iPhone Panorama Rainbow

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his is one of those being in the right place at the right time photographs. This fact doesn't bother me too much since it almost never happens to me. I'll take it when I can get it. Really! It's the truth. I feel like I'm always a minute too late or somebody gets in my way or something else just isn't right in a photographic situation. But this time, thanks to the iPhone panorama app everything worked out.While working on another weather photo in the Fresno Bee newsroom, I got word that there was an awesome full rainbow visible directly over downtown Fresno. I took a look and agreed it was worth running up to the roof to get a shot. Once I started shooting I became frustrated that the rainbow arc was too wide to fit within the 24mm view of my DSLR. Colleague Jeff Gledhill, who happen to be up on the roof taking photos too, heard me complaining about my situation. He said he just used his iPhone on pano mode so he could get the whole rainbow. Hrmm, I thought. I hadn't really messed with that too much, but it sounded like a good idea. So I put down my $3,000 Nikon and held up my camera phone and swiped it across the sky. I was amazed at how it captured the complete rainbow and how seamless the image was. This could work!So I went back downstairs and showed it to an editor who alerted the copy desk that we had a photo for A1. It wasn't too surprising to me to have an iPhone image make the paper since I had done it once before. I also posted it to our Fresno Bee Photography Facebook page where it got over 500 likes and 250 shares. Some kind of a record for us I think.It's nice when everything comes together like that. Wish I could use only my iPhone on assignments. It would be a lot better for my back. Maybe someday... 

President Barack Obama Visits Fresno

[dropcap]I[/dropcap] spent Valentine's Day out at the airport covering President Barack Obama's visit to the Central San Joaquin Valley for The Fresno Bee. He came in to talk to leaders about the severe drought California is having and visit some of the areas being affected by it. Airport duty isn't the most glamorous place to be for a presidential visit, but I'll take it. This is only the second president I've ever covered in my career. The first was President Bill Clinton when he visited Sequoia National Park. I photographed George Bush the second, but that was before he was president, so that doesn't really count. So it was nice to be a part of the Fresno Obama visit.Although it was a long day of waiting, I was pretty happy with the images I got of the president in the few minutes he was here. I'd happily do it again. These are the days that I feel really lucky to be a newspaper photographer.

Road Scholar

I shot this assignment for Road Scholar, which used to be Elderhostel, a non-profit educational travel organization for senior citizens. My subject was a Fresno woman who had traveled quite a bit with Road Scholar.  After talking with her for a while, I decided I need to get my mom on this and brought home some information to her. I think it sounds like a really cool thing to be involved in.

Woodward Park Family Portraits

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his most recent family portrait session was held out at Fresno's Woodward Park where we posed a few family shots, as well as individuals of each of the kids, but also had some fun with the youngest little guy who seemed to really like picture time at the park. The kids also climbed trees and chased ducks. I'm always glad when a family session like this one turns into more than a chore – for all of the family members. This was a nice time to remember.

Sebastian Corp. Sales Staff Headshots

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]eadshots for the sales staff at Sebastian Corp. in Fresno. Nice bunch of people. I enjoyed meeting them and I'm really thankful for my pal Tanya for getting me out there for the shoot.

New Chef

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]arris Ranch Restaurant in Coalinga is touting its new executive chef, Erasmo Rodriguez, who is very excited to be surrounded by premium produce and beef. He says the new job is a chef's dream come true. I made a few photos of Erasmo and some entrees for The Bee when I was down there recently. I'm looking forward to making another trip down there for a different reason -  to eat!

Air Pollution Comparison

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his is a copy of a post made on the Fresno Beehive with a comparison of the downtown Fresno skyline showing a very clear day four years ago and one made recently in the midst of the worse drought California has had on record. Valley residents depend on storms to clear out the pollution and dust that accumulates in the air trapped in the bowl that's formed between the mountains. With no rain or wind forecast anytime in the near future, the hazardous conditions may continue to get worse.

Tulare Library

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ecently I did some architectural photography for Paul Halajian Architects in Fresno. I was hired to shoot the exteriors and interiors of the Tulare Public Library, which was designed by PHA and opened in 2010. The firm was looking to update their website with some new images. I thought it would be good to get daylight photos but also some in twilight to show off some of the cool lighting around the facility. Because it was fall, I was able to work in the nice color in the trees and got lucky with the weather. This was a fun one to work on and I'm hoping to do a few more like it. I love looking at cool architecture around the Valley.

BevMo!

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]overed the opening of the new Clovis BevMo! store last November. It was interesting to see how many people were willing to get up so early for the opening. I guess free beer and champagne tasting was a pretty good lure. The opening appeared to be a great success and fun to see that it was 150th store. Also good to see success from a Bay Area company - back in my old stomping grounds. :)

Sgt. Morales

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his was for a magazine article on a single mother and all the ups and downs that go along with serving in the military. The story on Sgt. Morales and her two kids is scheduled to be published in an upcoming edition of GX Magazine. I recently spent some time with the three of them to do some casual photos as well as set up portraits.

Meet & Greet

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hese photos are from a meet and greet event at the Tower Theater in Fresno back in December. City council candidate Cary Catalano had hot chocolate and cookies so folks in the district could come by and chat with him and kids could take photos with Santa. Visitors were also asked to bring unwanted coats for the Coats for Kids program. By the end of the night, the little convertible they were putting the coats in was overflowing!

2013 Favorites

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ometimes I think that as a photojournalist, I should have a style - a unique way of seeing that defines my work. But I've always had a problem figuring that out. There are lots of people I admire that definitely have a style, but for some reason I have trouble coming up with words that describe my photography. They are fleeting moments that show jubilation, sadness, death, rebirth, strength, weakness, humor, fun, remembrance, growth and celebration. So in end, maybe my work is simply life - tiny reflections of the world around us.I like working for a community newspaper where I am charged with recording little slices of life to share. I hope that those slices help readers learn a bit more about this place that is our home - and maybe, just maybe those fleeting moments can help make small difference for the better too.Here are a few favorites from the past year. Happy 2014!