Prairie photos by Larry Schwarm

January 18, 2008 4:05 PM

Larry Schwarm is best known for his photographs of prairie fires and landscapes in the Flint Hills of Kansas. On May 5, 2007, he visited his hometown of Greensburg, Kansas to take photos of what was left after an F-5 tornado leveled the town the day before.

There's some browser resizing, just so you know... or at least there is for me.

posted by sleepy pete (12 comments total)

Jesus fuck.
posted by dersins at 4:23 PM on January 18

(That was in reaction to the first photo in the series.)
posted by dersins at 4:24 PM on January 18

The photos are great--but is there any way to keep it from resizing my window, as sleepy pete noted? Wrestling with my browser is interfering with my peaceful contemplation of these powerful images, and I do prefer peaceful contemplation.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:32 PM on January 18

Admiral, disable javascript.
posted by topynate at 5:05 PM on January 18

Ahh, peaceful contemplation is in my grasp! Thanks topynate!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:49 PM on January 18

Amazing photos. Thanks.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:12 PM on January 18

cooool.
posted by RedEmma at 7:12 PM on January 18

What's the update on Greensburg? Did they start to rebuild as promised or is it an ex-town? I guess I can go try to find out...
posted by maxwelton at 8:23 PM on January 18

Just from a quick search of the county newspaper, maxwelton, it looks like it's moving slowly, but surely. I don't have family in that part of the state and I haven't been there since it happened, so I'm not quite sure.
posted by sleepy pete at 8:42 PM on January 18

Damnit, can't these photographers use flickr or something with an interface that's remotely usable and not as infuriating?
posted by Poagao at 10:08 PM on January 18

Such power and odd beauty. The composition, color and balance in these shots of utter chaos is remarkable, but jesus man, for someone that spends his life in the visual space, he should get (or find someone with) some damn web design skills.
posted by psmealey at 4:32 AM on January 19

For those who enjoyed this, do check out the book shown in the first link, On Fire. It's fantastic.
posted by cog_nate at 8:43 AM on January 22