Bob Crum

Besides the inclement weather, I can't always do what I used to regularly do like photograph the Fillmore Christmas parade. So disappointed that I didn't get to present Santa my 'wish list' directly. After all, I've been exceptionally good all year. Now I have to hope that my letter to Santa got to his North Pole address. Considering the purported effects of climate change, perhaps the Post Office will need to deliver my letter by boat. But I digress.

I previously mentioned that with a new camera in hand, you need photo editing software. Well, I received a few emails from astute readers reminding me that if the photographer got it right in the camera, in the first place, there's no need to edit the photo afterward. Hm, if only I didn't open those emails! Though I gave considerable thought to ignoring the comments, to do so would be a disservice because it's a relevant point.

Who will argue that it's a good idea to 'get it right' in the camera in the first place? Technically speaking, it's referred to as 'Straight Out Of Camera' (SOOC) photography. However, mention SOOC at a gathering of photographers around a campfire and you can hear the yelling punctuated with a smattering of profanity miles away. The staunch proponents of each camp, (SOOC) and (Post Process), ferociously present arguments defending their chosen position. I can attest that incongruous cacophony renders noise-canceling headphones useless.

It makes sense to get as much as possible right in the camera. After all, in addition to composition, we all know that proper exposure is essential. White Balance is equally important. Remember, out of focus photos cannot be fixed afterward. Many times I anguished over a photo of exquisite, compelling content (mermaids), delightfully composed (in a boudoir setting), but slightly out of focus. It's heartbreaking to have to put such photos in the trash. Um, I don't delete them, I sneak them into a folder labeled 'To avoid Heartbreak.' Works for me!

Imagine that I'm about to make a fantabulous photo. I see the green light in the viewfinder indicating focus accomplished. I slowly push down on the shutter button. CLICK. Ah, the histogram reveals a proper exposure and the composition is compelling. Bingo! I can take that photo straight out the camera and make prints or submit it to numerous social media websites for the world to enjoy. Bidda bing-bidda boom, DONE! It may be done for the SOOCers but not for me! I've said several times in this column that no photo straight of the camera is as good as it can be.

The perennial argument robustly ensues. Some say that SOOC is stupid! Others say that photographers who use Photoshop (or some other photo editor program) simply don't know how to use their camera. Conversely, others say that SOOC photographers simply don't know how to use Photoshop. The contentious quarrel rages on. Photoshop is indeed a powerful photo editor, and learning how to use effectively is not for the faint of heart. It takes serious dedication to learn all that PS is capable of accomplishing. In any event, neither argument is valid. Times up, to be continued.

I made the Photo of the Week after a recent pre-winter storm. I roamed hither and yon making several photos of the snow-capped mountain tops. One particular location provided multiple delightful compositions. Of several photos made at the location, I particularly like this image because of several photogenic components and the overall composition. BTW, it's not SOOC but processed much less than an Oscar Mayer hot dog!

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

Pictured is Fillmore High School Principal John Wilber who presented the school board with the fall 2019 sports review for Fillmore High School.

Board meeting highlights for the Fillmore Unified School District

Fall 2019 Sports Review
The Governing Board received information from John Wilber, Fillmore High School Principal, regarding Fall 2019 sports participation.

Fall 2019 Sports Medicine Review
The Governing Board received information from Breanna McLain, Director of Sports Medicine, regarding Fall 2019 sports medicine data.

Approve Pre-Qualified Pool of Division of State Architect (DSA) Construction Inspectors for Various District Projects
The Governing Board approved the pre-qualified Construction Project Inspectors for current and future Measure V Bond Projects.

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

The Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Watershed Protection District (VCPWA WPD) and United Water Conservation District (UWCD) are hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Piru Stormwater Capture for Groundwater Recharge Project on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The project will capture runoff from the existing storm drain system, treating approximately 17 acre-feet per year (AFY) of runoff from 36 urban acres located in the Piru community. The captured runoff will be transported to the existing but inactive UWCD Piru Spreading Grounds and will be spread to recharge the Piru Groundwater Basin. Before entering the spreading grounds debris, sediment, trash and other pollutants will be removed by a pre-treatment device, a 10-ft diameter Continuous Deflective Separation (CDS) unit.

“The Piru Stormwater Capture for Groundwater Recharge Project will have dual benefits to improve water quality to meet compliance with Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load and groundwater recharge/ water supply enhancement,” explains Ewelina Mutkowska, VCPWA WPD, Stormwater Program Manager. “This will help improve the water quality of Piru Creek and add recharge to the Piru Groundwater Basin. Capture of stormwater runoff is a sustainable source for groundwater recharge, and we need to look for more similar opportunities to enhance our water supply sources countywide”.

Under pre-project conditions, storm drains directed stormwater runoff to Piru Creek on its way to the ocean. The Santa Clara River (SCR) downstream of Piru Creek has documented bacteria water quality impairments and is subject to federal Clean Water Act regulations set by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA-RWQCB). As described by the LA-RWQCB, available monitoring data indicates that the major contributors of bacteria loading to the river and SCR Estuary are dry- and wet-weather urban runoff discharges from stormwater conveyance systems. This project, funded by the State Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant Program, captures urban runoff, improves water quality and recharges groundwater.

Ribbon Cutting:

Who: VCPWA Watershed Protection District, United Water Conservation District to host a ribbon cutting for the Piru Stormwater Capture for Groundwater Recharge Project
When: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Piru Spreading Grounds

Bob Crum

Look at you, grinning from ear to ear. You're so proud of yourself for scoring a great camera deal on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I'm also proud of you. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, or a Panasonic? All great brands. Say again? You bought a Hasselblad H6D 400c 100mp camera? Wow! Congratulations! Back to reality.

