Bob Crum

After four consecutive weeks of run and gun photoing, I'm sill in recovery mode as I write this. The past weekend was without an assignment but it's never like I have nothing to do. I still have rodeo photos I shot at the fair to post process. A photojournalist's fun is never done.

Rodeos are a challenge to shoot. Bucking broncs and bulls are difficult to predict. I try to anticipate the animal's direction and start pointing the camera in that direction expecting to get the money shot. I guess wrong a lot, thinking the animal will go this way but it goes that way. Grumble... grumble.

Another thing I try to accomplish is getting the bronc or bull rider in focus while getting the animal a tad blurry to illustrate it's action. Of course that requires getting the shutter speed dead on, Ha! Again I frequently guess wrong, but when I'm right... the image is spectacular. I get paid a lot for spectacular photos. You'll see the effect in a couple of the rodeo photos if you're observant... hint-hint.

Of course, timing is crucial as well as composition. It's important to keep the shutter button poised and ready. I get so upset when I'm a millisecond late. Must be that as I gracefully mature (ahem... age) my reflexes are getting a tad slower. My legitimate excuse for miscues!

As you know, pressing the shutter release button halfway activates the autofocus presuming that you're gear supports autofocus. But from my experience, the process is somewhat problematic.

Too many times, depressing the shutter button half way to activate focus results in two problems: 1) the shutter button is often too touchy... push it a tad too much and get a premature photo missing the money shot; 2) in the heat of exciting action, the shutter button often gets pressed in one swift push preventing time for the lens to focus. Hence, too many out-of-focus shots. Not good. Remember, an out-of-focus photo cannot be fixed!!! So, I gave up on that method years ago. Even for mermaid boudoir photography.

On my Canon 7D Mark II, I have the option of assigning an external button to activate autofocus. It's commonly called 'back button focus'. I designated the “*” button as my autofocus activator. I use the shutter button ONLY when I'm taking the photo. Before I actually take the photo, I'm pressing the “*” button on back of the camera to 'pre' focus so that when I mash the shutter button, focus is done and locked. Bingo: Money shot!

Even by the back-button focus method is not totally fool proof... especially when I forget to push it! But it's much better than using the shutter button to focus before taking the photo. If you have a camera that allows you to assign another button to activate focus, I encourage you to do so. It will improve your in-focus to out-of-focus ratio significantly. For those you who try it, let me know about your experience. BTW, it will take practice so that it becomes second nature. Just sayin'.

Panning... following a fast moving a subject in focus with the background blurred... is an interesting and creative technique. Set the appropriate shutter speed, aperture, and follow the moving subject. Rodeos provide such opportunities. Online, fillmoregazette.com, find and identify the rodeos photo where I panned the subject and the first person who emails me the correctly identifies the photo (it's also marked) wins one free Baskin Robbins scoop of ice cream. Offer ends at noon on Wednesday, 9/6/2017.

I selected the 'leaping bull' as the “Photo of the Week” because I was amazed that an animal that large could jump that high.

Happy photoing!

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

Chief Rigo Landeros

Fillmore’s Chief Rigo Landeros will be added to the 2017 California Firefighters Memorial at the 15th Anniversary Ceremony. The Foundation invites you to join them in memorializing the sacrifice and dedication of California’s fallen heroes Memorial Ceremony on September 30, 2017. The ceremony will be held at the California Firefighters Memorial located in Capitol Park, Sacramento, CA. A special 15th anniversary tribute will be held on the evening of Friday, September 29, 2017. Chief Landeros, who passed away in January 2016, will also be inducted into the Ventura County Firefighters Memorial on November 17, 2017.

That the City Council approved the introduction and first reading of an ordinance banning trucks on River Street between “A” Street and Central Avenue to limit heavy truck traffic using this segment as a bypass to the State Route 126 and authorizing staff to order install and maintain signs advising of this prohibition.

The City has received complaints from residents that River Street is being used as a bypass to State Route 126 by trucks particularly between “A” Street (Hwy 23) and Central Avenue. Although this segment of River Street is on the approved haul route for the active grading site in Heritage Valley Parks and also has point of delivery for trucks at the Vons commercial center at Balden Plaza, both the Sheriff and Engineering departments have verified some of the truck traffic on the segment is associated with regional hauling.

