I’m not much of a follower. Especially not when it comes to work.

Sure, I follow the rules and regulations of the biz. But for the most part, I love my job because I take control of the situation.

Let’s just say that I’m not going to sit around and wait for things to happen on their own. That’s now how I live. Not at home, not at work, not even in my sleep.

The only things I follow at work are instructions. I was asked to go check out a two-alarm fire in the Southwest. So I hopped on the truck and headed there ASAP.

Once there, I came across a group of video journalists affiliated w/ the local TV channels. They were all lined up at the spot where they could see the fire — about 300 yards away. I shot a few photos, but I decided I couldn’t just follow the crowd and, besideds, I needed a closer look.

After working it and talking to people I was able to get these shots (which, by the way, could have not happened from the line-up of TV peeps):

Anita Lilly, left, gets a hug from neighbor Ben Vegas as Houston Fire Department members put out a fire on the upstairs unit where Lilly lived during a two-alarm fire on the 6000 block of Bissonnet in Southwest Houston on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in Houston. Lilly lost everything in the fire, including a brand new set of couches she brought home on Sunday. ( Julio Cortez / Chronicle )

Houston Fire Department members put out a fire on the upstairs unit where Anita Lilly lived during a two-alarm fire on the 6000 block of Bissonnet in Southwest Houston on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in Houston. Lilly lost everything in the fire, including a brand new set of couches she brought home on Sunday. ( Julio Cortez / Chronicle )

Pretty cool, eh.

So, exactly how did I manage to get up so close you may ask. Well, I just worked the crowd. Talked to a few people that lived in the complex.

Heck! One lady let me shoot photos from her bedroom window. That’s where I shot this piece of video:

Rock On!

It’s fun getting closer than the competition.