Bob Crum

Faithful readers know that I planned to attend the L.A. air show the past weekend at Fox Airfield in Lancaster. I went but the weather was awful... extremely windy and very cold.

The show began with skydivers bringing forth the U.S. Flag followed by the National Anthem. Next, aerobatics. With pedal-to-the-metal they provided amazing demonstrations in aircraft that seemed to defy gravity. Also, following a speedy aerobatic plane is not only daunting, it often results in neck whiplash. Exactly why I prefer mermaid boudoir photography!

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor was a show stopper. The U.S. Air Force single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft is a mean, awesome weapon. The combination of vectored thrust, range, and stealth capability makes it the world’s most feared combat aircraft. More later.

Now some provocative photography data: On SD card #1, 1,572 RAW photos. SD card #2, 1,147 RAW photos. Total photos made: 2,572 comprising 48.5GBs of digital data! Whew! That's just for one day! I didn't go on Sunday because of weather & my tush hadn't yet thawed. Of course most photos will be deleted. Then why shoot so many? The answer another day.

If you're thinking that 2,572 photos is excessive, whoa, no doubt you're overlooking the fact that aircraft-especially jets–move faster than a garden slug. Bidda-bing: See it! Bidda-bam: Gone! Only mere seconds for focus lock and compose... two essential ingredients for a successful photo. Also, leading a fast moving airplane to nail the composition is extremely vexing. Don't ask how many aircraft rear-end photos I captured!

I resisted using burst mode for fear that the capture count would triple. Mercy, imagine that! Instead, I fire off a batch of photos in single-shot mode. From the batch, I'll usually end up with 2 or 3 successful captures. More on a warmer day!

In the past, I rented a very heavy Canon 100-300mm “L” lens. Getting older, this time I rented a Tamron 18-400mm lens. Much lighter & longer reach. Speaking of 'reach', many times more is better. On one fly over, the pilot of the F-22 Raptor opened the armament bay doors. I was zoomed out to 120mm as the plane approached. Right as it was overhead I quickly zoomed in to 400mm and BINGO!... captured the interior of the open armament bay. Sweet! It'll be in the photo/video at a later date.

There's a huge difference between photoing propeller and jet aircraft. Because jets fly so fast, I increase the shutter speed to 1/800th of a second to frame-freeze while panning quickly. But shoot a prop plane at that fast shutter speed, and the propellers are frozen making the plane look like it's suspended in the sky on a string! A shutter speed of about 1/120th of a second shows propellers spinning.

The final performance of the show included fly-overs with a Lockheed P-38J Lightning paired with the F-22 Raptor. Awesome! I had just photoed the F-22 Raptor solo thus camera shutter speed was 1/800th of a second. I was so intrigued watching the pair I goofed. I forgot to reset the shutter speed to 1/120th for the P-38J. Yep, unusable photos because the props of the P-38J photos are frozen. So depressing but also so human. Maybe I should consider an assistant like pro golfers have caddies. Anyone interested?

Photo of the week is the F-22 Raptor approaching. See it one second... whoosh... next second gone! That's very fast! Because it was far off, I zoomed to 400mm to get the photo. Happy photoing.

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

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Franky Magana (DOB 11/12/85), of Santa Paula, was sentenced by Judge Ryan Wright to 47 years to life for gang-related murder. Magana’s co-defendant, Omar Ruiz (DOB 07/27/87), also of Santa Paula, was sentenced to 158 years to life in prison for the same gang-related murder and for assault on a police officer with an assault weapon.

On May 27, 2013, victim Ulises Virto was standing on a street corner in the city of Santa Paula when Magana, Ruiz, and a third unidentified assailant drove up next to Mr. Virto, parked, exited their vehicle and opened fire with three handguns in a gang-motivated attack. Mr. Virto was shot seven times and died at the scene. A Santa Paula Police Department officer intercepted the gunmen as they fled the scene. During the subsequent high-speed chase all three guns and other evidence were tossed from the vehicle. Soon thereafter, the car stopped, and Magana exited, fleeing on foot. The lone police officer pursued Magana on foot and quickly arrested him. Ruiz and the unidentified gunman continued to flee in the vehicle, eventually abandoning it two blocks away and escaping on foot. All three guns and other evidence thrown from the vehicle were forensically matched to Ruiz and Magana as well as to evidence collected at the scene.

