On Friday, August 9th at 3:30 p.m. traffic was backed up for hours due to a rollover crash along East Telegraph, west of Cavin Road. Eastbound traffic was blocked. Cars heading east were navigated through the center divider to avoid the crash area. Lanes reopened by 5:30 p.m. An ambulance at the scene transported at least one person to the hospital.

Pictured is Rondi Guthrie, spokesperson for Southern California Edison Wildfire Mitigation, who gave a presentation on the various activities Edison has employed to help protect against future wildfires.

A broad-scoped presentation was provided by Rondi Guthrie, spokesperson for Southern California Edison Wildfire Mitigation. It explained the many and various activities and equipment types employed by Edison to protect against expected future wildfires throughout the state.

Rio Vista Park: City Council approved the following actions:1.Accept the Rio Vista Park improvements located easterly of the basin fencing as complete; 2.Accept the Rio Vista Park basin area as substantially complete, pending successful plant establishment for final acceptance;3.Authorize the reduction of the overall Tract 5496-1 subdivision improvement Bond # PB10163700337 by $821,265 to reduce the Community Park Construction and Landscaping bond amount to 25% for 1-year warranty period and 4.Authorize Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Contract Services Agreement for Spec No. 17-04 Landscape Maintenance Services with Mariposa Landscapes, Inc. to add landscape maintenance and irrigation services for Rio Vista Park.

The Council approved the Planning Commission recommendations that it take the following action: 1.Submit comments about amending the Downtown Specific Plan. 2.Direct City Staff to develop a Request Proposal and budget for City Council approval to select a consultant to update the Downtown Specific Plan.

City staff desires to amend the Downtown Specific Plan to recognize that existing buildings downtown will have different land uses in the future and that policies should be established to relax parking and architectural standards.

The Planning Commission reviewed this item at a public hearing held on July 17, 2019. The Commission adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council amend the Downtown Specific Plan to add new regulations for adaptive reuse projects. Accordingly, City Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Introduce Ordinance No. 19-914 for first reading, approving Downtown Specific Plan Amendment 19-02 and Finding of Exemption from CEQA. Request approved.

Faith Community Church City of Fillmore. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTIONAND APPROVAL OFAN INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE, AND DEVELOPMENT PERMIT ENABLING ADAPTIVE REUSE OF EXISTING CHURCH BUILDING AS A MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT AND SPECIALTY RETAIL COMMERCIAL COMPLEX LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF 1ST STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE REQUEST: The Applicant, 461 Central Avenue LLC (the “Applicant” with Alex Glasscock as the Applicant’s Agent), seeks approval of legislative changes and entitlements for the adaptive reuse of a property currently developed, but no longer in use, as a church and school, on 40,511 square feet of land located at the southwest corner of 1st Street and Central Avenue, known as 461 Central Avenue(the “Property”). The church and school buildings are proposed to retain the exterior façade, with an interior conversion of the buildings to a mixed-use residential apartment complex with 26 dwelling units, 4 of which will be restricted to rent as affordable senior units, and 3,777 square feet of specialty commercial building space (the “Project”).

The Planning Commission has recommends that the City Council take the following actions: 1.Approve Resolution No. 19-3728, adopting Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program2.Approve Resolution No. 19-3729, adopting General Plan Amendment 18-023.Approve first reading to introduce Ordinance No 19-915 adopting Downtown Specific Plan Amendment 18-014.Approve first reading to introduce Ordinance No. 19-916, adopting Zone Change 18-025.Approve Resolution No. 19-3730, approving Development Permit 18-09, subject to conditions of approval. Requests approved.

REQUEST: The Applicant, Harold Foy, requests approvals to merge 5 lots into 1 lot and construct a three-story mixed-use complex consisting of 18 residential condominiums and 4,821 square feet of street level commercial space. The Applicant also requests approval of a CEQA categorical exemption.

The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the Project which requires adopting the following: 1. Resolution 19-3732, Approving Vesting Tentative Map 5923,2. Resolution 19-3733, Approving a Density Bonus, and 3. Resolution 19-3735 Approving Development Permit 14-02 and a CEQA Categorical Exemption subject to Conditions of Approval. Council approved project.

