Bob Crum

All photos by Bob Crum.
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Though I often contemplate unmercifully admonishing Buy A Camera! my saintly conscience dictates entice gently. Thus you are spared undue wrath which I suspect would ultimately serve no useful purpose anyway.

A constant email question: Why do I need a camera while my smartphone takes fine photos? Smartphones are wonderful for “snaptography... not photography! Let's explore & discover”. Beware: The intent is to convert you!

Yes, a few ubiquitous smartphones sport some useful features; optical image stabilization, better autofocus systems and shutter speed adjustments. The cliché the best camera is the one you have with you obviously applies to smartphones... presuming that you don't own a “real” camera.

However, a smartphone is a generalist device. As a camera, a cursory glance of smartphone camera specs quickly reveal several deficiencies. That hurts, I know. Phonetographers want their smartphone to also be a 'great' camera. It ain't! If you want superior image quality, and photography experience, a dedicated camera is paramount.

The compactness of smartphones prevents optical zooms which is superior. Hence, they employ inferior digital zooming. A digital zoomed image is merely cropped and expanded, decreasing resolution and image quality to varying degrees.

Smartphones also suffer from incredibly small sensors. A tiny sensor decreases dynamic range which affects how many colors the sensor can accurately produce. Larger sensors of dedicated cameras mean higher dynamic range and decreased noise levels in dim light resulting in much better image quality.

Depth of field is important in the photographic creative process. Most smartphones utilize wide-angle lenses. Great for bokeh... not depth of field. So what? Depth of field matters greatly if you intend to creatively control image composition.

Dedicated camera battery life is much greater. A smartphone's ultra compact size prevents using robust batteries, just enough power to get through a day of normal use. Shoot some smartphone photos/video and the battery energy is quickly depleted. Note that camera batteries are swappable in the field if needed. Nice.

For ultimate convenience, can't beat smartphones. But for quality photos, a dedicated camera kicks smartphones to the curb. Image quality, accompanied with enhanced creativity, dedicated digital cameras will continue to be a great purchase far into the future. By the way, anyone see an 8 X 10 print from a cropped smartphone photo? It's awful!

The June issue of Consumer Reports includes an interesting camera article. CR contends that most consumers trading up from a phone camera will be pleased with the a class of cameras called 'enhanced' point-and-shoots. Also referred to as 'bridge' cameras, they utilize fixed lenses which are quite sharp as indicated in camera reviews.

Enhanced point-and-shoot cameras also provide for manual control. They also capture photos in the RAW file format, important for non-destructive photo editing.

A small sample of CR's rated point-and-shoots: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, Canon PowerShot G3 X, Sony Cyber-shot RX10, Sony Cyber-shot RX100IV, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, Panasonic LX10. For the adventurous, there isn’t a better rugged waterproof compact around than the Olympus TOUGH TG-5. Here's a link to a valuable camera review resource to help you with due diligence... https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ Next: dSLR cameras.

The photo of the week is another of the magnificent steam engine shot during the recent Railfest. The composition is one of many creative options. Point being, most situations will offer multiple options for framing the composition. A camera and an artistic eye create memorable photographs. Exercising creativity makes photography profoundly gratifying. Not only is photography an exceptionally rewarding experience, it is also an unconditional means of expression. Cameras provide the means!!! Convinced?

Send comments, suggestions, questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

At last night’s meeting the council announced the Fourth of July Fireworks show along with other city business.
City Council approved for sale the vacant property located at 510 Santa Clara Street, to Aman Gupta, Rakhee Gupta, and Amary Grewal as purchasers. The property is being sold in compliance with state regulations and in accordance with the City’s State-approved Long-Range Property Management Plan.

City Council unanimously approved Zoning Ordinance Amendment 18-01, amending the City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance to allow for the creation of new original art murals and finding of CEQA Exemption.

Council approved the recommendation that they implement Measure I to update the North Fillmore Specific Plan: Rincon, Jensen design, and RRM for a total not to exceed $83,016.

