Bank of the Sierra donates $4,000 to Fillmore Condors Cross Country. Accepting the check is treasure, Francisco Velazquez, President, Erika Arana, Coach Rafael Laureano and Condor athletes.
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Fillmore Condors Cross Country youth running club would like to thank Bank of the Sierra for their generous donation of $4,000. The Condors is a non-profit organization that is managed by volunteers. Some volunteers ran as youth through the program in the 1980’s. In 2004 it slowly made a comeback with the dedication of coach and former athlete Rafael Laureano, who continues today to have a love and passion for the sport. The 2016 season was the club’s 12th year and has recently merged with Heritage Valley Blazers Inc., the local track & field program.

The purpose of the Condors club is to educate the youth with the fundamentals of the sport of cross country. The aim is to teach through the sport: sportsmanship, leadership, and bring local youth closer together through the love of the sport. Our organization is open to boys and girls ages 5-16 with all athletic abilities. The athletes compete on a course ranging from 2K to 4K depending on age. The club has been successful throughout the years in sending many talented local youth to compete at the National Junior Olympics.

The donation will be used for, clinics, races, national’s, senior high school scholarships to continue their running careers collegially and to help aid athletes who cannot financially afford expenses associated with cross country. Fillmore Condor’s Cross Country appreciates all your support, THANK YOU Bank of the Sierra!

For more information visit us at: fillmorecondors.org
President,
Erika Arana

You know, the device that consists of a computer with a lens for producing photographs. A must have!

But if you're shooting photos with anything less than a $45,000.00 100MP Hasselblad H5D-200c camera you'll never get great photos! So move along...nothing here to help you. (grin)

A frequent comment: You must have a great camera. Of course, I respond, and because I have a really great oven, all my pies are the best in the world! Whether photos or pies, quality ingredients and a little know-how are far more important than the device.

Last week I emphasized the importance of “composition”. If the “composition” (photo) is compelling, the exposure correct and the subject is in focus you have just incorporated the necessary quality ingredients for a great photo. Kudos!

Obviously a camera and lens are essential for photography. But it doesn't have to be an expensive dSLR camera with a detachable lens. Many good photos are shot with a respectable point-and-shoot camera. Some cell phones have respectable cameras. But Fillmore residents beware: Phonetography is prohibited by ordinance 17, section 2.5, paragraph 9. Tourists are exempted. Just kidding.

It's often said that the best camera is the one that you have with you when you need it. Sort of. Like most things, you get what you pay for. Low cost consumer cameras lack quality sensors which are the heart of a digital camera. Accurate colors suffer in low cost point-and-shoot cameras and the lenses lack quality for the most part. But will aunt Martha notice any lens distortion in the photos of Jimmy's birthday party?

If your goal is to produce technically good images, there are quantifiable advantages to having better cameras. But that doesn't mean limiting out a credit card. Review your goals and needs then decide. Some delightful photos have been shot on inexpensive cameras but it's not the rule. If you're thinking about a new camera, plan for the future. As your photography experience and knowledge increase, you will want a camera that responds to your dictates. It's very frustrating to see the potential for a magnificent photo and discover that the camera is incapable of adequately capturing it. I know the feeling!

Which is why every time I think about the $45,000.00 100MP Hasselblad H5D-200c camera, I drool. And buy lotto tickets.

No matter the kind of photography, it all starts with a camera. Or... ahem... a cell phone. Next week I'll tell you what I have and why.

Happy shooting.

Write me at bob@fillmoregazette.com and tell me your thoughts.

Name the column contest is over. For now, I decided on plain ole Photography Know-How, with a subtitle describing the column topic. But I'll still treat all of you who participated in the “name the column” contest to a scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream Friday night, Feb 10, 7 PM at the B/R store.

City of Fillmore

A Public Hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Fillmore on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at 6:30 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, California, to consider the establishment of personal cultivation fee. This fee is intended to be used to pay for the processing of the Personal Cultivation Permit with the Planning Department, Building Department and Fire Department and reflect the actual cost or providing such services that include application review, construction plan review and inspections.

Interested persons are invited to attend and be heard at the Public Hearing. Testimony may be presented in person or submitted in written form prior to the hearing and made a part of the hearing record.

If you require special assistance in order to attend the meeting, including needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify the City at least 3 days prior to the meeting by calling (805) 524-3701.

Copies of the proposed fee schedule and further information on this subject may be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015.