SUBJECT: Discussion of the Certificate of Occupancy for Rotorcraft Support Inc., 67 D Street and Consideration of an Offsite Improvement Agreement to defer public improvements and an Amendment of the Agreement Allowing Deferral of Payment of DIFREQUEST City staff is requesting that the City Council review the status of the Rotorcraft Support Inc. project and give direction to City on the following: 1.Determining if a Final Certificate of Occupancy can be issued, 2.An Offsite Improvement Agreement to defer the construction of public improvements and on-site improvements for 1 year, and 3.An amendment the Development Impact Fee deferment (DIF) agreement to extend the time for payment for 1 additional year and addition of unpaid transportation fees.

Council Directed staff to extend the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for two weeks, until the next Council meeting, to give staff more time to work on the agreements and bond amounts with Rotorcraft to see if agreement can be reached.

There are only a few days left before the FREE Cardboard Boat Race at the Fillmore City Tennis and Swim Aquatics Center. Happening Friday, August 30th, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. PLEASE REGISTER BY AUGUST 20TH! You can go to Fillmore’s City Hall or the Fillmore Aquatics Center to pick up a registration form and get more information if interested, or go to https://bit.ly/2YE16Ei to download/ print the form at home and email completed forms to recreation@fillmoreca.gov. Its totally free to participate in the cardboard boat race, all you need to do is bring your already assembled vessel made from cardboard & duct tape ONLY (decoration with Sharpie markers welcomed). Courtesy City of Fillmore.

Bob Crum

I enjoy the Ventura County Fair. I usually visit at least four times during the run, including the rodeo. Not this year. Excruciating migraines hindered my ability to attend as usual.

I did go to shoot our FFA & 4-H champions/reserve grand champions at the Jr. Livestock auction. I have photographed the Jr. livestock auction for a long time, yet it doesn't get any easier. Photoing speedy jets at an air show is a walk in the park compared to photoing animals in an auction ring.

Photojournalism is about telling a story with a photo. Into the auction ring comes an FFA kid with her champion steer. Hmm. I rush to there to capture the shot and the animal moves. I quickly move. Now the kid moved! I move again. Good grief, the steer moves again. This dance continues unmercifully. I persevere, continually moving, until AHA!, got it by golly-the steer, kid and auctioneer in the composition-the story!

Oh-oh, here comes a pig! Pigs NEVER cooperate! Pigs in the auction ring are like sharks on the prowl, continually moving. A pig standing still for three seconds is like an eternity! Remember: Composition is key. Get the kid, pig and auctioneer lined up in the photo: The story! However, after decades of photoing pigs in the auction ring, I've concluded that the critters love to create pigdamonium. When pigs see a photographer, they refuse to stand still. Here's how a pig thinks: “OK, my handler is there, I'll move over here and destroy the photographers shot. When my handler is here, I'll move over there and continue to ruin the photographer's chances of getting the money shot! OK, pigs like trash, right? Good! Next year, I'm going to wear camouflage and hide my camera in, of course, a trash bag. HA! That'll fool the porkers. Or not!

After securing my obligatory photos, on to the All Alaskan Racing pig races. You see, me and pigs are a thing! Standard shooting procedure: Lock aperture at f/11 (for depth-of-field), increase the shutter speed to 1/640th second and ISO on auto and pan the piggies as they dash down the track jumping hurdles on the way. Must say: FUN!

In between races, I looked around the audience and saw a sea of phonetographers like never before! A haunting sight! If I had only $1 for every phonetographer at the Fair, I bet I could buy a yacht and sail the Mediterranean with a bevy of mermaids!

Then it was on to the racing dogs next door. These terriers, pugs and whatnot surprised me. They tear around the track faster than the piggies! On the first race, all I got was a blur of fur! Hmm. Time to switch to burst mode. The gate opened for the second race and brrrrrrrrrrt went the camera. The final count was 12 shots – nailed two. I did not lead the dogs enough. Did I say they run fast? I did better on the third and final race.

Late afternoon, I mosied around the midway, looking for, ahem, irresistible sunstar opportunities. Found a couple. The rest of the time was spent in a relaxing creative mode, playing with various compositions using various camera settings. I was not feeling well enough to go back and shoot the rodeo.

Photo of the week is one of the race dogs leaping. Check it's majestic form! Trust me; when the critter jumped the hurdle, it was flying.

I couldn't look at a bright computer monitor for very long due to continuing headaches so general photos of the Fair next week. Happy photoing!