The recommendation to approve Memorandum of agreement between Fillmore Unified School District and City of Fillmore for School Resource Officer, on a 50-50 basis, was approved unanimously.

City Council Resolution No. 18-3649 Calling and Giving Notice of the November 6, 2018, General Municipal Election and Resolution No. 18-3650, Requesting Consolidation with the Gubernatorial General Election being conducted by the County of Ventura the same day, was unanimously approved.

Mayor Manuel Minjares was appointed Primary to Joint Powers Insurance Authority Board of Directors.

The Planning Commission has one seat which was recently discovered expired on January 31, 2017. Christopher Hoy held the Commissioner seat that expired and is the only applicant after a two week recruitment. Mr. Hoy was reappointed to the Planning Commission.

City Council considered and approved the Ventra County Animal Services contract.

The 2018 July Fourth Community Fireworks Show was authorized, and the contract with Exposhows, Inc. in the amount of $15,000 as well. The show will take place at the Fillmore Middle School field. The cost of the 2018 show is mostly covered by contributions from the suppliers (Fillmore & Western Railways, TNT Fireworks and Phantom Fireworks) and by fireworks booth permit fees.

Jose Luis Luna, 56, Santa Paula.

A Santa Paula resident was arrested Wednesday for the theft of a vehicle in the city of Fillmore on April 4, 2018. The victim, who is a Fillmore resident, reported that his vehicle had been stolen from the parking lot of a grocery store in Fillmore while he had been inside shopping. On April 6, 2018, the victim was in the city of Santa Paula and found his stolen vehicle parked in a condominium complex, where two men appeared to be working on the vehicle. The two men fled the area when the victim approached them.

The investigation revealed Jose Luna was one of the two suspects who had fled the area and was responsible for the theft of the vehicle. On May 2, 2018, Fillmore detectives located Luna near the 400-block of Harvard Boulevard in Santa Paula and arrested him for vehicle theft. Luna was booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Luna is currently in custody awaiting arraignment with a bail of $75,000.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens to keep vehicles locked and to not leave the keys inside their unattended automobiles. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity, such as people looking into cars and/or loitering where vehicles are parked.

Prepared by: Detective Bill Meixner #3695, Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen.

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City of Fillmore Fire Department and the Ventura County Sheriffs Department presented a nationally recognized program to stop underage alcohol consumption and driving. The program entitled “Every 15 Minutes” which is a two-day program that involves juniors and seniors at Fillmore High School. The program agenda was as follows:

Part I: “Living Dead” - students were removed from class during the first four hours of the day and made up with white faces and black shirts to represent them as an alcohol related death over the proceeding 48 hours. The students were not allowed to speak with any other students, staff or family for the rest of the school day. The students were then lead to part II of the presentation and standby throughout the event.

Part II: Mock Vehicle Crash. On May 4th at 10:30am all juniors and seniors were escorted to intersection of Shiells Drive & Second Street, where the students were able to see a real time simulation of a motor vehicle accident resulting from alcohol
consumption.

Written By Laura Bartels and Steven Geddes

Fillmore High’s legal team made major strides during the Ventura County Mock Trial competition on February 26th and 27th, 2018. The highlight of the competition was Fillmore’s defense team saving their defendant from a life sentence with a NOT GUILTY verdict against both Villanova and Pacifica High Schools. The Fillmore team, now in its sixth year, consisted of 6 seniors, 4 juniors, 2 sophomores and 5 freshmen. At the awards ceremony held at the Oxnard Civic Arts Center, freshman Olivia Palazuelos won a Ventura County Second Place Award as defense witness Acorn Shop Owner Avery Williams; senior Paulina Guerrero won Third Place as Prosecution witness Morgan Bonderman; and senior Mishell Beylik received a Most Valuable Player award was also garnering admiration from her team and coaches for her leadership. Mishell Beylik was also recognized and honored along with Manuel Gutierrez and Paulina Guerrero for participating in mock trial all four years of high school.

