Today is James Brown’s birthday. In November 17, 2005, I photographed Brown in an appearance at what was then the Fox Theatre (now the Bob Hope Theatre) in downtown Stockton. It was one of his last performances before he died a little more than a year later on December 25, 2006. After an announcer’s [...]
Photoshop manipulation of news photos is strictly forbidden. But with photo illustrations, which are considered to be akin to drawings or paintings, more artistic license is allowed. They’re typically used in the features sections of papers (such as The LENS section in The Record). Such pictures should be always labeled “photo illustrations.” In January 2008 [...]
Part of the power of photography is that of memory. Like a whiff of a scent or the snippet of a song, a photograph can rekindle memories long buried and thought gone. At my mother’s house in Walnut Grove I recently found a suitcase full of old photo albums and loose pictures. From old black [...]
In April 2008, as a part a family vacation to San Luis Obispo, we visited the city’s famed Bubble Gum Alley. My wife graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (Go Mustangs!), so she knew of this bizarre little attraction. Located off Higuera Street near Broad Street in downtown San Luis Obispo, the alley is [...]
Late in the afternoon on October, 17, 1989, I had an assignment to follow a candidate on a door-to-door campaign for local office. We agreed to meet on a certain street in south Stockton. I remember the both of us arriving in our cars simultaneously. As I parked at the side of the street, I [...]
Dave LaBelle, a 35-year photojournalist and educator who has worked for newspapers in cities ranging from Anchorage, Pittsburg and Sacamento, calls the search for enterprise feature photos the Great Picture Hunt. He even has created two books with that same name. Sometimes it can be likened to fishing, driving around trolling for pictures. Other times [...]
“So long it’s been good to know you So long it’s been good to know you So long it’s been good to know you It’s been so long since I’ve seen my home I’ve got to be rambling along”- Woody Guthrie w/ lyric adaptation by Phil Lee (Camera: Nikon D1H. Lens Sigma 14mm. Exposure: 1/30th [...]
In 1986, I had the pleasure of photographing jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan in a solo performance at the Fox Theatre (now renamed the Bob Hope Theatre) in downtown Stockton. Being a jazz fan I knew of him, but he’s not a household name, then or today. His unique playing style sets him apart from other [...]
Junior flower girls wait for the processional at the 2009 graduation ceremonies at the Grape Bowl in Lodi. (Camera: Nikon D300. Lens: Nikkor 17-55mm @ 17mm. Exposure: 1/500th sec. @ f/8. ISO: 200) Since the 1920s The flower girl procession has been a graduation tradition at Lodi High. Junior girls carrying bouquets of flowers and [...]
11/13/1993: South Vietnamese veteran Hao Tran, left, admires U.S. Vietnam veteran Joe Martinez’s medals at a ceremony honoring veterans from both countries at the Karl Ross American Legion Post in Stockton. “…He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, And rouse him at the name [...]
