland Washington from Friday Harbor.People take in the late evening view of downtown Seattle from Gas Works Park. A man casually takes in the view of downtown Seattle from East Queen Ann.A man casually makes his way across Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.The gum wall at the Pike Place Market.The gum wall at the Pike Place Market.Brandon Wade and Lindsey Perkins pose in front of the gum wall at the Pike Place Market.The gum wall at the Pike Place Market.Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Downtown Seattle, Washington with Mount Mount Rainier in the background.A aerial view of a US Navy ballistic missile radar is towed around Puget Sound Seattle, Washington. It apparently constantly moves around the Pacific Ocean so that it can't be targeted. Cool idea.Brandon Wade and Lindsey Perkins pose for a portrait while taking an aerial tour of Seattle, Washington in a De Havilland Beaver Seaplane.A aerial tour of Seattle, Washington in a De Havilland Beaver Seaplane.A aerial tour of Seattle, Washington in a De Havilland Beaver Seaplane.A aerial view of Microsoft founder Bill Gates' home in Seattle, Washington seen from a De Havilland Beaver Seaplane.Brandon Wade poses for a portrait in front of a De Havilland Beaver Seaplane after taking an aerial tour of Seattle, Washington.