In addition to the apparent by-pass truck traffic that are using River to avoid the traffic on Hwy 126, it has been noted that truck drivers are using River Street to stage in the early morning to position themselves to be first in line to the quarries in Grimes Canyon.

To address these regional truck hauling impacts on River Street, the City Attorney has prepared Ordinance No. 17-881 to add Fillmore Municipal Code sections to ban vehicles over twenty feet and three-axle vehicles from being driven or parked on River Street between Central Avenue and “A” Street unless the truck is making a delivery on River Street or authorized pursuant to a pre-existing limited term agreement. The installation of signs in two locations as illustrated on Exhibit A will provide required notice to the truck drivers such that the prohibition will be enforceable.

PRESENTATIONS
A SAFER GRANT AWARD - Fire Chief Keith Gurrola received a grant for $485,395 to provide 3 new firemen for a period of 3 years. $196,782 will be allocated for the first two years and $91,831 for the third year.

REQUEST
That the City Council review recommendations regarding additional projects at Two Rivers Park from the Parks and Recreation Commission and City staff and provide direction on same.

DISCUSSION
In October 2002, the City adopted the “Heritage Valley Parks Specific Plan.” This plan was introduced to develop a community of more than 700 homes, with parks and a school, which is now known as “The Bridges” community here in the City of Fillmore.

To enable the development of the Heritage Valley Parks Specific Plan, the City approved a “Development Agreement” that obligated the developer to pay the City $1,350,000.00 to be used specifically at Two Rivers Park (previously known as “C” Street Park).

This funding would assist with the City’s completion of park projects necessary to accommodate the new residents who would eventually live in this Specific Plan area.

The City Council is being asked to determine how the $985,500 balance of these funds should be spent.

The Parks and Recreation Commission, along with City staff, have written a prioritized list of projects to be completed at Two Rivers Park. Below is this list, with estimated costs provided by the City’s Planning Department.

1 Finish Baseball Diamond and Backstop $15,000
2 Shelters with Built in BBQ x 3 $30,000 ea.
3 Basketball Court or and Tennis/Pickle Ball Courts - Tennis/Pickle -$150,000
Basketball - $120,000,
4 Handicap Accessible Parking Spots or New Parking
5 Accessible Parking - $6.5k New Parking Lot - $175k.
Lights for baseball diamond - $450,000
These items were recommended and approved.

CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
City Manager David Rowlands gave an update on the Malibu Broad Beach sand replenishment proposal. The City of Malibu is seeking to purchase and deliver thousands of truckloads of sand from the Happy Camp quarry area near Moorpark and truck them down Grimes Canyon, through Fillmore, Santa Paula and Montalvo, to the Pacific Coast Highway, and Malibu.

The proposal, which was approved by the Coastal Commission (providing the sand quality was a correct match for the now absent original sand). The County of Ventura was joined by the City of Fillmore in a lawsuit to halt the proposal. The issue is now being appealed.

Shortly before 4 PM Monday, August 21st, Detectives Dani Delpit and Bill Meixner were in the 800 block of Fourth St., Fillmore, when they saw two men in a vehicle. They recognized the men as (S) Jonathan Mora, a local documented gang member who was on probation for drug-related charges, and (S) Eric Martinez, a local documented gang member and parolee who had a felony warrant for his arrest.

When they detained the two men, the detectives found both to be under the influence of a controlled substance and Martinez to be in possession of a loaded handgun.

Martinez was arrested and booked for 29800(a)(1) PC – Felon in possession of a firearm (felony), 30505(a)(1) PC – Prohibited person possessing ammunition (felony); 11550(e) HS – Under the influence of a controlled substance while possessing a firearm (felony); 11370.1(a) HS – Possession of a controlled substance while possessing a firearm (felony); 4060 BP – Possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor); 3056 PC – Custody of a parolee; and an arrest warrant for 518 PC – Extortion (felony) and 186.22(a) – Street terrorism (felony). He is currently in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility with a bail of $70,000.

Mora was arrested and booked for 11550(a) HS – Under the influence of a controlled substance (misdemeanor). He was later released on a citation.

CHIEF OF POLICE CAPTAIN DAVE WAREHAM
SHERIFF GEOFF DEAN
Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden
Approved by: Captain Jim Fryhoff