23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest The American Experience
The Call

In a world where instinct tells us to run from fire, some choose to run toward it. The Call is my reflection on that choice—the quiet weight carried before the chaos begins. Captured during a training drill, this image is not about action, but the stillness that comes before: the readiness, the burden, the resolve. Every fold of the hose, every mark on the tank speaks to the discipline behind courage—the ritual before risk. Shot in black and white, the image strips away distraction and focuses on form, tone, and character. To me, it is a portrait of purpose—what it means to face danger not with fear, but with duty.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2023
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Cadiz, Ohio, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 80D
Copyright: © Tiffany Bumgardner