Bob Crum

By way of last week's autobiography, most of you know that I have been a photojournalist and writer for a few decades. Also note that photography is not just something I greatly enjoy doing, it's a passion. Photography is seriously awesome! While photojournalism has been a vocation of sorts, wildflowers, landscapes, waterscapes and wildlife are all irresistible to photograph. My favorite, if you must know, is Mermaid boudoir photography.
Here let me wax philosophical for a moment. For artistic expression, some talented folks sketch, or paint – oils, water colors or acrylics. Lacking such talent, my artistic expression has been and is through photography. Photography is my expressive medium, my opportunity to capture and share my unique vision of the world with the world.

A camera captures a moment of time and light. The result, the digital file, the camera creates is my canvas upon which I take artistic license. Computer software serves as my instrument with which to create an image as I envision. The finished photograph... either a print or a digital file for the Internet is my artistic rendering.
Naturally, there is a process in producing an eye-grabbing photo. In the coming weeks, many technical aspects of photography like aperture priority, shutter priority, manual mode vs auto mode, depth of field, bokeh, exposure compensation, RAW vs jpeg and much, much more will be discussed.

The question I am asked the most is: How do I take better photographs? Well, I don't know! Just kidding! There are many intangibles to capturing an eye-grabbing photo. But the most important component is composition, a key aspect of a compelling photograph. Composition cannot be overemphasized and from what I observe it is the biggest mistake many photographers make. I'll discuss composition a lot.

I often take day trips here and there just for the purpose of shooting landscapes or wildlife. So, where I go and what I shoot will also be featured and discussed. All in all, I hope that you will be entertained as well as educated.

Til next week, it might serve you well to memorize the following:
Pixel Psalm ISO 200.f11
Unto photographers the Digital Pixel said:
“There shall be three Wise Elements
in the Mighty Trinity of Exposure:
Aperture, Shutter Speed and the
Holy ISO. Embrace the understanding!
Happy shooting!!!

The name the column contest remains open one more week. Prize is upped to two scoops of Baskin Robbins ice cream! BTW, yes, the name does need to apply to photography.

2016 Citizen of the Year Laura Bartels. (l-r) Laura Bartels, Irma Magana and Ari Larson.
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2016 Paramedic of the Year Robert Scott. (l-r) Martin Guerrero, Robert Scott, Irma Magana, Al Huerta & Ari Larson.
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2016 Firefighter of the Year Michael Salazar. (l-r) Martin Guerrero, Michael Salazar, Irma Magana, Al Huerta & Ari Larson.
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Congratulations to the 2016 Firefighter of the Year: Michael Salazar and 2016 Paramedic of the Year: Robert Scott. They will be honored at the Fillmore Community Award Dinner on Friday, January 27th. Also being honored that evening will be: Deputy Erik Hernandez (2016 Office of the Year), Fillmore Explorers Post #2958 (2016 Non-Profit of the Year), Fillmore So Cal Bears (2016 Youth Sports Group of the Year), Ameci’s Pizza-Erik Landis (2016 New Outstanding Business of the Year), Edward Jones-Kyle Wilson (2016 Outstanding Business of the Year), Skillin-Carroll Mortuary (2016 Lifetime Achievement Business of the Year), Laura Bartels (2016 Citizen of the Year), Police Captain David Wareham (2016 Lifetime Achievement Citizen of the Year), Dr. Hakansson (2016 Outstanding Community Service of the Year), Efrain Perez (2016 Explorer of the Year), John Wilber (2016 School District Administrator of the Year), Luke Myers (2016 Student of the Year), Lisa Cook (2016 Classified Employee of the Year) and Jenny Bortins (2016 Certificated Employee of the Year). Social Hour: 5:30pm-6:30pm, Dinner/Ceremony 6:30pm. Location: Veteran’s Memorial Building (511 Second St.) Attire: 50’s theme (highly encouraged), Tickets $35
per adult, $20 under 17-years-old. Tickets will be on sale at the following locations: Diamond Realty (460 Santa Clara St.), Bank of the Sierra (527 Sespe Ave.) and Fillmore Police/Sheriff ’s Station (524 Sespe Ave.) Questions
please call the chamber office at 805.524.0351

Dave Wareham

Fillmore’s Police Chief, Dave Wareham, told City Council crime was significantly down from last year. Fillmore continues to be among nation’s safest cities. Recreational marijuana is still a concern. Chief Wareham explained some complexities involved with the recent approval of recreational marijuana. Many questions remain about how to implement regulations on the growth and use of marijuana within city limits. These concern safeguarding the plant from children, protection from theft, and dealing with odors. Wareham explained that many new issues will arise as the case law develops.