This year’s fictitious case, People v. Davidson, was the trial of Casey Davidson, a young person advocating liberal immigration policies who faced a felony homicide charge of the murder of foe Alex Thompson, an advocate from a conservative group seeking to limit immigration. Davidson’s defense team kept her out of prison with showing the court that the prosecution could not prove its case “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Fillmore High School students portrayed each principal of the cast in a courtroom, including attorneys, witnesses, defendant, court clerk, and bailiff. The trial was performed in real courtrooms at the Ventura Superior Court before actual judges and scored by Ventura County practicing attorneys.

The trials all begin a pre-trial motion designed to exclude evidence gained by what defense claims is an illegal search. This year’s pre-trial motion focused on the Fourth Amendment protection against the government using GPS location data from a third party GPS provider to track the defendant. In the case, the police detective obtained a court order pursuant to the Stored Communications Act to obtain location data for the defendant’s car late at night over the course of a couple of weeks at victim’s warehouse. The GPS data from Defendant’s car communicated the location to satellites in space and with this information, the location of the car GPS can be tracked within 50 feet of its precise location. GPS and satellite companies keep and retain location data to help them improve features of their products. Freshman George Mooradian won both his motions arguing that the government is allowed to track people using GPS technology. The present laws which were written before the widespread use of cell phone location data and electronic tracking allows such invasions of privacy. The defense junior Edgar Gonzalez argued that the antiquated Stored Communications Act provides too wide a loophole for law enforcement to routinely track people. The students were able to follow the actual case which the fictitious case was based when they heard oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court in November 2017 in People v. Carpenter. It is anticipated that the results of the Supreme Court case will have landmark implications for the 4th amendment and privacy laws.

The prosecution attorneys, senior Mishell Beylik, junior Damian Mesa, and sophomore Isabella Palazuelos hit the ground running in round one against Rio Mesa High School and again in round three against Agoura High School. Prosecution attorney for pre-trial motion, freshman George Mooradian, strongly presented the prosecution’s argument of the law which the court was required to follow due to precedent which allowed tracking a person using a car GPS. The judge was so compelled by Attorney Mooradian’s persuasive nature, keen understanding of the facts and understanding of the nuances of the law that he denied the defense’s motion This win gave Fillmore’s prosecution a huge advantage resulting in a guilty verdict and one of Fillmore’s highest scoring rounds as well as a nomination nod to Mr. Mooradian for Best Pretrial Attorney.

In a strong opening statement, senior Mishell Beylik articulated the prosecution’s theory of motive, means and opportunity and tied the facts of the case to each element of the law of first degree murder. She developed for the judge and jury, how the prosecution would prove ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ that the defendant was guilty. Attorney Beylik’s convincing performance was singled out for comment by one of the scoring attorneys and she admirably scored solid blocks of 8s and 9. Prosecution attorney junior Damian Mesa garnered a perfect 10 for his prosecutorial skills and strong control of the courtroom. Sophomore and new to the team Isabella Palazuelos scored solid 8s and 9s. Ms. Palanzuelos was recognized and praised by the scoring attorneys for her bright and calculated cross examination of opposing team witnesses.

The police detective witness was played convincingly by senior Maria Elena Fernandez earning 8s and 9s. Freshman Montana Spangler played the expert medical examiner Devon Morrison who had to have a keen and facile understanding of wounds due to blunt force trauma, blood splatter and skin cell DNA. Ms. Spangler’s spunk, humor and tenacity earned her strong scores, including a 9 which is a huge accomplishment for a first year participant in mock trial. Freshman Melissa Tovar played the role of the local newspaper reporter Hayden Rodriguez earning an admirable score of 8. Ms. Tovar was extremely important to the team as she was able to fill in when there were unexpected vacancies. Senior Paulina Guerrero played Morgan Bonderman, friend of the victim bringing believability and credibility to the character and earning the 3rd place witness award at the county level as well as strong team scores. Rounding out the prosecution was new to the team senior Alexander Ponce whose job as Court Clerk was to keep the official time, a crucial role in a competition in which every second counts. Clerk Ponce accurately handled the timing for both the Fillmore and the challenging teams. His performance not only received a score of a perfect “10” by scoring attorneys, but also was nominated as “Best Clerk” at the Oxnard Civic Arts Center.

