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.

Video by Bob Crum

Bob Crum

Gazette readers... hark!

As long as Sespe Creek has been dry... you've waited for this. Your patience is hereby rewarded. I'm not talking about water flowing again in the creek, which is nice to see. No, instead, a new column here in the Gazette by yours truly to tickle your literary bones.

It's true. I recently caught the publisher by surprise and before he came to his senses, the contract was signed. You know, 10 years, six figures, the usual. My agent is the greatest.

My intention is to present all manner of things Fillmore. Special events, business grand openings, activities at various venues and the like. Occasionally weigh in on City Council happenings. And of course, discuss subjects of great importance to the Gazette readership and residents at large. Please note, that it's going to be a work in progress... evolving as the readership provides input about the column and your preferences.

Now the difficult part. Publisher Martin insisted that I present a little background info.

Back in the early 60s I joined the U. S. Air Force where I was promptly assigned to an airborne reconnaissance wing (spy planes) at Kadina AF base in Okinawa, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. On leave to Japan, I bought my first camera, a Konika range finder. Konica's single lens reflex cameras pioneered auto-exposure in cameras with focal-plane shutters. For one, I could not resist shooting the 12,388 feet Mt. Fuji, aka “Fuji-san” as well as other Japanese iconic landmarks.

Upon my honorable discharge, I returned to civilian life in south Florida. Established a residence with my family outside of Miami. My first day job was with WTVJ, channel 4 Miami as video tape editor and operator.

During free time, I became an active explorer of the vast wilderness known as the Everglades and the great cypress tree swamp and upland range of Big Cypress. So much grandeur in all that wildness.

After leaving TV production, I held various jobs throughout the next 10 years or so, including, installation of electronic equipment in hotels for Totell Systems, Picker X-Ray and electronic tech for an aerospace contractor. These positions paid the bills for my growing family of three children but getting burned out on electronic work.
Moved to a small town outside of Ft. Lauderdale that didn't have a recreation department. Not good. With the city attorney, presented the city council with an ordinance establishing a Parks & Recreation Board which was seated by the city council by interested persons that I recommended. Those people, the P & R Board, saw the wisdom of hiring me as the city's first Parks & Recreation director. Funny how that works. Held the position for 12 years.

All the while, I continued to spend as much free time as available out in the Everglades and Big Cypress. I not only learned the territory, by observation I learned the ways and means of the varied wildlife of the area. Captured as much as I could but with a newer camera. Along with photos, I was keeping a journal of my observations. And also spent a good deal of time fishing. Why not, I learned where all the lunkers lurked!

Having acquired many photos of flora and fauna, I began, as a freelance photojournalist, to submit them to various publications around Florida. Many were published. In time, I was getting assignments. About this time, I again made another career move: joining the Florida Fish & Game Commission (as it was know back then) as a Reserve Officer. Besides routine patrols, I also served as the regional information officer.

Eventually, the hazards of the position wore on me. So, again time to rethink about what to do. Became a fishing guide... fresh and saltwater. In all the intervening years, I had not only knowledge of the Everglades, but of many of fisheries from Lake Okeechobee to the St. John's River. I also fished the offshore Gulfstream for all manner of saltwater fish. But first, obtained my Captain's license required by the Coast Guard when taking aboard paying customers. At this point, my photojournalism took a new turn based on boating and fishing.

Again, getting published was easy because the photos were fresh... of places not normally seen. And I began to write about such places, travel writer of sorts. I began to write short travel snippets about the location accompanied with photos. But as one might suspect, work as a fishing guide is weather dependent and to a large degree, seasonal. This can wreck havoc on one's budget.

All of my published work throughout Florida did not escape the notice of the Southern Star magazine publisher. One day, visiting the owner of a tackle store in Ft. Lauderdale, I was approached by the magazine editor with a proposition. I accepted his invitation to meet with the publisher... and in a blink, I was Associate Editor of the Southern Star fishing and boating section.

A steady job but a challenging one as well. For all intent and purposes, I was initiating a whole new section. The Editor, Vic, was only writing about sailing. It began with my writing just three articles for the first edition. But, I was busy. All the fishing magazines in FL wrote about fishing last month. Boring. I scoured the state and finally had a group of 9 professional anglers from all parts of the state. But not feeding me last months activities, instead, predicting the fishing to be expected in the NEXT month. Never been done before. It quickly became a huge success. If someone had a week off and wanted to fish Lake George on the St. Johns River, they'd know what to expect by reading my fearless fishing forecast. Or maybe they'd plan to go wherever the fishing looked the most promising. Magazine sales jumped from an average of 12,000/month to 178,000/month-give or take-in five months and increasing.

At the time magazine sales were increasing exponentially, I was writing 5 articles a month, covering tournaments all over south Florida and the Bahamas, the fearless fishing forecast and doing boat tests and writing about my reviews. Can you even imagine the challenge of writing and photographing all that every month? Deadlines were dreaded!!! And I lost weight!

Sad to say, unfortunate circumstances befell and the Southern Star and it closed. Not long after that, Hurricane Andrew displaced me. My daughter graduated UCLA the following June and upon coming out here for the graduation ceremony, her then boyfriend suggested that I fly back home, drive my 27 ft. class C motorhome back to California and because of his being a state park ranger, I'd be camp host at Leo Carillo. That was 1995, I think.

