Perry Aston

Photojournalist

Community of Courage

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School: S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications is the communications school at Syracuse University, Defense Information School Purdue University Global

"There is nothing bet... Operator Oakdale Hose Company

"There is nothing better than helping people in need. I also want to be there for my friends who are in the fire department and make sure we all go home safe."

- Jon Little

Heavy Machine Operator

Oakdale Hose Company

"There is nothing better than helping people in need. I also want to be there for my friends who are in the fire department and make sure we all go home safe."

- Jon Little

Heavy Machine Operator

Oakdale Hose Company

"I've always ...r Fayetteville Fire Department

"I've always been a physical guy, I like staying

active and helping my community. I love the brother and sisterhood of it all"

- Bradley Hudson

Carpenter

Fayetteville Fire Department

"I've always been a physical guy, I like staying

active and helping my community. I love the brother and sisterhood of it all"

- Bradley Hudson

Carpenter

Fayetteville Fire Department

"I do it for the adre...Moyers Corners Fire Department

"I do it for the adrenaline rush of helping people

within my community."

- Alton Apples

U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier

Moyers Corners Fire Department

"I do it for the adrenaline rush of helping people

within my community."

- Alton Apples

U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier

Moyers Corners Fire Department

"I do it for the adrenaline rush of helping people

within my community." - Alton Apples

U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier

Moyers Corners Fire Department

I love it, the fact that peopl... Onondaga Hill Fire Department

I love it, the fact that people call you on their darkest day, and ask for help. It's really a good feeling when you provide that help for them - Millie Dordal, Volunteer Firefighter, Onondaga Hill Fire Department

I love it, the fact that peopl...Hill Fire Department

"We all do this becau...Moyers Corners Fire Department

"We all do this because there’s not much left in this country where you can risk yourself for a cause you know is good, But I think it’s mainly I feel obligated to the community I’m part of. If you go back 100 plus years’ people depended on each other in that community, they had skills that other people needed. Nowadays that seems to be, by the wayside, because everybody can afford whatever they need. Nobody really depends on anybody anymore. Whether people realize it or not there’s still a fire department and most of them are volunteer, and they may have to depend on them. It’s a way for me to give back to the community and feel like I’m part of the community."
- Dominick daloia

Construction Supervisor for National Grid

Moyers Corners Fire Department

Construction Supervisor for National Grid

Moyers Corners Fire Department

"We all do this because there’s not much left in this country where you can risk yourself for a cause you know is good, But I think it’s mainly I feel obligated to the community I’m part of. If you go back 100 plus years’ people depended on each other in that community, they had skills that other people needed. Now days that seems to be, by the wayside, because everybody can afford whatever they need. Nobody really depends on anybody anymore. Whether people realize it or not there’s still a fire department and most of them are volunteer, and they may have to depend on them. It’s a way for me to give back to the community and feel like I’m part of the community."
- Dominick daloia

Construction Supervisor for National Grid

Moyers Corners Fire Department

"We all do this because there’s not much left in this country where you can risk yourself for a cause you know is good, But I think it’s mainly I feel obligated to the community I’m part of. If you go back 100 plus years’ people depended on each other in that community, they had skills that other people needed. Now days that seems to be, by the wayside, because everybody can afford whatever they need. Nobody really depends on anybody anymore. Whether people realize it or not there’s still a fire department and most of them are volunteer, and they may have to depend on them. It’s a way for me to give back to the community and feel like I’m part of the community."
- Dominick daloia

Construction Supervisor for National Grid

Moyers Corners Fire Department

I was inspired to volunteer bec...rner Fire Department, New York

I was inspired to volunteer because my father is a past member. Now I am a member and I love being a first responder. I get to help people in need and learn something new on every call. Kirsten Fedorko, Moyers Corner Fire Department, New York

I  was inspired to vol...Department, New York

"The volunteer fire d... Services Oakdale Hose Company

"The volunteer fire dept. is in my blood. My grandfather, uncles, and father were all in it, I grew up at the firehouse. My family has always helped the community in any way they could, and my 10-year-old daughter cannot wait to turn 16 so she can follow in her father’s footsteps."

- Jimmy Snatchko

Instructor at Allegheny County Emergency Services

Oakdale Hose Company

- Jimmy Snatchko

Instructor at Allegheny County Emergency Services

Oakdale Hose Company

"I had a lot of famil...p; Software Engineer

"I had a lot of family that served in the military, police, fire or EMS. I grew up around it and wanted to help out my community since I’ve been raised here."

- Tim Richards

Software Engineer

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Thumbnail of "There is nothing bett_e Operator Oakdale Hose Company

Thumbnail of "I've always b_er Fayetteville Fire Department

Thumbnail of "I do it for the adren_ Moyers Corners Fire Department

Thumbnail of I love it, the fact that people_, Onondaga Hill Fire Department

Thumbnail of I love it, the fact that people_ Hill Fire Department

Thumbnail of "We all do this becaus_ Moyers Corners Fire Department

Thumbnail of I was inspired to volunteer beca_orner Fire Department, New York

Thumbnail of I  was inspired to volu_ Department, New York

Thumbnail of "The volunteer fire de_y Services Oakdale Hose Company

Thumbnail of "I had a lot of family_sp; Software Engineer

Public Project

Community of Courage

Date of Work Feb 2017 - Ongoing

Updated Feb 2019

Location washington, DC

Topics Action, Community, Documentary, Editorial, Family, Fire, firefighter, Photography, Photojournalism, portrait, Portraiture

The Volunteer fire service is deeply rooted in American history and tradition. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Samuel Adams were all Volunteer firefighters. Some of America's great fires were fought by volunteers.

For 85% of the United States today, volunteer firefighters are the first responders. They come home from their paid jobs and sacrifice their time away from friends and family to protect their neighbors and community. Usually, society has no idea the men and women answering the call are risking their lives for no money. However, the volunteer firefighter is a dying breed. Increased training requirements and busier lifestyles are making it progressively challenging to recruit and retain firefighters. This project is a way to show the communities the faces on the men and women who protect their communities. Using a diptych style to show the contrast between the uniform they wear to earn a living and the other one they wear to protect lives and property.

I'm looking for any critiques and guidance on how to give these people the spotlight they deserve. Any tips I can better light or pose and also edit my selects for future books I hope to sell and donate to these fire departments to help recruit.

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