Fillmore’s strong defense attorneys senior Manuel Gutierrez and juniors Jerry Tovar and Fatima Bazurto took control of the courtroom to spare the life of their defendant in round two against Villanova High School, and in round three against Pacifica High School. The Defense Team opened with a pre-trial motion to suppress the police’s tracking the defendant via the car’s GPS tracking system. Citing United States Supreme Court case law, senior Edgar Gonzalez argued that the defendant’s right to privacy are violated under the protections of the Fourth Amendment and that government tracking people privately is exactly what the fourth amendment should be protecting. Superior Court Judge Mindy Johnson (ret.) agreed with Mr. Gonzalez and believed that this kind of police tracking it too intrusive as held against the 4th amendment privacy protections. By winning the pre-trial motion, Mr. Gonzalez was able to set the stage for the defense to have the evidence of the police misconduct suppressed which contributed greatly to a not guilty verdict.

With a thoughtful and pragmatic opening statement, Manual Gutierrez set the scene of how there was inadequate evidence to convict the defendant. Mr. Gutierrez walked the jury through how it was not possible for the jury to be able to get over the prosecutorial burden of beyond a reasonable doubt and he garnered laughs when he invoked the game of Clue debating whether it was “Mrs. Peacock in the Observatory with the Candlestick.” Junior Fatima Bazurto received a nomination for her role as defense attorney. Now in her third year of mock trial, Ms. Bazurto is quick to think on her feet and her intelligent cross examinations of witnesses earned her high scores. Closer junior Jerry Tovar brought in solid scores and circled the wagons around the game of Clue referencing the old popular board game. He also cleverly reminded the scorers of the burden of proof and if there were reasonable interpretations of guilt and of innocence that the trier of fact must accept the interpretations that points to innocence. The jury was convinced and not guilty verdicts were received in both trials.

Senior Paulina Guerrero portrayed defense expert witness Dr. Tory Lee effectively eliminating any plausible explanation proffered by prosecution of the murder weapon. She earned a coveted score of “10.” Newcomer to the team and freshman Oliva Palazuelos won second place at the County for her role as the Tech Shop Owner. And strong scores from the scoring attorneys. Freshman Jorge Lizarraga played defense witness Fabian Moreno, a history teacher with a mysterious past. He earned a 9 for his strong, solid and believable performance. Newcomer senior Alina Herrera played the Defendant who was relieved for her 2 not guilty verdicts from her strong defense team. Collected and confident, Defendant Herrera received a nomination as “Best Defendant.” Sophomore Lilly Diaz as Bailiff scored 9s and a perfect 10 for her control of the courtroom and protecting the judge. Bailiff Diaz with a kind but firm manner made sure the trial was free from cell phones, talking and eating.

At the awards ceremony at the Oxnard Civic Center, the Fillmore team received two impressive “Best of” awards; 10 “best of” nominations; and over the two nights of competition earned four perfect “10” scores. The Prosecution team received one guilty verdict and the Defense team received two not guilty verdicts. The team ended the competition solidly. The students owe their success to long hours of research, preparation and practice, including lunch time, vacations, after school, and weekends.

At the team awards banquet the following awards were created, voted and given by the students: Best Attorney and Most Likely to Moderately Succeed: Mishell Beylik; Best Witness- Paulina Guerrero; Most Likely to be an Attorney: Isabella Palazuelos; Most Likely to End Up In Jail and Most Likely to Be Charged with Felony- Damian Meza; Most Spirited- Manuel Gutierrez; Most Likely to Get Away with Murder- George Mooradian.