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

Fillmore Unified School District

Board meeting highlights for the Fillmore Unified School District

45 Day Budget Update
The Governing Board received a presentation on the 45 Day Budget Update. Presentation was delivered by Assistant Superintendent, Andrea McNeill and Director of Fiscal Services, Martha Corona.

Approve Adoption of Core/Basic Materials
The Governing Board approved the adoption of the following textbook, teacher's edition and instructional materials for Spanish III. The textbook, iAvancemos! 3, is the companion textbook for the series of iAvancemos! 1 and iAvancemos! 2, Fillmore Unified School District's current adoption, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Approve Transportation Advisory Committee
The Governing Board approved the career technical education advisory committee. The purpose of this committee is to develop recommendations on the pathway program and to provide liaison between the district and potential employers.

Approve Resolution No. 19-20-02 Assignments of Teachers Who Are Teaching Outside of Their Credential Authorization Or On An Emergency Permit
The Governing Board adopted Resolution No. 19-20-02 approving the teacher assignments as listed on the attached report for teachers working outside of their credential authorization.

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

Trinity Episcopal Church at 2nd and Saratoga is happy to be the site of the newest Little Free Library in Fillmore. Built by Jack Stethem at the request of Lynn Edmonds, it honors the memory of Harvey and Doris Guthrie, long time members of the Trinity family.

Marie Wren started the Fillmore Little Free Library initiative in Fillmore with a model of Fillmore’s depot, also built by Jack Stethem. Little Free Library is an international nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.

Stop by and “take a book, leave a book.” More information on Little Free Libraries can be found at http://littlefreelibrary.org/

Bob Crum

As I parked my truck, two other SUVs parked alongside. Uh oh, are they going to go where I'm going? I waited. And waited! Alas, they're going on the other trail. The countryside is getting crowded these days. There are times when I have to patiently wait to make the photo I want because of 'tourist' intruders. Consideration for photographers seems to have gone the way of extinct white rhinos.

Landscape photography is a favorite, ranking right up there with my specialty: Mermaid boudoir photography. I scour maps and the Internet in search of photogenic gems. Without photography, I probably would not have traveled far afield to shoot the southwest's magnificent landscape. Places like Montaña de Oro State Park, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve replete with spectacular "tufa towers." Tufas are calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by the interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water.

Other interesting locations visited: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Lake Tahoe, Big Sur, the Mojave Desert, Mt. Whitney, Alabama Hills outside of Lone Pine, where many western films were made. Another fascinating sight is the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest high up in the White Mountains. Some of these living trees exceed 4000 years of age. And there's Avila Beach at Port St. Luis Harbor and the Harford Pier, home of Mr. Fishbreath, the resident chubby sea lion. I made an exciting whale photo in St. Luis Bay as it broached twenty feet from the pier with a mouthful of small fish. Woohoo!

So I ask: How many readers have hopped in their vehicle and made a day trip to observe some awesome landscape? Or wildflowers? Or wildlife? See what I mean? This creative itch and my passion for photography are what motivates me to continue to seek landscape eye candy to photograph. Why go to see such grand vistas and not make a photo for posterity? Just a thought.

OK, time to get technical. Landscape photography lends itself wonderfully to... wait for it... Av (aperture priority) mode! Av, a semi-automatic mode, is my most used mode when I'm lazy. OK, actually best for landscapes. In landscape photos, I prefer to maintain a large depth-of-field. Meaning, I prefer everything from near to far to be in focus. On rare occasions I may choose to isolate a particular subject by opening the aperture to blur the background. This is the joy of photographic creativity?

Whether manual or Av mode, I usually lock aperture at f/11 which insures a large depth-of-field. In Av mode, the aperture remains constant so the camera will have to adjust shutter speed and/or ISO for proper exposure. However, in normal daylight, I often also peg ISO at 100, the lowest setting. Av mode is absolutely necessary for HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography to maintain a constant depth-of-field through multiple exposures.

Of course, there are exceptions: Golden hour and blue hour. In Av mode during those times, I first imbibe a strawberry margarita and while I float I'll let ISO float in auto mode to account for the lower light levels. Works every time! Tv (Shutter priority mode) is the other semi-automatic mode to be discussed another day.