On November 7, 2013, Ruiz was tracked by Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies to an address in the city of Camarillo. From within the home, Ruiz watched on a closed-circuit surveillance system as a team of deputies approached the residence. Ruiz fired on the deputies with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle until the gun jammed. After a brief stand-off, Ruiz was taken into custody. No deputies were injured during the assault.

Magana and Ruiz were convicted by a jury of murder and other charges on January 3, 2018.

Fillmore Mayor Manuel Minjares.

Third District Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long is pleased to announce that Manuel “Manny” Minjares has joined her staff as a Field Representative effective March 5th, 2018. Within this role, he will cover the Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru and Lockwood Valley areas of the district.

Minjares and his wife Susan are long-time residents of Fillmore where they are raising their four children. He is serving his second term on the Fillmore City Council where he is currently the Mayor and sits as Vice Chair of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Studies & Planning from California State University Northridge and brings with him a thorough knowledge of local, county, state and federal governmental systems from the perspective of both staff and an elected official. Working most recently as Housing Director for the Turning Point Foundation, Minjares also brings valuable experience in the non-profit sector creating and managing affordable housing projects throughout Ventura County.

“Manny’s experience, education, skills and abilities will be an asset to my office as we continue to serve the constituents of the Third District”, said Supervisor Kelly Long. “I have a great team and Manny will be an incredible addition to my staff.”

The former City of Fillmore Planner and Property Supervisor for the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation also helps coach and officiate youth basketball in Fillmore and believes supporting local youth sports is a great way to give back to the community he loves to serve.

“I am honored to join Supervisor Long’s staff and lend my knowledge and experience to policy issues and to serving the constituents of the third district”, said Minjares. “Public service is a passion of mine and I look forward to making a positive impact for Ventura County.”

Supervisor Long’s staff also consists of Martin Hernandez, who replaces recently retired Paul Grossgold as Chief of Staff, Senior Executive Aide Nancy Phillips and Field Representative Matt Guthrie and who represents the Camarillo, Southeast Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Naval Base Ventura County portions of the district.

Minjares will also be holding satellite office hours for Supervisor Long on alternating Fridays at both the Santa Paula and Fillmore City Halls from 9 am to Noon and Matt Guthrie will hold satellite office hours at Port Hueneme City Hall every other Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. For more information on satellite office hours or to schedule a meeting, please contact Nancy Phillips in Supervisor Long’s District Office at Nancy.Phillips@ventura.org or (805) 654-2276.

Enlarge Photo

On March 14, 2018, at approximately 10:00 p.m., deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to the 900 block of 4th Street in Fillmore for the report of a possible gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a male victim who had been shot multiple times. Deputies provided first aid measures until medical personnel arrived on scene. The victim was subsequently transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, Sheriff’s Gang Unit and Fillmore Police Station responded to the scene to investigate the crime. In a coordinated effort, numerous interviews were conducted and no arrests have been made at this time. This is an ongoing investigation and the Sheriff’s Office is requesting that anyone with information about this crime contact detectives at the numbers listed below.

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Carlos Macias
News Release Date:
March 16, 2018
Approved by: Captain Jeff Miller

Resolution 17-18-4 Commending 2017-2018 Girls’ Soccer Team
Trustees recognized the CIF SS Division 7 Champions and approved Resolution 17-18-4 to commemorate their achievement.

Indemnification Agreement between County of Ventura and Fillmore Unified School District
Board approved the indemnification agreement associated with the performance and certain services and function of School Resource Officer.

