Bob Crum

A fellow photographer and friend provided fodder for this week's column when she emailed me a scathing, acrid, caustic, critique of my photography of late. It's OK. Belly buttons and opinions, everybody's got one. Furthermore, she loves firing salvos of rants with the declaration: Just trying to be helpful. Hmm.

She opined that as a photojournalist, I took too much artistic license with my photos. She obviously overlooked the significance of 'style', the artistic personality of a photographer.

On lensdiaries.com, paraphrasing Roland Gomez, explained that some photographer's have style, most don't. Many photographers don't even know what style is. Style, however, is a key ingredient that will identify a professional photographer from their colleagues and photography enthusiasts.

According to Gomez, photographic style is consistent, identifiable quality in a photographic body of work that portrays the artistic personality of the photographer. Plus a reflection of what the photographer saw and felt when making the photo.

Ultimately style is something that most photographers should develop but don't know how to achieve, Roland wrote. But all photographers passionate about their craft should strive to create their own personal style. I did exactly that years ago.

How does a photographer develop a style? Establish consistent shooting habits. This includes consistent exposure settings, composition, lens selection, lighting quality and all the other technical aspects of developing a photograph. Consistency is key." Will the majority of my followers agree that my photos have a consistent look? Does the aperture f/11 sound familiar? Histogram to the right wall?

As a photojournalist shooting events, my task is to tell their story with photos. But I'll pounce on every opportunity to photograph fantabulous landscapes and waterscapes. But rather than photojournalism influencing my landscape photography, the reverse is the reality. Years ago, I made the deliberate decision to initiate & add an artistic element, a style, to my photojournalism. The reason? Separate my photographic work from the mainstream. After all, it's a competitive business!

My friend has trouble reconciling my artistic photojournalism. But why do event photos have to be ho-hum run-of-the-mill images? As Roland mentioned, a photographic style is also interpreted or defined by the viewers. Over time it is hoped that viewers will recognize a style, a consistent theme in my photos. The reward of achieving a photographic style is that when you see my photos, you almost immediately associate them with my name. A sweet reward, indeed!

The photo of the week is Miss Fishbreath on a Ventura Harbor dock. I launched my new inflatable kayak, but because I don't have a waterproof case for it, I did not take my Canon 7D2 camera. What if I tip over the kayak? Instead, I took my 8-year old 'waterproof' Panasonic DMC-TS3 pocket camera. This ancient little digital camera sports a CCD resolution of 12-megapixels and 28-128mm zoom range when shooting still images. The zoom lens offers a slightly greater focal length of 30-140mm equivalent range. Apertures ranging from f/3.3 to f/10.0 at wide-angle, and f/5.9 to f/18.0 zoomed out.

If I accidentally tip over the kayak, I just need to climb back in and wipe off the lens of the camera and continue shooting. I paddled to within about 10 feet of Miss Fishbreath while she posed. As I was photoing her, a couple of sea lions tussling in the water next to me bumped the kayak! Whoa ho, that was an exciting moment! The kayak rocked a bit but didn't tip. Whew, that's one way to learn that the kayak is more stable than I thought. Happy photoing.

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

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The building that was Faith Community Church on the corner of Central Avenue and First Street will become a new housing site after a 5-0 vote of the city council.

The owner of the property plans to keep the exterior church structure and renovate the interior. A 26-unit apartment building is planned with commercial units on the ground floor.

The city council also approved an 18-unit condominium building for the UHaul business site at Fillmore and Main Street. It will be a three-story structure with six commercial spaces on the ground floor. This plan, proposed by owner Harold Foy,
was warmly received by the council. The property owner, Harold Foy, told the council he thinks his proposal is “a one-of-a-kind project, the likes of which I have not seen in Fillmore.”

“The owner of the church property is Alex Glasscock, who also owns The Ranch Malibu, a luxury fitness retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains near the Ventura and Los Angeles County line.”...”We found an amazing piece of property that might have gone vacant, and we have some experience repurposing and restoring special properties,” he told the council. (Ventura County
Star)

Fabian Garibay, 26 of Fillmore.

On August 14th 2019, Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit were conducting an investigation into Fabian Garibay, a documented gang member out of Fillmore. Fabian Garibay was the suspect of several crimes committed in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard, and Fillmore.

Gang Unit Detectives, with the assistance of Fillmore Station Patrol Deputies, contacted Fabian Garibay in an alleyway of the 500 block of Kensington Drive in Fillmore. While executing a signed search warrant on Garibay, he was found in possession of a loaded handgun, gang indicia, and drug paraphernalia. The handgun was later confirmed to be stolen out of Port Hueneme.

Garibay was booked into custody at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Main Jail facility for violation of PC 25850(a) – Carrying a loaded Firearm on One’s Person, PC 25400(a) – Carrying a Concealed Firearm, PC 27545 – Unlawful Transfer of a Firearm and PC 496(a) – Receiving Stolen Property. Fabian Garibay remains in custody with bail set at $105,000.

Nature of Incident: Gang Member in Possession of Stolen Firearm
Report Number: 19-127807
Location: 500 block of Kensington Drive, Fillmore
Date & Time: August 14, 2019 / 5:15 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit, Fillmore Station Patrol
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S1) Fabian Garibay, 26, Fillmore
Prepared by: Detective Erik Hernandez
Approved by: Captain Brian Slominski

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Isaias Arana, 24 of San Fernando.

(Courtesy KVTA)

A man who kidnapped his estranged wife at gunpoint near Fillmore earlier this year has admitted his crimes.

24-year-old Isaias Arana of San Fernando pleaded guilty to kidnapping, first degree residential burglary, false imprisonment by violence, battery, and disobeying a domestic relations court order.

Prosecutors say it happened on April 24th in the 100 block of Hopper Canyon Road between Fillmore and Piru.

They say Arana shot out of window to gain entry into the home even though there was a baby inside along with three women, including his estranged wife.

Prosecutors say he then kidnapped her and drove to the San Fernando Valley where she managed to escape and find her way back to Ventura County as Arana was arrested by LA County authorities and returned to Ventura County to face charges.

Arana had been arrested for attempted murder but prosecutors decided not to file that charge.

He remains in the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $1 million until he is sentenced on September 10th.

Arana is facing 23 years in state prison.

At last night’s School board meeting FHS Campus Security Joe Woods spoke in support of the FUTA who wore red to in protest of the actions of FUSD managers.

Resolution No. 19-20-03 Calling for Full and Fair Funding of California's Public Schools
The Governing Board adopted Resolution No. 19-20-03 Calling for Full and Fair Funding of California’s Public Schools.

Enrollment by School Site Presentation
The Governing Board received information from Andrea McNeill, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, regarding enrollment by school site.

Advanced Placement Results, Spring 2019
The Governing Board received information from Micheline G. Miglis, Assistant Superintendent, Education Services, regarding Advanced Placement Results, Spring 2019.

CAASPP Test Results, Spring 2019
The Governing Board received information from Micheline G. Miglis, Assistant Superintendent, Education Services, regarding CAASPP Test Results, Spring 2019.

Personnel Recommendations
The Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, and leaves.