Harvest Day at Bridges Charter School

Thousand Oaks 11/19/10 

Natalia Rodriguez, center, scoops a nutritional snack of grains and raisins, mixed in the nutritional foods exhibit next to her friends, Chad Carpenter and Savannah Milazzo, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 during a Bridges Charter School's first Harvest Festival, in Thousand Oaks.  The festival featured activity areas where students from grades K-7 could build a permanent labyrinth on the playground, participate in Zumba, learn how to garden and recycle.  A bird exhibition by Luzonica Birds of the World, displaying various predatory birds was also featured..  

Thousand Oaks 11/19/10 

Parent volunteer of the performing arts group Merley Greenridge dances in the Zumba class with the students, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 during a Bridges Charter School's first Harvest Festival, in Thousand Oaks.  The festival featured activity areas where students from grades K-7 could build a permanent labyrinth on the playground, participate in Zumba, learn how to garden and recycle.  A bird exhibition by Luzonica Birds of the World, displaying various predatory birds was also featured.

Thousand Oaks 11/19/10 

Skyler Petrula blows on a Zumba prop scarf while dancing in a Zumba session, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 during a Bridges Charter School's first Harvest Festival, in Thousand Oaks.  The festival featured activity areas where students from grades K-7 could build a permanent labyrinth on the playground, participate in Zumba, learn how to garden and recycle.  A bird exhibition by Luzonica Birds of the World, displaying various predatory birds was also featured.

Thousand Oaks 11/19/10 

Parent volunteer Renee LeBron helps Thomas Rizzoti plant lettuce in the school garden, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 during a Bridges Charter School's first Harvest Festival, in Thousand Oaks.  The festival featured activity areas where students from grades K-7 could build a permanent labyrinth on the playground, participate in Zumba, learn how to garden and recycle.  A bird exhibition by Luzonica Birds of the World, displaying various predatory birds was also featured.

Thousand Oaks 11/19/10 

Students walk along the labyrinth path they helped to build, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 during a Bridges Charter School's first Harvest Festival, in Thousand Oaks.  The festival featured activity areas where students from grades K-7 could build a permanent labyrinth on the playground, participate in Zumba, learn how to garden and recycle.  A bird exhibition by Luzonica Birds of the World, displaying various predatory birds was also featured.

Robert's Surfboards

I had the opportunity to photograph Robert Wiener, Surf Magazine's "Shaper of the Year" winner.  I love surfing and it was a chance to meet Robert and see how he works.  It was an incredible experience.

Ventura 11/12/10

Surfboard shaper Robert Wiener, owner of Robert's Surfboards stands among some of the boards he shaped, Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at his shop in Ventura.  Wiener was named best shaper of the year by surfing magazine in 2010.   

     Ventura 11/12/10 

Surfboard shaper Robert Wiener, owner of Robert's Surfboards measures the angle of a board he is shaping, Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at his shop in Ventura.  Wiener was named best shaper of the year by surfing magazine in 2010.   

Ventura 11/12/10 

Surfboard shaper Robert Wiener, owner of Robert's Surfboards was named best shaper of the year by surfing magazine in 2010.

                        Ventura 11/12/10 

Surfboard shaper Robert Wiener, owner of Robert's Surfboards explains the shape of one of his boards to his friend Jeff Hebner, left, as Wiener's employee Sean Fekete listens in, Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at his shop in Ventura.  Wiener was named best shaper of the year by surfing magazine in 2010.   

                                                                       Ventura 11/12/10

Surfboard shaper Robert Wiener, owner of Robert's Surfboards sands a board to refine its shape, Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at his shop in Ventura.  Wiener was named best shaper of the year by surfing magazine in 2010.   

Imad from Saudi Arabia

This was a portrait I took of a student from Saudi Arabia, attending California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. I haven't had much opportunity to play around with two strobes at once, so I thought I'd experiment a little.  I have one strobe behind Imad and one inside the bookshelf on his right. 

Thousand Oaks 12/3/10 

Imad Aldhifiri, a Saudi Arabian Student at CLU stands in the CLU library for a portrait, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 in Thousand Oaks.  

I thought this was a poignant moment between a curious student and Bobby Henline, a war veteran who was burned over 38% of his body.

Brandon Witkin from Santa Clarita Valley International school shakes hands with panelist speaker, veteran Bobby Henline, who served in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 during the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation:  Answering the Call to Service A Panel Discussion Honoring Our Nation's Veterans, at The Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley.  Henline suffered burns over 38% of his body as a result of his truck being hit by an improvised explosive device in 2007.  He has since become a stand up comedian and motivational speaker.