Memorandum of Agreement between City of Fillmore and Fillmore Unified School District for School Resource Officer
Board approved the Memorandum of Agreement to continue operation of the School Resource Officer Program in the Fillmore Unified School District.

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

American Red Cross of Ventura County

Though spring has officially arrived, the American Red Cross blood supply is still recovering from severe winter storms in March. Donors of all blood types are urged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives.

Winter weather in parts of the country forced more than 270 blood drives to cancel, resulting in over 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of March. No matter the weather, the need for blood to help cancer patients, those undergoing surgeries, trauma patients and others remains.

Volunteer blood donors from across the country are needed to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients this spring. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities March 20 to April 15

Ventura

Camarillo
4/3/2018: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4345 Las Posas Road

Moorpark
4/2/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, 18 E. High St
4/5/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kahn Media, Inc., 11988 Challenger Ct.

Oxnard
3/22/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oxnard High School, 3400 W Gonzales Rd

Simi Valley
3/23/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
3/28/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Simi Valley High School, 5400 Cochran Street
3/30/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
4/13/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks
3/21/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
3/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
3/28/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/2/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/11/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/11/2018: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Thousand Oaks High School, 2323 N Moorpark Rd

Ventura
3/20/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 36 S. Figueroa St.
3/20/2018: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road

Westlake Village
3/21/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Guitar Center Corporate Center, 5795 Lindero Canyon Rd.
4/3/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Farmers Insurance, 31051 Agoura Rd

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Charles Ray Mundy (DOB 12/27/63), of Ventura, was sentenced to serve two years in the Ventura County jail for his role in causing a 2014 explosion at Santa Clara Waste Water Company (“SCWWC”). Last month, Mundy pled guilty to felony offenses of knowing failure to warn of a serious concealed danger, disposal of hazardous waste, filing a forged instrument, and reckless disregard for handling hazardous waste causing unreasonable risk. Mundy also pled no contest to the felony offense of causing great bodily injury by emitting an air contaminant, and to the misdemeanor offenses of repeated violation of labor safety standards, and failure to update a business plan. This case was jointly prosecuted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office.

On November 18, 2014, an explosion occurred at 815 Mission Rock Road, Santa Paula, a wastewater treatment facility owned and operated by SCWWC. Mundy was the former vice president of Environmental Compliance and Facilities Operations at SCWWC. The explosion was caused by the reckless disposal of hazardous chemicals with incompatible materials in a vacuum truck. Numerous employees and first responders were injured either by the initial explosion or by inhaling toxic fumes.

While employed by SCWWC, Mundy was instrumental in obtaining 255 gallons of the chemical sodium chlorite, a regulated hazardous material. SCWWC was required to report the presence of sodium chlorite in their Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP). Mundy failed to report that sodium chlorite was present at the Santa Paula location. Further, Mundy failed to disclose the presence of sodium chlorite to first responders immediately after the explosion. In addition, Mundy provided false HMBP submissions by not reporting 5,500 gallons of Petromax, a hazardous chemical.

While executing search warrants in November 2014, police recovered forged analytical results in Mundy’s SCWWC office and later confirmed he prepared these forged results and submitted them to the City of Oxnard. Mundy also failed to provide adequate training and personal protective equipment to employees working on site.

In addition to the jail sentence, Mundy was ordered to pay victim restitution and will be placed on formal probation for three years. As a term of probation, Mundy is prohibited from employment in any capacity in the waste water treatment industry.

About The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

Bob Crum

The Rotary Club of Moorpark presented a Civil War reenactment of the following historic battle.
Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Dates: July 1-3, 1863
Union General: George G. Meade | Confederate General: Robert E. Lee

The Union Army took a primary defensive position on Cemetery Ridge to the north & east around Cemetery Hill. The ridge only 40 feet above the surrounding terrain but two miles long, rising to the north roughly 80 feet above the surroundings to form Cemetery Hill descending on the south end into low, wooded, somewhat marshy ground.