No one found the intentional mistake in last week's column. I was sure several readers would have caught it.

It's dishonorable to ignore a beautiful flower. On assignment downtown, I noticed a beautiful bird-of-paradise flower. As I approached, I heard: "Hi there, I'm posing just for you." Well thank you, I said, and made this delightful photo of the week. As I left I heard it whisper: "Thank you!"

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

The Plaque is honoring over 62 years of service to the citizens of Fillmore by the Fillmore Police Department Officers and Dispatchers from 1925-1987.

Up until the late 1970’s the majority of employees came from the citizens of Fillmore and surrounding areas, such as the City of Santa Paula and Piru community.

We hope the Plaque will keep the spirit of community law enforcement alive. The families of these brave and dedicated individuals can now visit City Hall and see their loved ones honored for decades to come.

The City of Fillmore decided to contract police services through the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in 1987; staffing issues and budget concerns were the stated reasons. Since then the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has provided outstanding service, which continues to make Fillmore a very safe city.

Currently, Captain Eric Tennessen is Police Chief of Fillmore. His help with the planning of the dedication ceremony and Master of Ceremonies duties has been invaluable. The support from the Fillmore City Council and City Manager David Rowlands has been greatly appreciated.

The Fillmore Police Brotherhood started in 2014. And since then retired Fillmore PD Sgt. Max Pina has been the President up until a few weeks ago. Max has decided to spend more quality time with his family and especially all the grandchildren. We will miss Max’s leadership, but fully support his decision.

We welcome retired Fillmore Police LT. Mark Dominguez in taking the leadership role as the new president.

The Fillmore City Council Chamber was approved by the City for the ceremony. It was packed with approximately 140, former Police Department Employees and family members.

A special presentation honoring two former Fillmore officers, Hank Carrillo and Larry Carpenter, who left to continue their law enforcement careers with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Both men continued to live in Fillmore.

Hank Carrillo retired at the rank of Lieutenant and Larry Carpenter served as the Ventura County Sheriff for several years. Hank was very active in the community and school sporting events, also known as “The Voice of Fillmore“ for announcing football games, beauty pageants, and 18 years of parades, among many other civic duties. Larry was always there when the community needed him. He provided Quality staffing of intern “Chiefs of Police” when Fillmore needed them. Hank was one those selected to the assignment.

We know of five officers from the Fillmore Police Department who received “The Medal of Valor” the highest honor awarded to officers for heroism and bravery in saving a human Life:
Senior Officer Max S. Pina
Officer Hess Zavala
Res. Officer Robert Butler
Senior Officer Robert Arnold
Res. Sergeant Duke Bradbury

Former Fillmore City Budget Consultant John Wooner.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Courtesy KGET) — An SUV recovered from the Kern River has been identified as the missing Dodge Durango registered to the city of McFarland which had been driven by John Wooner, the city manager who disappeared in May 2019.

The body of a man was found inside the Durango after it was pulled from the river Sunday, but has not been identified.
The SUV was discovered Saturday afternoon about three miles into the canyon.

A sergeant on scene reported the vehicle has been in the water for a while and only became visible because water levels dropped about three feet in the last week.

In May, Wooner went missing in the Durango after he was last seen visiting his father’s grave at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
That cemetery is 11.1 miles from where the submerged vehicle was removed.

Wooner was hired as a consultant by the City of Fillmore to advice on the City’s 2009-2010 budget in July of 2009.

The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation recognized its 2019 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarships recipients on Thursday, July 30, during a meeting of the Board of Directors at Cabrillo’s Snapdragon Place Apartments in Ventura.

Cabrillo Chief Executive Officer, Margarita H. De Escontrias welcomed the recipients, introduced the board members and thanked the members of the scholarship review panel for their commitment in determining the scholarship recipients.

This year, Cabrillo received 24 applications, and awarded $12,500 to 14 recipients. Edison International provided a $10,000 grant for STEM recipients, and another $2,500 funded by individual donations was distributed among recipients of all majors.

The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship Program, created in 2011, honors the legacy of Rodney Fernandez, Cabrillo’s founder and Executive Director for 30 years (1981–2011). The Scholarship continues Fernandez’s legacy of community building by cultivating the leadership of residents to attain their goals and empower themselves to take action to improve the quality of life in their communities.