Exploring the territory as I like to do, I eventually discovered Fillmore, back when the green steel bridge spanned the Santa Clara river. Eventually I ended up in Fillmore, and discovered the Fillmore Gazette. And as many of you may remember, there was also the Fillmore Herald. I chose to begin as a Fillmore photojournalist with the Gazette simply because I immediately saw more professionalism in the Gazette publisher Martin Farrell. Been shooting for the Gazette now well over a decade.

Well, that's a snippit of my background over several decades. As you see, I have done a good deal of writing and photography the last four decades or so.

One more item! A weekly newspaper naturally can't afford (so I'm told) a full-time photojournalist so, to pay the bills, I needed some additional income. I discovered what was then A Street Self Storage. In exchange for providing customer service, I was able to park my 40ft 5th wheel RV on the property and work from it. Worked for A Street Storage for 12 years and many of you perhaps rented a storage unit from me or a place for your RV. Nova Storage bought the business and property in March of 2016 and retained me as their property manager. And that brings us to the present moment.

Besides this column, we'll also be introducing another new feature: “Photo of the Week.” Why not? I'll begin and eventually invite residents to submit an image. The only condition, for now, is that the photo must relate to Fillmore, Bardsdale, Piru and the immediate surrounding area. Landscapes, architecture, waterscapes, wildlife and the like. Please, no photos of little Johnny blowing out the candles on his 5th birthday. Or your Auntie Bertha modeling her new Easter bonnet. You get the idea.

By the way, if you haven't noticed, my writing style is colloquial... an informal conversational style without regard to strict set of rules. So, rather than take me to task for grammatical miscues (should there ever be one) or improper speling... er... spelling, remember: Compassion rules.

Last but no less important. A contest. I purposefully didn't name the column so that you, the readership, can submit your suggestion. If I ultimately select your suggestion, you will win, at my expense, a scoop of Baskin-Robbins ice cream at the new Fillmore B-R store. Deal? Now, what's your suggestion?

Cheers!

Ortega Family House Fire Fundraiser

Saturday February 11th, 2017
Piru United Methodest Church
3875 Center Street, Piru, CA
12pm - 6pm
Donation $8 per plate
Pit Barbeque Meat, Chili Beans, Rice, Green Salad, Bread Roll, Salsa Choice of Soda or Water

We the Ortega family want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and generous support given to our brother, uncle and cousins.

Fillmore Unified School District

2015-2016 Financial Audit
The Board of Trustees accepted the 2015-2016 Independent Financial Audit Report, as presented by Christy White Associates, the District's financial auditors. The audit contained no findings and district staff were commended for their work.

Class of 2016 Analysis
The Board was provided with information regarding success, accomplishments, and areas for continued effort related to the Class of 2016. Information presented by Assistant Superintendent, Martha Hernandez and Fillmore High School Principal, Tom Ito.

Class of 2016 Analysis
Emergency Resolution: Mountain Vista Elementary School Repairs
The Board of Trustees approved an emergency resolution to complete repairs to Mountain Vista Elementary due to fire sprinkler line rupture and resulting damage to classroom at the campus. The purpose of the emergency resolution is to ensure immediate action related to repair of this public facility (classroom) without giving notice for bids to let contracts.

Second Reading: Revised Board Policy Updates
Review of revised Board Policies and Administrative Regulations; E 1330 Community Relations– Use of Facilities, BP/AR 3513.3 Business and Non-instructional Operations– Tobacco-Free Schools, and BP/AR 5131.62 Students– Tobacco were being completed to better align Fillmore Unified current policies with California School Boards Association recommended policies and actual practices of the District.

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

The National Weather Service has released the total rainfall recorded in Ventura County since Saturday January 7th through Friday morning January 13th at 4:00 a.m. The totals are as follows: Fillmore 2.40, Piru 2.32 and Lake Piru 0.25. A series of 3 more storms are expected to come in late Wednesday night, January 18th through Monday January 23rd. The storm coming in Sunday through Monday is expected to produce the most rain, possibly being the largest of the three. The storms could bring moderate to heavy rain, isolated thunderstorms, and moderate to strong, south to southwest winds. Especially across the higher terrain. Possible impacts include flash flooding and debris flows for recent burn areas, rock and mudslides along canyon roads, urban and small stream flooding, significant travel delays, downed trees and isolated power outages, and dangerous winter driving conditions, especially late Thursday night through Friday evening when snow levels could lower to the Grapevine."

A fire destroyed the Ortega family home on 453 Market Street Thursday. Fillmore fire fighters responded to the scene at approximately 11:45 a.m. to find the structure fully engulfed in flames. The fire was controlled by about 12:30 p.m. and no injuries were reported.

Preliminary reports indicate the fire began in a clothes dryer in the garage.

Three persons were reported displaced as a result of the fire. Family members Mark, Angel and Michael are staying together in a hotel with kitchenette in Camarillo.

The Ortega's insurance company indicates the house will most likely be rebuilt. The family is grateful for the financial support and donated clothing.

Those wishing to assist in this disaster may make a donation at the GoFundMe webpage that’s been setup on behalf of the family at https://www.gofundme.com/ortega-house

Optionally, donations can be made by mailing a check made payable to Mark Ortega c/o FHS Alumni P.O. BOX 385 Fillmore CA. 93016 or to an account at the Fillmore branch of Union Bank under the name Angel R. Ortega.