The first day of battle saw considerable fighting. Many Union soldiers used newly issued Spencer repeating carbines causing heavy casualties. Using rifles of the day, the Confederates still caused heavy casualties. Gettysburg became the killing field.

The second day involved many desperate attacks and counterattacks in an attempt to gain control of Cemetery Hill. Again heavy losses on both sides.

General Lee attacked on the third day. Known as “Pickett’s Charge,” some 15,000 Confederate troops, led by Gen. George Edward Pickett, assaulted Cemetery Ridge, held by about 10,000 Federal infantrymen. The Southern spearhead broke through and penetrated the ridge.

Critically weakened by artillery and lacking reinforcement while under savage attack from three sides, the Southerners retreated, leaving hundreds of prisoners. On July 4 Lee waited to meet an attack that never came. That night, taking advantage of heavy rain he retreated toward Virginia. Meade stopped the Confederate invasion and won a critical three-day battle.

At battles end, president Abraham Lincoln gave his infamous Gettysburg Address. He extolled the sacrifices of those who died at Gettysburg – urging resolve "that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

The exciting event is touted as the largest Civil War battle reenactment west of the Mississippi. Hundreds of reenactors come from all over the country converge on the Hitch Ranch in Moorpark, CA. Advertised as the event that will make history come to life right before your eyes is an understatement.

However, photographing such events is extremely challenging. Naturally, it's important not to miss anything significant but too often too many significant events (action) occurred simultaneously. In a word: Consternation.

A Canon 7D Mark II is my main camera with a Tamron 16-300mm lens mounted. I also had my older Canon 7D onto which I mounted a Tamron 70-300mm lens with a 1.4X teleconverter for extended range. BTW, that's the same combo used for photoing mermaids on Anacapa Island. I should have left the 7D home. By the time I put down one camera and picked up the other I missed a shot. Ugh!

Kudos to the Moorpark Rotary for presenting an outstanding event. Besides the battlefield action, many Civil War era tents were pitched on the grounds. Uniformed Union and Confederate personnel at various camps. Old potbelly stoves heated coffee. Bacon cooked over fire pits. At one tent I stumbled upon a clandestine battle strategy meeting.

A canon firing is the photo of the week. Catching the exact moment of the brief flash was extremely vexing. Not knowing the exact moment the canon fires, I put the camera on burst mode. Even so, it took many attempts to get the ultimate image I wanted. Check fillmoregazette.com for the color version. Next exciting photo op: L. A. Air Show, 3/24, 3/25 at Wm. J. Fox Airfield, 4555 W. Ave G, Lancaster. See you there?

Happy photoing.

Email your suggestions, questions or comments to bob@fillmoregazette.com

I don’t remember when I first noticed it, but I have lived on Grand Avenue for thirty years and it seems like it has been there at least that long. I do remember wondering why it had been placed there. And at some point the words to a song I had heard at some time in my life became associated with it each time I looked to the ridge of the mountain peak known as Nellie’s Peak, as I drove up the canyon; “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross...” is the first line of a song written by George Bennard, 1913, The Old Rugged Cross, and the only words I know.

A few months ago while I was on a walk on Grand Avenue, longtime Grand Avenue resident Regina Stehly stopped to visit. Since we were standing below the location where the cross was stationed high above us, approximately 900’ in elevation west and above 2213 Grand Avenue, I asked Regina if she knew anything about the cross placement. Regina said she did and that her brother Vince Stehly and her father Jim Stehly had placed the cross there many years ago as an expression of their strong Catholic faith. I contacted Vince and he said that in the early 1970’s, when he was about 10 or 12 years old, his family, including cousins, all drove up with their dad to the location where the cross now stands. They placed the approximate eight foot tall white cross made out of wood into the hole they had prepared for it. All the family had carved their names into the cross to memorialize their involvement.

Vince said he replaced the cross about ten years ago because of damage it sustained from another fire that burnt from Piru to Grand Ave. As I recall that fire was named “The Grand Fire” and that fire happened sometime in the late 1990’s. Vince said he will soon replace the cross standing there now because of the damage from the Thomas Fire.