The coaching staff consisted of school advisor, teacher and attorney Steven Geddes, attorney coach Laura Bartels of Taylor, Scoles and Bartels in Fillmore, attorney coach Gary Jacobs of Ventura; special coaches Jacqueline Tovar and Misael Ponce. Parents and teachers provided the students with invaluable advice and support, including law office staff Andrea Davis; Joi Searson and Grace Kline. Special thanks to La Fondita for helping with burritos; team parents: Mr. and Mrs. Mesa, Mr. and Mrs. Tovar, Szilvia Beylik; Principal Ito, Barbara Lemons, Fillmore Rotary Club, and patrons Val and Craig Sather.

For many families in our small town of Fillmore, CA this school has been a "safe place," a sense of "home" for over 50+ families just this year alone, filled with educators who not only are prepping our children for the next level of school, BUT also building up their moral character and truly LOVING them like their own. This year FCA is celebrating their 25th year, WHAT AN EXCITING TIME! However, as most of you have probably heard the building that we've been doing school in has been sold.

Although this is a very challenging time, we are fully trusting that Gods work is not done here. We have been diligently looking at new properties to where God is leading us next, and it is becoming very clear that we will need to raise funds for numerous things, one most importantly being an increase in rent.

ALTHOUGH WE ARE SMALL, WE ARE MIGHTY! It would be a blessing for our educators to keep their jobs, for our children to remain in the only school they've ever known with all of their friends and people they love, and for families to continue growing in Christ TOGETHER. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU to everyone in our community who has reached out and is willing to help. This School is an absolute treasure to Fillmore, lets keep it going STRONG! Please show your support by visiting our Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/fcas-new-home

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We want to take you way back when the Fillmore High Alumni Association had their Alumni Dinners. In the early 1900’s, the dinner meetings were held on the high school campus. Individual class meetings were held in separate classrooms following the dinner. The dinners, which usually consisted of pit barbecue, were prepared by various groups including Albert (Dutch) Bartels ’26 and his crew, and Ed Burson and his group. They were held with attendees sitting at tables on benches made from citrus picking boxes and 1X12’S. The dinners were held on the old tennis courts, which is where the cafeteria is located now. After 1951, dinners were held between the current gym and the cafeteria on the high school quad. Dinners then moved to the Memorial Building where meals were prepared by the Fillmore Club, headed by K.B. Rogers ’46 and Ron Godfrey ’62. As the dinners grew in size, they were moved to the city park. Dinners returned to the Memorial Building (its current location) but this time out on the lawn area to accommodate everyone wishing to attend.

You can purchase your 2018 Alumni Dinner reservations at Patterson Hardware store (open 7 days a week) or you can go to www.fillmorehighalumni.com and click on the “Events” link at the top of the webpage.

Mark Ortega is President of the Fillmore High Alumni Association.

Bob Crum

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First, upside-down weather! This past winter's rainfall debacle discombobulated the spring wildflower bloom. Normally hundreds of acres of California poppies bloom around Easter in the Antelope Valley and around southern California. This year, nada!

Last Friday I drove to Ojai on State Road 150. Whoa! Just past the top of the hill and around the bend, glorious majestic poppies. Bunches in and around trees burned from the Thomas fire. Excited, I parked, surveyed the area and began photoing. Oh joy!

Not only a fantastic photo op, it also afforded me an opportunity to make photos that I'll need for future photography instruction. For instance, photographing wildflowers with & without a polarizer. Photos at both wide open aperture as well as f/11 to illustrate the difference the aperture makes regarding depth of field.

