Bob Crum

I'm reasonably sure that y'all recently saw or heard the news about the poppy superbloom out in the Lake Elsinore area. As much as I enjoy photographing poppies, I was not about to participant in that melee.

Last week I got word that the Antelope Valley (AV) poppy bloom was in full glory. This is good news! The AV poppy bloom was sparse to nonexistent the past several years from the drought.

Off I went and got my poppy itch scratched last Sunday. Almost perfect weather, 70° with a slight breeze blowing in bursts with calm sessions between mild bursts. Wind bursts annoying but tolerable. In one particular area, I saw a nice batch of poppies. No sooner did I lift the camera, whoosh, the wind increased tossing the poppies around. Wait a little and the air was again calm. During the calm spells, I made many photos. Patience rules the day.

This year I was bewildered. I've been photographing those delightful wildflowers for many years. In years past, there were vast fields where a gazillion poppies bloomed but nothing there this year. Further down the road, poppies where I had never seen them before. Nevertheless, there were plenty of new areas in which to photograph these golden delights and away from most of the mob. I avoided the tourist-packed Poppy Reserve off Lancaster Road. Of course, 90% of the people were phonetographers taking “snapshots”! They were like ants at a party featuring Reese's peanut butter cups.

Once plentiful in the AV, Joshua trees-also called izote de desierto (Spanish for desert dagger)-some still exist in a few areas in the AV. I recognize that most people are ambivalent about Joshua trees. However, their unusual growth patterns make them very photogenic. To my surprise and delight, my favorite little Joshua tree grove is in full bloom.

Having scouted the area, and surmising that the poppies will still be blooming for another week, I will conduct a field trip/photography workshop for the poppies and Joshua trees on Sunday, 3/31, contingent on the weather. Workshop fee: $25.00, cash only paid on Sunday. No phonetographers! Participants must have a camera and must know how to use it. Auto mode is OK. Bring a polarizing filter for your lens. The workshop is about 'seeing' and making compelling compositions with proper exposure, not about how to use your camera. If the weather on scene turns nasty, fees paid promptly refunded. I'm in no hurry to buy a yacht!

As I write this on Monday, I see that 6-9 knot wind is forecast. That's about like last Sunday. If we got there at the right time, we might have a good photo shoot before it got too windy. Timing is tricky. No need to be on the scene too early because poppies don't open until the sun warms them up a little. Too windy and they don't open. The optimum time is from about 9:30 am to 2 pm. That's a substantial photographic window of opportunity.

Please note that I require a minimum of five participants and no more than ten. If five photographers don't show up at departure time, it's a no go! If you're interested, please email me by 6 pm Saturday 3/30/19 and consider your email a commitment. I can take one person in my Ford F-350 pickup. Email me with your questions.

The photo of the week is, of course, California poppies I recently photographed in the Antelope Valley. See the photo in color at: fillmoregazette.com. Happy photoing.

Sent comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotography.com

California –District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Gale Hartman (DOB 03/14/1938), was sentenced after pleading no contest to four felony counts of grand theft. Judge Bruce Young sentenced Hartman to 365 days in the Ventura County jail, with 60 months formal probation, and ordered him to pay $119,660 in victim restitution.

Hartman, while Treasurer of the Ventura Police Community Foundation and a civilian employee of the Ventura Police Department, stole approximately $119,660 from the Foundation by making systematic cash withdrawals over four years, using the Foundation’s debit card.

This fraud was discovered by the Ventura Police Department and submitted for investigation to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Investigation.

Submitted by Coach Cindy Blatt

FHS Swim Team hosted its first home meet on Wednesday, March 13th. Varsity Girls were defeated by Malibu – 109-56. Kat Furness swam to a win in the 200 yd. individual medley in a time of 2:18.29, and a win in the 100 yd. butterfly in a time of 1:02.59. Both times are new school records and CIF Div. 3 Consideration times. Karen Trujillo placed second in the 100 yd. backstroke in a time of 1:22.27.

Varsity Boys were defeated by Malibu – 123-29. Sam Guzman had two second place finishes in the 100 yd. butterfly and 100 yd. backstroke. Eddy Rodriguez placed second in the 50 yd. freestyle with a PR time of 26.08.

Jr. Varsity Girls defeated Malibu – 89-29. Olivia Palazuelos was a two time winner in the 200 yd. freestyle and the 100 yd. freestyle – both were personal records. Isabela Regalado won the 50 yd. backstroke. Zoe Avila won the 50 yd. breaststroke.

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United Water Conservation District and its contractor, Parks Management Company, are happy to report Lake Piru is at its highest level in over a decade. United Water’s Lake Piru is now at 73% full, compared to only 15% full last October.

The Reasoner Cove launch area at Lake Piru has now been reopened. The Juan Fernandez Day Use Area and launch area will also reopen by May 1, 2019, with sand being brought in to develop a quality swim beach.

“This is great news for recreation and water enthusiasts. We encourage people to come and enjoy the day, boating, fishing water skiing, jet skiing, swimming and evenings under the stars camping at Lake Piru,” commented Mauricio Guardado, General Manager for United Water Conservation District.

Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made for pontoon boats, fishing boats, kayaks and paddle boards, which are available for full-day or half-day rentals.

Please reserve online at: www.campone.com or www.camplakepiru.com, or by calling Lake Piru Recreation Area at 805-521-1500. Lake Piru is located at: 4780 Piru Canyon Road, Piru, CA 93040.

About the United Water Conservation District
Who we are, what we do and why it matters:
Since 1927 United Water Conservation District has served as a leader among water agencies by managing, protecting, enhancing and securing the water resources of the Santa Clara River and Oxnard Coastal Plain. The District works to protect the environment’s natural attributes and conserves runoff from all major tributaries of the Santa Clara River including Piru, Hopper, Sespe and Santa Paula Creeks.
United Water Conservation District is committed to managing the area’s water supplies through groundwater replenishment and construction and operation of efficient water supply and delivery systems. The District serves as the conservator of groundwater resources that are utilized by the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore, as well as several mutual water districts, farms and individual pumpers. United Water also provides surface water for agricultural irrigation and treated drinking water to the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. UnitedWater.org.

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Submitted by Jan Lee

Spring has arrived. All around us flowers are beginning to bloom. Time to look around your yard to choose which flowers, potted plants or dish garden you want to enter in the Fillmore Flower Show this year.

Besides single stem cut flowers, there are other divisions for flowers. Division III is Bouquets. Arrange in a vase, cut stem or stems of the same flower variety or mixed colors or type of the same variety, but with no filler. Or, you can enter Division V, Arrangements. Flower displays up to 20” X 20” in your own container that may include items appropriate to the scene. Class A is traditional, Class B is Oriental Manner, Class C is Modern Abstract. Division VI, Miniature Arrangements and Bouquets. Class A not to exceed 4” X 4”, Class B, Not to exceed 10” X 10”.

The theme this year is “100 Years Celebrating Flowers.” The Flower Show has been a fun event since at least 1919. The Fillmore 2020—Civic Pride Committee has planned some special activities for the show this year. There will be live music, a plant boutique, children’s projects, displays from past Flower Shows and other interesting things to see and do. Plan to enter and/or visit.

See you at the Active Adult Center, 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore on April 13 and 14, 2019. For more information go to fillmoreflowershow.org.

Bob Crum

I received 391 replies regarding last week's mystery tree contest, but not one correct answer. So I win a scoop of scrumptious Baskin-Robbins ice cream.

The photo presented itself about three weeks ago when I went to Sespe Creek to shoot the muddy torrent. Clouds offered a dramatic background. After the photo shoot, I began to walk back to my vehicle. On the way, I passed a large rainwater puddle. Without thought mind you, I noticed a tree reflection in the puddle.

I instantly recognized the tree reflection on the puddle as a photo op. I didn't think: “Oh, how lucky can I get? Look at this phenomenal photo op. Wait, I must stop and take a picture. Click! Got it! OK, nothing else to see so must hurry back to the vehicle.”

The photographic process involved a series of shots before I got the desired composition I envisioned. This creative aspect of photography is extremely satisfying and immensely gratifying. And addictive!

In the previous column, I wrote: Regardless of the destination, a mindfulness phenomenon is unavoidable. Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of the surroundings on a moment-to-moment basis. Try it!

Seeing the tree reflection in the puddle is a typical example of awareness moment to moment. After years of photography, mindful awareness has become mostly an automatic function. Don't confuse this with thinking. It's not a thinking process. Thinking is a deleterious and pernicious habit. Worse, the instant the mind starts 'thinking,' awareness dissipates. Secret: Walk without deliberately thinking! You'll be amazed at the photo ops you'll 'see' that seem to appear magically.

At the scene, it took considerable maneuvering to get the desired composition. Move here, move there, up, back, ah, this will work - click! I made several photos before I got the money shot.

Keep in mind that I am seeing the top of the tree at the bottom of the puddle, the end of the puddle nearest me. I left a little of the dirt around the puddle in the composition.
Back home, I post-processed the image by first cropping slightly. Notice all the little white objects around the tree? They are stones in the puddle but in the reflection, they create a surreal image of the cosmos, IMO. But also in the puddle were some large stones that ruined the overall cosmos effect. I removed them using Lightroom's (LR) content aware tool.

Done in LR, I exported the image to Photoshop Elements for a few minor exposure adjustments with NIK. And executed one last but essential function: flip the image 180°. This created an image with the tree now upright. The dirt that was at the top of the puddle in the original image is now the ground at the bottom for the tree. Voila! A magnificent tree reflected in the rainwater puddle. So much fun!

The photo of the week is a flock of, I think, western snowy plovers. I was at a favorite beach location hoping for a glorious sunset. Didn't happen. But as I was shooting back-lit waves with the sun on the horizon, a speedy flock of the little birds flew by. I had only a second to capture a photo of these fast-flying birds before they were out of range; proof that there's always something interesting to photograph on the coast. Just saying.

Last Saturday, the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Foundation and the Parks & Recreation Department sponsored a 5K run & walk event and a cornhole tournament. See my photo/video of the event on youtube here: https://youtu.be/2K_97KjFN-U

Send comments, suggestions or questions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net