Oh ya...

My third attempt at a sound slideshow.

And the winners are....

The Pulitzer Prize winners were recently released and with no real major events such as 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, there was not one dominant event. I believe The Wall Street Journal was the only entity to walk away with multiple awards.

The main two winners that interested me, were the photography winners.


Oded Balilty of The Associated Press won for Breaking News Photo and his shot of a Jewish settler challenging Israeli security officers.


A lone Jewish settler challenges Israeli security officers during clashes that erupted as authorities cleared the West Bank settlement of Amona, east of the Palestinian town of Ramallah. Thousands of troops in riot gear and on horseback clashed with hundreds of stone-throwing Jewish settlers holed up in this illegal West Bank outpost after Israel’s Supreme Court cleared the way of demolition of nine homes at the site. February 1, 2006.

For Feature Photography, Renée C. Byer of the Sacramento Bee won with her very compelling photo essay on a young man battling cancer with his mom by his side. I tell you the last few photos are so impacting, as is the whole story. This is a very sad story, but these photos help you to feel that sadness.



Cyndie holds Derek on May 8. He is on medication that hinders his speech and keeps him awake at night. Except for a few minutes while hospice nurses are with him, Cyndie spends nearly every moment of the day at his side.."I was exhausted beyond belief but I had to do this. He would call my name and always expects me to be there," Cyndie said.

Both of these photographers were very deserving artist. Let's give them a round of applause.

Check out more winners here.

Time to use some words...

So I wrote this article a while ago and tried to get it ran in a few publications, but it just never panned out. Well I take that back, It might have ran in the Screamin' Eagle at West Hills College Lemoore, but I am unsure. It is just a little opinion piece I wrote, so I hope you enjoy.

Age Go-Go and flares boots really in our future?

Cowboy Up

Thought I would give you something else to look at since it has been so long since I posted.



I took this at the Laton Rodeo, right before the rider was let out of the gate. What I really like about it is the hands reaching in and framing the flag on his shoulder.

Laton is a small town, located in the middle of the country in the Central Valley of California. The rodeo is by far the biggest event of the year for the rural community. All around you see cowboy hats, spurs and huge belt buckles.

I really think this picture captures that small town America look. It's simple like the town, you always have a helping hand from the community, and you're modest, like the rider who is looking away. The riders hands are worn from hard work, much like the residence of the small farming community.

I feel that this is what journalistic photography is all about; portraying an entire event, community or demographic with a single photo. It's a tough job, and I am by no means saying I did or do a good job doing it. But being a photographer in the media world, means telling a story. I think this photo tells that story and tells about the community where it comes from. I didn't run this photo in the newspaper, but it was favorite.

What do you think?

America the Beautiful

So it has been a while since I have posted, so I thought I would throw up a picture I took a couple of days ago. Just the right thing to help finish out the week. Here in California, it's starting to feel like summer and flowers are blooming, matching perfectly with our clear blue skies. I snapped this shot in Caruthers, Ca at a Veterans Memorial Site. These roses were just planted a few months ago, replacing the dead flowers and foliage that was there before.