CLU Soccer

I don't usually get to shoot sports very often.  But when I do its always a blast.  Hopefully I get to shoot more in the future.  Lord knows I need the practice!

CLU Regal, Anna Medler, back, gets the jump on the ball over University of Redlands player Kaily Benenati, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 during a SCIAC semi-final soccer tournament between CLU and University of Redlands, at the CLU field in Thousand Oaks.  University of Redlands won the game 2-0. 

CLU Regal, Sinead Vaughan (cq), tries to maintain control of the ball from University of Redlands player Meghan King, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 during a SCIAC semi-final soccer tournament between CLU and University of Redlands, at the CLU field in Thousand Oaks.   University of Redlands won the game 2-0.

University of Redlands players Jaimie Morton, left, and Jessi Hoyt (cq) celebrate after winning against the CLU Regals 2-0, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 during a SCIAC semi-final soccer tournament between CLU and University of Redlands, at the CLU field in Thousand Oaks.   

A different kind of story in El Rio.

Unlike the previous post, the Oxnard Police sent a motorcade once again with officers, though this time with Santa Clause, gifts and a Christmas tree.  A few months earlier a mother and two of her young children, one who was only a couple month old, were struck by a tow truck driver in Oxnard and dragged a quarter mile until onlookers flagged the truck down.  The family was in critical condition but luckily survived the ordeal.  The Oxnard Police usually adopt one low income family each holiday season and bring gifts to them.  This year, the adopted family was the mother and her two children.  

Marcos Vascuez shakes the hand of Oxnard Police Officer Jessica Eglin, while holding his son Rodrigo Vasquez, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year.   

Oxnard Police Officers Ray Mattley, left, and Roy Aguirre follow Santa Clause bearing gifts, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vazquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

Marcos Vascuez answers the door to find Santa Clause (Ryan MacDonald) and Mrs. Clause (Lorraine MacDonald) waiting for him bearing gifts, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year.   

Oxnard Police Officers Ernie Aldrete and Eva Vazquez carry in a Christmas tree, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

Oxnard Police Officer Manuel Perez hands a money gift to Marcos Vasquez and his family, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

Karen Vasquez, 4, sits on the lap of Santa Clause (Ryan MacDonald), next to her father Marcos Vasquez and brother Rodrigo Vasquez, while her mother Alma Lopez sheds tears of joy, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year.   

Oxnard Police Officer Manuel Perez hands a money gift to Marcos Vasquez and his family, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Alma Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez, who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

The Vasquez family enjoys their new gifts, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

About 20 Oxnard Police Department Officers stand next to their motorcycles waiting to take a picture with the Vazquez family, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

About 20 Oxnard Police Department Officers stand next to their motorcycles waiting to take a picture with the Vazquez family, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 during a suprise visit by the Oxnard Police Department to deliver gifts, a Christmas tree and $1000 in cash, and dinner to Lopez and her two children Karen Vasquez and Rodrigo Vasquez who were struck by a tow truck earlier this year. 

Police Raid in El Rio

A few weeks back I was sent on a police raid of home of El Rio.  The house belonged to a suspected gang member who was already in custody.  The purpose of the raid was to collect gang related evidence confirming the suspect's gang affiliation. But because the suspect had attacked an officer a week previous to the raid, the police were being extra careful when approaching the house.  All police members wore bullet proof vests and covered all escape routes. 

Officer Victor Medina, left, asks a relative of the house under search warrant about his tatoo, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 in El Rio.  The purpose of the search is to gather gang relating evidence of the suspected gang member who is already in custody.

Officers Steve Jenkins, left, and Daniel Alcantar are suprised to find a list of names and phone numbers, Alcantar says are potentially of other gang members, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 during a search warrant service in El Rio.  The purpose of the search was to gather gang relating evidence of the suspected gang member who is already in custody.

Officer Steve Jenkins prepares to enter a residence of a suspected El Rio gang member, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 during a search warrant service in El Rio.  The purpose of the search was to gather gang relating evidence of the suspected gang member who is already in custody.

Officers Steve Jenkins, left, and Daniel Alcantar are suprised to find a list of names and phone numbers, Alcantar says are potentially of other gang members, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 during a search warrant service in El Rio.  The purpose of the search was to gather gang relating evidence of the suspected gang member who is already in custody.

Officer Victor Molina looks at papers found in a house of an alleged El Rio gang member, while other officers search for gang-related evidence in other rooms, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 during a search warrant service in El Rio.  The purpose of the search was to gather gang relating evidence of the suspected gang member who is already in custody.  Molina points out a Raiders hat, far right, he says is often worn by members of the El Rio gang.