Bob Crum

I thoroughly enjoy the fantabulous Ventura County Fair. But thank goodness it's over! Recreationally speaking, the multitude of photo ops is bliss. On the other hand, shooting the kids with animals in the Junior Livestock Auction ring is a daunting task... my most challenging assignment of the year. Nevertheless, I miraculously survived... though still recovering.

Why such a challenge? First, the lighting in the venue is horrible... a combination of outside ambient light and overhead fluorescent lights. Furthermore, the size of the auction ring makes it difficult to get a respectable composition. And y'all know how heartily I emphasize composition.

Because the venue lacks sufficient light, shutter speed and aperture are a balancing act.

If I open the aperture too wide I loose depth-of-field. If I slow down the shutter speed too much to compensate for the lack of sufficient light, I risk blur.

Focus is another issue. If I back up I risk the auction ring railing grabbing the focus and putting the subject in the ring out of focus. If I get to the railing, I'm too close to get a kid and a 1,238 pound steer in the frame. No time to change the focus mode on the fly.

Given the circumstances, I compromise the shutter speed and aperture while letting the ISO float on 'auto'. But as the ISO floats to compensate for the lousy lighting, it goes pretty high. As it goes over 1200 on my Canon 7DMKII, noise becomes stronger. If you remember, digital noise looks like micro-sized flecks in the image. Treating the noise requires extra steps in during post processing. Worse, as I increase the noise reduction strength, detail is sacrificed. Balancing between noise treatment and detail preservation is a challenge.

Hopefully, none of my trials and tribulations cause any of you to take pause. While it appears to be tedious work, from the shoot to post processing, it all becomes second nature with practice. Is this any different than you deciding to play a musical instrument? Is it possible to become a virtuoso without practice??? Photography also takes practice!

Now the important yet rewarding part: Creativity. Photography is much more than taking snapshots. It's about creating in image. Creativity is the ability to frame a composition that results in a compelling image.

A frequent comment I hear repeatedly is that they have a digital camera but don't get the same photos that I do. Well, good composition is just as much a result of lots of practice as well as technical know-how. Technical know-how permits you to capture good compositions with correct exposure. And focus! The combination of technical know-how and the art of framing good compositions is what makes photography fascinating... and rewarding.

One other thing: Post processing. The camera is merely a computer that a lens is attached to. It's the first half of taking a photo. No image straight out of the camera is as good as it could be. Processing the image... from RAW data to a Tiff or Jpeg is the other important half. More on post processing in a future column.

If you don't have any plans for this weekend, consider spending a day at the Camarillo airport for the Wings Over Camarillo air show Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th. The ground display which includes many war planes of yesteryear is awesome. The air show is a treat. Go the website http://wingsovercamarillo.com/and you'll see my photo/video of photos I shot last year. See you there! Cameras UP!

Happy photoing,

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

Kathy Meza addressed the city council.

Last night's 3-hour regular city council meeting was a standing room only affair. As council meetings go, this would have to be classified one hundred percent positive.

Fillmore's Chief of Police, Sheriff's Captain Dave Wareham, led off with the 2017 mid-term crime report. Once again crime in Fillmore is reported to be low and on the decline. For complete statistics please visit our website, (fillmoregazette.com). Our Police Department continues to do an excellent job, making Fillmore one of the safest among California's 50 cities as it was found to be in 2014.

MOORPARK-BROAD BEACH SAND TRUCKS
City Manager David Rowlands reported that a contract between the City of Moorpark and the Broad Beach consortium to replenish sand on Malibu's Broad Beach, was nearing completion. This plan involves removing sand from the Grimes Canyon quarry, at the rate of 500 belly-dump loads per day, for at least 10 years. The trucks are set to deliver their loads down Highway 23, through the hairpin turns of Grimes Canyon, through the City of Fillmore, and down Highway 126 to Broad Beach in Malibu. This proposal will seriously impede traffic on Highway 23, including emergency vehicles, for the foreseeable future. The City of Fillmore has filed suit to block this agreement. The outcome is uncertain.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPOSAL UNANIMOUSLY DEFEATED
The big issue, whether or not to permit medical marijuana cultivation in the city, drew residents and non-residents alike, many carrying signs indicating their preference. A report on the listening session held several weeks ago concerning medical marijuana cultivation showed that approximately 150, mostly residents, attended. The idea of permitting cultivation in town was at that time voted down by a margin of three to one by the group. Fillmore was also the only city in Ventura County which voted NO on State Proposition 64 which permitted recreational marijuana use, despite the federal ban of the substance as a schedule 1 drug. The City of Fillmore has always strongly opposed marijuana in any form.

