Fifty years ago today, I was riding in fire and rescue trucks in Quincy, Massachusetts, while learning my craft—photojournalism.

Photography is more than what I do—it’s how I express myself. I began my journey as a photojournalist in 1975, training while embedded with the Quincy, Massachusetts, Fire Department. I lived alongside firefighters for two intense summers, documenting their daily courage. That experience, a literal “Trial by Fire,” ignited a lifelong passion for storytelling through images and words.

Today, fifty years later, I’ve come full circle—again riding with Quincy’s first responders, capturing how firefighting and community service have evolved across generations. This work has culminated in Trial by Fire: A Photojournalist’s Return to the Flames, a powerful “then-and-now” book set for release in September 2025.

Look here and at my website: https://www.roberthmiller.com

For upcoming information, book release and my lecture series in Quincy in September.

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Until next time, thank you for reading this story. In the meantime, please feel free to share any of our stories.

Take care, Robert

A word of gratitude to all my readers… Thank you all for showing up and reading my work, it means the world to Andrew and I!