For wildflower photography, the trip up Hwy 150 from Santa Paula to Ojai is sweet. Drive leisurely. Before St. Thomas College, on the south side, a hillside full of wild yellow flower blooms (mustard?). Stop on the right road shoulder and gaze. Not far past the college, on the right, a lovely field of grape-soda lupines. For a background and color contrast, you'll see more fields of yellow wildflowers up on the hillside. Stop and make photos. Further up, another huge expanse of yellow flowers on the right with the Topa Topas as a background. Then, just after the lookout at the top of the hill: Poppies! Go! Photo tip: Watch your histogram. Best to under expose an f/stop or two so the flower colors are not washed out from the bright sun.

Tip #2: If you have a circular polarizer filter for your lens, use it. Most times it helps the flower's colors pop. Remember, polarizing most effective when the lens is pointed 90 degrees from the sun. Tip #3: During post processing (editing) enhance the flower's colors by decreasing the green foliage luminous value to reduce their objectionable glare.

Y'all know my photographic work is mostly photojournalism. However, I'm also a Fine Art photographer. Yep! The full package: Capture the photo, post process (edit) the photo and print the photo!

It's relatively easy to make a photo look respectable and nice at a low-resolution for the Internet. But to make an image look great in print involves a whole other skill set. Challenge accepted... prints made!

Unlike “virtual” images, a photographic print will always be the most realistic representation of an image as it is the only medium that is truly tangible and actual. As a 'photographer', from my perspective a photograph isn’t truly finished until it’s in printed form. Hmm. Your thoughts?

That said, I delight in informing you that I personally printed five fine art photographs and framed them for an art show. A thrill times 10! I went to Ojai last Friday to join the Artist Guild of Fillmore members, of which I am a proud member, to hang art! Lots of wonderful art – mine included – on display at the show!

Therefore, I extend a special invite to attend the Artist Guild of Fillmore Art Show Reception this Saturday, May 12, 2018, from 1-3 p.m at the Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 Montgomery Street. Meet the artists, discuss their awesome artwork and enjoy some fine wine. Most importantly, purchase a masterpiece, or more, that suits your fancy. A great opportunity to adorn your home with Fine Art from local artists. See you there! Here's a video of the Artist Guild of Fillmore members at the hanging party. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/1fxItJKG9oo

Photo of the Week: Poppies! Naturally!

Send comments, suggestions, questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Wright presented an Active Shooter training session for the City Council at Tuesday’s Special Meeting. He advised everyone to be prepared for any shooting event.

A Special Meeting of the Fillmore City Council was held Tuesday, May 1 during which the Council approved a project list to be funded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, and a contract for construction of pavement resurfacing SPEC No. 16-02, FEDERAL PROJECT No. 16-02 STPL 5222 (021). Portions of approximately 23 streets will be resurfaced. The City of Fillmore is projected to receive $260,433 in RMRA funds in Fiscal Year 2018-2019. Additional funds of $20,900 were also approved.

An ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING presentation was delivered by Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. John Wright at this Tuesday's meeting.

Sgt. Wright reviewed specific ways of responding to an active shooter situation in multiple areas, including public and private spaces. He emphasized the importance of learning and reviewing particular defensive techniques in the event an armed assailant should enter a building.

Call 911 quickly. Generally, all efforts should be made to run from the danger area if possible. Secondly, targeted individuals should hide, shelter in place behind a barricade from the shooter and remain quiet so not to reveal their location. Lastly, where no other option remains, every effort should be made to defend yourself, have the mindset to fight for your life. Where possible others should join in an aggressive, offensive reaction, attacking the shooter to disable him. Do not find yourself freezing in place with shock.

Wright advises people to think and discuss such emergency situations with fellow workers, and to encourage violence drills. Most shooters have "done their homework" before attacking.

He also advises everyone to take threats seriously; if you see something, say something. Building security is very important, as is knowledge of the workplace area. Wright reminded the Council that active shooter incidents occur more than two times every month nationally.

Wright emphasized the importance of having a well-stocked emergency first aid kit available; with tourniquets, heavy gauze, and other items, not just Band-Aids, to treat serious wounds, He also advised keeping a first aid kit in your car.