“The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship applicants and recipients exemplify Rodney’s dedication and commitment to making Ventura County a better place to live and work,” said Jack Hinojosa, Chief Executive Officer of Child Development Resources of Ventura County and a member of the review panel.

“I was very impressed with the high-quality applications I reviewed and each of the recipients’ commitment, dedication and passion for learning and higher education. More importantly, many of the recipients plan to return to the county to help our community after they graduate. Congratulations to all the RFLF recipients,” he said.

Other members of the scholarship review panel were:
• Jaime Galvan, Programs and Events Manager at Ventura College Foundation
• Brian Gilpatrick, Managing Director, Ventura Region, Union Bank
• Christina Perez, Admissions Counselor, California Lutheran University.
• Jessica Cook, Assistant Vice President and Branch Operations Manager at Pacific Western Bank, Camarillo office, and a Cabrillo board member
• Denise Bickerstaff, Director of Business Development and Administration at Cabrillo

Luz Soto, Director of Property Management and Resident Services, introduced each of the recipients in attendance and welcomed their family members. About 40 people attended the event catered by El Pescador in Fillmore.

Two of the seven recipients in attendance spoke about themselves and the impact the scholarship will have on their ability to attend school and reach their educational goals.

Mireya Avila Mejia, a Fillmore High School graduate, is attending California State University, Channel Islands, in the Masters in Nursing program. She said she was inspired by nurses who tended to her mother, who was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and underwent surgery and radiation.

“I want to impact someone’s life in a positive manner and help someone’s mother in the way my mother was being helped. … As I embark on my nursing journey, I plan to get a job in the Ventura County area as a Nurse Practitioner. I will most likely be working in the Ventura County Hospital in the emergency unit, but it doesn’t matter where I am as long as I am saving lives,” Mejia said.

Yuliana Ceja, a Pacifica High School graduate, is attending Ventura College studying applied mathematics. She said she discovered her passion for mathematics while working as a tutor at Ventura College and Tutor Doctor, preparing high school students for SAT exams.

“My ultimate educational goal is to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Applied Mathematics at CSUCI. My dream job is to become a math professor at a community college. As a college professor, I aspire to help students develop a love and understanding of mathematics,” she said.

Panelist and Cabrillo board member Cook said she was impressed by the women who shared their experiences and gratitude. “I can relate to both women when they mentioned they could not speak English when they started school. Being teased and bullied can shape who you are as a person. I am so proud these award recipients were shaped in a positive way,” Cook said. “They used their experience to help others in similar situation and told themselves they were going to become successful. I am fortunate to be a part of this process. Everyone who submitted an essay did an amazing job.”

In addition to Mejia and Ceja, scholarship recipients are:
• Angellica Ayala-Ibarra, a Ventura High School graduate attending California Lutheran University as an environmental science and accounting major
• Denise Castro, a Foothill Technology High School graduate attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as a global studies and education major
• Dominique Delgadillo, a Ventura High School graduate attending Ventura College as a Zoology major
• Trenton Grimes, an El Modena High School graduate attending Oxnard College and transferring to the University of California, San Diego, as a mechanical and environmental engineering major
• Edith Ibarra, a Santa Paula High School graduate attending Ventura College as a biology major
• Julio Martinez Fernandez, a Pacifica High School graduate attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an Earth sciences major with an emphasis in geophysics
• Monique Melendez, a Rio Mesa High School and Notre Dame de Namur University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in biochemistry. She attends Grand Canyon University working on her Master of Education degree in special education.
• Cassandra Mendez, a Santa Paula High School graduate attending California State University, Channel Islands’ nursing program.
• Edwin Ponce, a graduate of Applied Technology Center High School attending California State University, East Bay, as a computer science major
• Devin Ruiz, a Ventura High School graduate attending California State University, Channel Islands, as a mathematics and business major
• Naomi Summers, an Oxnard High School graduate, attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an environmental studies major
• Kevin Tapia, an Oxnard High School graduate attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an actuarial science major

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

A seventeen year old Piru resident was arrested after vandalizing a property with graffiti in the city of Fillmore.