During public discussion of this issue both sides had strong arguments. Those in favor of introducing medical marijuana emphasized the large monetary potential; millions per year to the city coffers. Those adamently opposed to any marijuana business in town argued its proven harmful effects upon the community, particularly upon youth. Though "medical" marijuana, these residents admit, has legitimate medicinal uses, the overwhelming effects upon communities involves crime, violence, and many other negative influences.

So, the no on marijuana crowd can rejoice upon hearing of the unanimous Council vote against admitting medical marijuana into our community. The vote was essentially about money versus morals and, for a pleasant change, morals won out.

On Wednesday, August 2nd at 9:52a.m. a man drove into the front porch of a vacant house near Center and Church Street in Piru. A few pillars and a gas meter were damaged; the house was reported to be vacant at the time of the accident. The man was sent to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Last Friday, I opened and closed the Ventura County Fair with leg cramps as proof. But pleasure trumps pain. Never can I attend this magnificent Fair and not savor visual treats replete with abundant fun... aches be damned.

Upon opening at 11 a.m., I moseyed down Main Street... photoing here and there... eventually reaching the Morgan Horse Show Arena to shoot the “big beauties draft and carriage show”. The restored carriages and the horses that pull them are magnificent. Most interesting were the two draft wagons pulled by a trio of 2,000 pound horses. One team of three Belgian beauties and the other team three Clydesdales. Awesome!

Next... pure giggles: The All Alaskan Racing Pigs. In past years, my compositions concentrated on the pigs. But this year I decided to reset to default photojournalism. Still show the pig hurdles of course but include a much larger background of spectators. In a word: Context. In other words: 'Rooted in Tradition'.

Viewing the photos on my computer display I was pleasantly surprised. The reactions of the spectators adds a dimension to the racing pigs that I hadn't thought about in recent years. But also the perpetual question all photojournalists face: What is the photo's subject? Such are the complexities of photojournalism. In this case, what's more interesting... the Alaskan racing pigs or the reactions of the spectators? Perhaps both are equally interesting? What do you think?

Anyway, this is a great example of the allure and fascination of photography - the omnipresent multiplicity of options as well as the stimulation of experimentation. However, to experience this exquisite phenomenon, one needs... ahem... a 'camera'... not a smartphone. Just sayin'.

Unlike a colleague at another unmentionable publication, I did not succumb to the vast array of gastrointestinal teases: Turkey legs, BBQ ribs, funnel cakes, BBQ corn on the cob, ice cream dots, fudge, rice teriyaki bowls, deep fried watermelon, Dodger dogs, deep fried Twinkies, fish tacos, and much, much more. Anything with jalapeños would be self-inflicted agony! I relented only when I saw the advert: “Our Wurst is the Best.” So, a brat and German-style potato salad for lunch. Not exciting but safe and satisfying.

'Twas a bright and sunny day, a tad warmer than usual for the Fair. Photoing anything on the midway under such conditions is very challenging. So indoors I went at the Clark Animal Center for shade and where sheep and goats provided photo ops.

Later, time to capture a few gratuitous photos of the throng milling hither and yon. Sashaying to the Midway, dozens of contests chock full of colorful stuffed animals tempt fairgoers to ante up tickets to play. Winners are few but resisting the temptation futile considering that the carny barkers are experts at goading male egos... titillating machismo.

Sundown finally arrives. Remember the Fair golden hour? I was ready but challenged nevertheless given the atmosphere devoid of h²o particles to diffuse the light even the slightest. But try I must. The goal: Sunstars! Must haves! Spinning dials on the camera had my Canon 7DMKII screaming “what are you doing?” Shut up and do as I command, I reply... politely.

After the requisite evening photos, it was time to return to my truck to fetch a jacket for the inevitable chill and the tripod for the fireworks. Long day but fireworks are also must haves.

This coming weekend is the most action packed time, IMO. Tomorrow, Friday, is the ever exciting Junior Livestock Auction in the Clark Pavilion. Grange, 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) kids all bring to the auction ring the results of their earnest endeavors, raising a championship animal. Championship kids and animals they all are... no doubt!

Saturday and Sunday the always exciting PRCA rodeo. From barrel racing to bull riding... non-stop photo ops.

See ya at the Fair.

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

[Editor's note: See all of Bob's fair photos in this week's Front Page section.]