Well there you go. I now knew something about that often viewed cross. But, I believe there is more to wonder about that cross and it has to do with another fire--the Thomas Fire, and the loss of the life of a 32-year old CalFire Firefighter/Engineer from San Diego.

The Thomas Fire began on December 4, 2017 at 6:28 PM, 281,893 acres consumed, 1,063 structures destroyed, 280 structures damaged. It began west of Fillmore and near Santa Paula. The Thomas Fire has been recorded as the largest fire in California History! Not including the 21 lives lost, and the two additional persons that are still missing, from the devastating floods in Santa Barbara after the fire, there were two lives lost as a direct result of the fire. One of those was 32-year-old Cory Iverson, who died in Fillmore in the hills to the west and above Grand Avenue on the morning of Dec. 14, 2017. The other was 70 year old Virginia Pesola a Wheeler Canyon resident who died in a car crash in Wheeler Canyon fleeing the fire on December 6, 2017. The Thomas Fire was officially 100% contained on December 27, 2017 according to CalFire.

Firefighter Iverson was married with a 2-year-old daughter. His wife, Ashley, is pregnant with their second child, due this spring. From the findings of an official CalFire Report, Cory Iverson and four other firefighters were laying hose along a bulldozer-created fire break. All five wore packs, each containing 300 feet of 1.5-inch hose, the report states. Iverson also was carrying a scraping tool. Iverson was attempting to put out a spot fire, which was on the edge of the fire line, with his hand tool. A second fire flared up about 20 feet deep in an unburned area. Iverson, with 200 feet of hose remaining on his back, headed toward it. "As [Iverson] reached the second spot and began to take action, it erupted," the preliminary report states.

At the same time, more spot fires broke out along the fire line west of the original spot fire. Those fires grew quickly and could not be doused by the water one of the firefighters sprayed on them. “Iverson's escape route was cut off,” the report states. He started moving southwest, parallel to the fire break. Faced with the intense fire, he turned and headed south down the slope. He requested air support. It was his last confirmed radio transmission.

Whether you are a person of faith, or not, you do have to consider how that old wooden cross, now scorched and leaning at about a 45 degree angle, could have survived such intense heat and flame of the Thomas Fire? I say this because since the Thomas Fire came over the mountain moving eastward towards Grand Avenue, on the morning December 14, 2017, taking the life of CalFire Engineer Cory Iverson, that old rugged cross now leans a little to the southwest.

I would like to think that the cross survived with now an added duty! Although I don’t know the exact location of where CalFire Firefighter/Engineer Cory Iverson spent his last moments of life fighting the Thomas Fire, I do know where all the after activity and removal of his body occurred. That Old Rugged Cross is now pointing towards the approximate location where Firefighter Iverson lost his life that day, protecting the homes of those of us living on Grand Avenue. I would like to think that the Old Rugged Cross has accepted the duty of forever keeping the sacrifice of his life and his bravery in the consciousness of all that experienced the Thomas Fire by pointing towards the last location Cory walked on this earth doing what he was born to do and loved--being a firefighter!

CalFire Firefighter/Engineer Cory Iverson is truly an American Hero who sacrificed all. Thank you Firefighter/Engineer Cory Iverson for your, and your family’s, sacrifice! “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross...”

Former Fillmore City Manager Roy Payne spoke at last night’s City Council meeting to give information as well as concern for the proposed Business Park Master Plan.

During Tuesday's regular Fillmore City Council meeting the filling actions were taken:

Ordinance No. 18-888 granting a non-exclusive franchise to Seneca Resources Corporation to maintain, use, and operate pipelines for the transmission of oil or gas was unanimously approved by Council.

Staff reviewed several models of landscape maintenance contracts and prepared a Request for Proposals for Landscape Maintenance Services. Council unanimously approved a contract with Mariposa Landscape Inc. in the amount of $690,785for the Citywide Landscape Maintenance Services.

