Alumnus Illustrates Realities of California Wildfires Through a Camera Lens
Stuart Palley ‘07 is a renowned wildfire photographer and is currently working on his second book, Into the Inferno: A Photographer’s Journey through California’s Megafires and Fallout, due sometime in late 2021 or earlier 2022 through Blackstone Publishing. The book is a narrative non-fiction featuring photographs and memoir-type stories from the frontlines of California’s wildfires. His first book, Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night, is a coffee table photo book from shooting six years of wildfires.
Palley will be the featured speaker for the Newport Beach Public Library on Friday, April 9, and he invites the Sage Hill community to register to attend this virtual event.
How did you get started in your profession?
Growing up in Orange County, and greater Southern California, we are all on the periphery of wildfire. We live in an environment shaped by wind, fire, flood and drought. As a kid I remember smoke coming over the coast from wildfires, ash falling on the dance floor sophomore year at Sage Hill, and seeing flames in 2007 from the Freeway Fire complex in Orange County. Football practice during Santa Ana wind events parched us on the field, and I saw first-hand how winds affect vegetation during fires.
When I moved back to California to complete my graduate degree in photojournalism, the state was entering the throes of a severe drought in 2012-2013. With a newspaper press pass and borrowed fire gear that didn’t fit, I started photographing fires across SoCal, thinking of it as a project I could photograph in my “backyard” -- that backyard being the greater SoCal metro area. Of course it was more than just drought, and as the seasons grew worse, it became clear that climate change played a key role in these blazes. I’ve always been interested in how humans interact with the world around them, how they try to control it, sometimes fail, and what happens in between. The time scales for these events can stretch years. For example, I started photographing the Salton Sea while at Sage Hill, and continue to document the water issues in the area, even 16 years after I took my first photo there as a junior with a fresh driver’s license. The same goes for fires, and I’m committed to being there to help document what happens in the coming years.
What is your proudest accomplishment since graduating from Sage Hill School?
I’m proud of the stories I’ve been able to tell across California related to wildfire and climate change. The firefighters, civilians affected by the blazes, and stakeholders I’ve met along the way also inspire me to keep documenting wildfires. The knowledge that has been shared with me, in addition to the privilege of witnessing these wildfires up close and first hand, is also something I’m grateful to have experienced. Seeing communities come together in the face of hardship, and earning trust to take photos during some of the toughest and most vulnerable days of peoples’ lives.
What about your experience at Sage Hill prepared you for what you are doing now?
Sage Hill exposed me to a world outside the bubble of wealthy and insulated coastal Orange County. Whether it was Service Learning gleaning an orchard for a food bank, or going door to door in communities helping a non-profit advocate for workers’ rights, those experiences expanded my perception of my place in the world. Digital and art classes allowed me to explore creative elements like design, photography, and writing. There was value placed on both science and the arts, and seeing creativity celebrated alongside more traditional pursuits was important for a young student figuring out their path in life. Also, outdoor camping trips to places like Joshua Tree helped develop my love for remote places and conservation.
What about your Sage Hill experience impacted the person you are today?
The combination of history classes I took on American and World History helped reframe narratives I would’ve otherwise never questioned. Both the actual specifics of historic moments, and the skills to assess sources, documents, trends, and events, gave me a lifetime ability to take information, parse it, and form my own opinions. I think, for me, that’s one of the most valuable things about an education at Sage Hill -- you’re not just being taught, you’re being taught how to learn, think critically, question the status quo, without forgetting the wider community around the school.
Also, when [I was on the football team], the discipline I learned through exercise, punctuality and team efforts have helped while documenting fires and other projects. It aided in understanding how interpersonal dynamics play out in larger groups and how to work as a unit.
If you could share one piece of advice to current Sage Hill students, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to explore subjects, interests or hobbies you’re interested in. It could lead to an entire career, side passion, or help you better understand the world and humanity around you. As the future generation, you will be the leaders of tomorrow, and we need innovative solutions in policy, science and advocacy for human rights across the globe. The stories of those who made a positive impact on their community, family or the world often come from a winding path of exploration.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Palley
Photo courtesy of Stuart Palley
Sage Hill School
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