Of course you promptly inserted the battery followed by the SD or Compact Flash card. Then you turned on the camera and UH OH, sooooo many options. The menu looks like that of a French restaurant - Bouillabaisse, coq au vin, escargots de Bourgogne. Com'on, you know the drill: READ THE USER MANUAL! Sorry about yelling but you know that it's important to learn how to USE your new camera.

I get it. Many camera user manuals look like they were written in gibberish. Camera user manuals are not particularly user friendly. Relax! Youtube to the rescue. In the youtube search box, enter your camera brand and model. Unless you bought a closeout Shenzhen Ruoxing B88 camera on eBay for $4.95, there's a good chance that someone has published a hands-on tutorial for your camera. Such tutorials can get you up to speed in a jiffy. Two other resources: https://www.creativelive.com/ and https://www.udemy.com/. Either or both may have a tutorial for your specific camera. When I bought my Canon 7D Mark II camera, I found a great tutorial on Creative Live. The cost was negligible, and I learned a great deal about my camera in about an hour.

You don't have to actuate every sub-menu item. It's OK to begin with the camera in either 'P' (Program) or 'A' (Auto) mode and let the camera determine exposure as you focus on focus and the composition. After making a photo in 'auto' mode, study the photo data (ISO, aperture & shutter speed) to see the settings the camera used to get the proper exposure. It will help you prepare for manual mode. Also, check the LCD to view the histogram. The histogram is a graphical illustration of the image exposure. Some of my histograms are hysterical! But I digress.

Now that you know how to use your new camera, you are about to embark on a phenomenally creative adventure. Feel free to jump for joy in advance. Back down to earth, there's one more important detail: RAW or JPEG? Remember, JPEGs are camera processed. To start, JPEGs are fine because they eliminate editing afterward. JPEGS are usually OK for snapshots in adequate light. But at some point, JPEGs will disappoint you. You will then realize that RAW files enable a much larger latitude for editing to achieve the photo you desire for print or digital distribution. At that time, you will need to obtain a photo editing program. It's an integral part of becoming a 'photographer'. But software is a subject for another time. Watch this space, as they say on TV.

A brief word about, ahem, "phonetography". All 2,683,957 regular readers of this column know that my old trusty LG G3 cellphone died a sudden death a month ago. One moment it was alive and functioning fine-the next, no pulse. It's resting on a hand towel because after all these years sitting on my hip at the ready, I have not yet been able to 'let it go'. In the meantime, I'm (impressed) with the, ahem, photos my new Samsung S10+ produces. A harbinger of becoming a phonetographer? Whoa! Be nice and perish that thought!!!

Photo of the week is a north Fillmore mountain top covered with a lovely blanket of snow. Ah, such is the splendor of wintry landscapes.

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

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Last year, an increasing number of residential burglaries were reported in several Ventura County communities; particularly during the daylight savings time period. These burglaries shared some commonalities, including the residences being located near open spaces and hiking trails. Several of these homes were within gated communities that employ private security. While this is an extra layer of security for the resident, it did not prevent the suspects from approaching the properties on foot through these open spaces and entering the backyards.

These burglaries occurred during the holiday months, often when victims were briefly out to dinner or left their homes vacant for several days while on vacation. Suspects looked for indicators that the residence was unoccupied and then forced entry inside. A large number of these crimes occurred between 5 pm to 9 pm. Suspects targeted jewelry, small safes, and valuables, mostly within the master bedroom. It is possible in some cases that the suspects watched the residence and waited for the occupants to leave.

An extensive investigation employing numerous resources within the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of several suspects who were committing some of these burglaries. Undoubtedly, these arrests have prevented some additional burglaries, however, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like homeowners and residents to take extra precautions to protect themselves and their property:

• Leave interior lights or a television on and a vehicle in the driveway to give the appearance the home is occupied.
• Install high quality exterior cameras with clear day and night time resolution that is at face level.
• Have cameras cover common entry points such as front door, back windows and back sliding doors.
• Choose camera systems that can alert you of activation with an app on your phone.
• It is also important to be familiar with your camera security system so that you can access and or download the footage if needed.
• If you’re leaving for days at a time, let neighbors know and consider having someone check on your home while you’re away.
• The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office offers Vacation House Checks through our Volunteers
In Policing (VIP’s) programs or as extra patrol requests:
- Fillmore Police and Sheriff’s Station ~ (805) 524-2233
- Headquarters Sheriff’s Station ~ (805) 654-2668
- Thousand Oaks Police and Sheriff’s Station ~ (805) 371-8398
- Moorpark Police and Sheriff’s Station ~ (805) 532-2700
- Camarillo Police and Sheriff’s Station ~ (805) 388-5100
-Ojai Police and Sheriff’s Station ~ (805) 646-1414

• While away, store your jewelry and valuables in a secure safe or hidden location. These criminals have been known to defeat some safes, so a safe deposit box is a safer alternative.
• If you choose to have an alarm; choose one with glass breakage detection.
Remember to call 911 if you witness a crime or discover you are a victim of a crime. If you are away from your home and receive an alert from your camera system and confirm suspicious activity, make the Sheriff’s Communication Center your first call at (805) 654-9511. If you call
911 from another jurisdiction, your call will be delayed while the agency answering routes your call to us.
Take note of the make, model, and license plate of any suspicious vehicles that are parked in the neighborhood that look unfamiliar. Immediately report suspicious persons that are trying to conceal their identity or are acting nervous. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office requests that you do not approach suspicious persons or vehicles. Call the Sheriff’s Communication Center to report suspicious activity, and a deputy will respond to investigate.

Nature of Incident: Evening Burglary Trends and Safety Tips
Report Number: Multiple
Location: Ventura County Communities
Date & Time: Evening Hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Services
Prepared by: Detective Theodore Stern
Approved by: Captain Denise Sliva