On July 21st at approximately 12:07 a.m., patrol deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Fourth Street in the city of Fillmore for a vandalism in progress call. Witnesses indicated there were multiple subjects involved in the crime. When deputies arrived, the victim directed them to his property that had been spray painted with several monikers. The victim believed the suspects were possibly fleeing the scene. Deputies quickly responded to the area and located one of the suspects. Deputies obtained evidence linking the juvenile to the newly painted graffiti. The damage to the victim’s property was estimated at nearly $2,000.00. The other suspects fled the scene and eluded apprehension.

Detectives continued the investigation by obtaining a search warrant for the juvenile’s residence in the town of Piru. During the service of the warrant, investigators uncovered additional evidence linking the suspect to the crime.

The juvenile was booked at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard for PC 594(b)(1) / Graffiti Vandalism, PC 182(a)(1) / Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, PC 602(m) / Trespassing, and Fillmore Municipal Code 15.32.010 / Curfew.

The identification and apprehension of this vandal would not have been possible without an alert citizen immediately calling the Sheriff’s Office to report the vandalism when it occurred. The Fillmore Police Department encourages residents to report graffiti or other suspicious behavior immediately when they see it occurring. Additionally, the City of Fillmore created the “City of Fillmore” mobile phone application, which allows citizens to photograph and report graffiti vandalisms directly to the city for quick removal.

Nature of Incident: Felony Vandalism Arrest Made
Juvenile Arrested for Estimated $2,000 in Property Damage
Report Number: RB# 19-113819
Location: City of Fillmore and Piru
Date & Time: 07/21/19 @ 12:07 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services and Detectives
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Juvenile Piru 17
Prepared by: Detective Shawn Pewsey #3867
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Bob Crum

So many emails I need a secretary. Beginning with Tracy L., who asked: All I ever see in the photo of the week data is the camera was in manual mode. Is that your only camera mode? It delights me enormously that readers like Tracy review the photo of the week data. I'm also impressed. It's true that "manual" mode is cited most often. And Tracy's question is appropriate, considering that there are other semi-automatic and automatic modes to automate photo making. However, I don't always agree with what the camera's computer wants to do in a semi-automatic or auto mode. So, rather than argue with the camera, I simply switch to manual mode and take control.

Consider my Ford Ranger pickup as an equivalent example because it has a 5-speed manual transmission. While it's often more convenient to have an automatic transmission, a manual tranny often provides more vehicle control. For example, going down hills, I can downshift to a lower gear and use engine braking, saving my wheel brakes. I can also downshift when climbing mountain roads, keeping the RPMs in the optimum power range. The camera in Auto mode can't know what I want. Manual mode gives me complete control over exposure for the kind of photo I want to make.

Remember the exposure triangle I presented a year and a half ago: Aperture, shutter speed and ISO? Sure you do. For example, if I'm shooting a fast-paced subject, bull riders, pelicans diving for fish or mermaids playing water polo, I prefer a relatively fast shutter speed to freeze action. Hence, I set the shutter speed at 1/500th of a second, aperture f/11. Another example, to create a sunstar effect in the photo I'm making I'll stop down the aperture to f/18 or f/22 and increase the shutter speed to compensate for the reduction in light. I usually keep ISO on auto mode, letting it go where the camera determines it needs for proper exposure. If necessary, I'll dial in ISO but that's a subject for another day. So you see, in manual mode, it's important to note that I can create the photo as I desire. It's this creative aspect of photography that I greatly enjoy.

But as often happens, camera-determined exposure, though perhaps correct, is not always what I desire. Maybe I want to underexpose slightly to infer a mood. Maybe I prefer to lighten up (high key) a particular image. In other words, suppose that I'm not happy with what the camera determined is the proper exposure. No problem. After a refreshing strawberry margarita, I'll simply adjust 'Exposure Compensation.' A button on my camera is labeled +/-. Push it and it brings up the Exposure Compensation adjustment where I can increase or decrease the exposure depending on my desires. I'll discuss Av, Tv, P and A modes another time.

Photo of the week is nothing spectacular. It's just of a cute little acorn woodpecker. Though I'm not a dedicated birder like many photographers, I will take the opportunity to capture an interesting bird photo. This little guy up on the nearby power pole juxtaposed with the sign 'voltage' was irresistible. Yes, Tracy, manual mode!

Ahem! There's a deliberate error in the description above regarding exposure. To win a free Baskin & Robbins single-scoop treat, find it, and be the first to email me a brief description of the error. Dilly dally at your peril. Oh, this is so much fun!

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