The Grapes of Bliss

John, an inmate serving a long prison term, is released to battle a raging wildfire in the Wine Country alongside first responders. Soon, the firefighters are desperately trying to reach a trapped family who are defending their beloved winery. Defying orders by superiors to abandon the fire lines, our hero pushes forward and joins the family in their hopeless struggle against the approaching flames. Scenes follow where John selflessly struggles to save the terrified family from the advancing inferno. Somehow, against all odds, the day is won. The family and John (including their beautiful daughter) huddle together in grateful embrace, surveying the remains of their life's work. Although much is reduced to ashes, a solitary row of vines filled with vintage grapes has escaped the holocaust, a symbol of hope for all to rebuild their lives . . .

This photo was taken by a Kowa/SIX medium format film camera and KOWA LENS-S 1:3.5/150mm lens attached to a T/3 extension tube (16mm) with a Kowa L1A ø67 filter using Kodak Portra 800 film, the negative scanned by an Epson Perfection V600 and digitalized using Photoshop.