Council approved Resolution No. 18-3629 increasing potable water rates and sewer rates. See City of Fillmore website for details.

Former Fillmore City Manager Roy Payne provided information concerning a proposed amendment to the Business Park Master Plan, Appendix B, to modify the common area infrastructure fee. No action was taken.

Lions International Student Speaker Contest is an annual event allowing high school students the opportunity to showcase their public speaking talents and knowledge. This year’s contest topic is “Integrity and Civility in Today’s Society.”

Fillmore Lions Club is proud to announce that Fillmore High School senior Alina Herrera has advanced to the Region Competition after winning both the Club and Zone levels.

The Fillmore Lions Club wants to congratulate Alina as well as send positive thoughts her was as she competes in the Region Competition to be held on March 27th. The public is invited. Contact Lion Scott Lee for details. If Alina advances from Region to the prestigious “District Level” she will compete for a $4,000.00 award.

Bob Crum

First, portrait photography is not my favorite genre--especially of teenagers. But “no” was not an option. A friend of a friend. You know how that is.

Mother wants a portrait of her son for relatives back east. Must be natural light, I'm not loving flash photography much. To impress the relatives back east, mom selects Mugu rock on the PCH, background the ocean. Works for me.

When they arrived, the afternoon light was delicious. No sooner had John, not his real name, and I met it was obvious he was no more happy sitting for his portrait than I was shooting it.

Let's go over here I suggested. John agreed, mom objected. “I want the rock and the ocean,” she said. Fine, I said, move the rock and it'll work. She didn't appreciate my humor. I wasn't kidding.

I knew the perfect place for John to perch. It meant some rock climbing. Fine with John. Mom stayed up top. With John sitting on a boulder with the ocean background, I urged John to smile. Wasn't happening. Mom noted and yelled: “Smile John!” John remained stone faced.

John, I said, smile and we can both go home. John was obstinate. So was I. OK, John, here's how it is: You either smile or you are going to sit on that rock until you become one with it and seagulls poop all over you. He finally smiled, just long enough for me to capture a couple photos. Not enough. One more time John. Nothing doing. Mom, I yelled, bribe your son! “New cell phone John!” mom yelled. John's smile was ear to ear wide. “Did he smile?” yelled Mom. Yes! a lot, I replied! Mom loved the photos and wrote the check with a smile. I smiled too. Smiling is good! Well folks, that's it, done with portrait work for the rest of the year. Well, maybe. If you want to pay a $50,000 sitting fee then I'm your guy.

Afterward, I had time to stroll around and perhaps come upon a photo op or two. A few pelicans flew by but I forgot to reinstall the telephoto lens. OK, forget the pelicans. After changing lenses, maybe shoot some explosive waves. Nah, wasn't happening. Calm ocean, slack tide. Boring. It's like that sometimes. Worse, no mermaids!

Whoa, out of the corner of my eye, the left one of course, I glimpsed a hairy animal. Then it disappeared. I moved to get a better view of where the animal emerged. I shouldn't have. It suddenly reappeared and began to move towards me. Frightened, I froze. It moved slowly at first oblivious of my presence. As I raised the camera it saw me and instantly began to rapidly charge at me. Escape options were limited with the ocean on one side, a cliff on the other. Difficult as it might be, my only escape was to scramble up a nearby boulder. Mmmm. But even as the shrieking hairy monster with its glaring beady eyes got closer, you know I have to capture at least one photo. Thankfully it finally moved on, disappearing into the rocks. I quickly returned to the safety of my truck. Whew! Of the two: The tortuous portrait shoot or confronting a hairy monster; which would I prefer? HA! That's easy. I'll take my chances photographing ferocious wildlife any day! That said, I'm thrilled to have escaped this harrowing experience to bring you the photo of the week: The menacing Super Mouse of Mugu!

Happy photoing.

Send your suggestions, comments and questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com