EYES WIDE OPEN

42nd Annual Stanford Pow Wow

Sun, 12 May 2013 21:29:00 -0400

Following a few weekend assignments for the Town Crier, I made my way to Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA for the 42nd Annual Stanford Pow Wow. The event provided an illuminating glimpse at native cultures from North America and South America (including Native Americans and Aztec Indians) and provided food for the spirit. A pow wow is derived from a word meaning spiritual leader and involves singing, dancing, socializing and the celebration of culture`

Inspired by the traditions of their communities, each participant of the pow wow wore costumes that included colorful feather headdresses, elaborate beadwork, animal skulls, moccasins and layers of fabric and embellishments. Although the grand entry was the show stopper of the evening, the moments before and after also conveyed the significance of this gathering – a rare remembrance of culture in a time and place that makes it easy for us to forget who we are and where we come from.

Although the sounds and movement of participants is experienced best by being present, I believe that my photos capture the soulfulness and beauty of this gathering.

Gymnastics combines athleticism and poetic motion One of the...

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:13:00 -0400

Gymnastics combines athleticism and poetic motion

One of the most exciting parts of my job as a photojournalist with the Los Altos Town Crier is documenting a broad spectrum of subjects – high school sports included.

During the spring sports season, I’ve photographed softball, lacrosse, tennis, diving, track and field and gymnastics. In most cases, when I show up to a game or meet, it’s the first time I’ve photographed that sport. Although I’m becoming a pro at knowing what shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings I want for my camera(s), documenting perfect moments for every player on the list from the Town Crier’s sports editor can be challenging.

My favorite spring sport to document is gymnastics because of the beautiful line, movement and sheer strength of the athletes. Although school gymnasiums present challenging lighting conditions, one can find plenty of opportunities to make dynamic images.

A selection of my images from the season are above.

Playful portraits from around the San Francisco Bay I...

Sat, 11 May 2013 01:21:42 -0400

Playful portraits from around the San Francisco Bay

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap some creative portraits of my sister during her visit to the San Francisco and Santa Cruz last weekend.

Sharing a selection of my favorite images in this posting.

Being prepared for a crisis starts at homeLast fall I began...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:35:38 -0400

Being prepared for a crisis starts at homeLast fall I began reporting on the Los Altos Hills CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) – a group of several hundred volunteers in Los Altos Hills, CA that are trained to respond to a disaster. After writing several articles and creating the video above, I decided to enroll in a CERT class this Spring.

In the wake of many natural disasters and other catastrophes as of late, I think that this training is another iinvaluable resource in my life toolbox. As a journalist, I may one day stumble upon a crisis reporting situation and personally, may need to know how to help myself and my family when the unexpected strikes.

Over the next six weeks I’ll be chronicling my emergency preparedness training in a written series in the Los Altos Town Crier for 17,000 readers and an online audience. I hope that my entries encourage other residents to make the investment in CERT training and emergency preparedness.

You can read my entry on week 1 of training here.

At least 100 guests attended a ceremony to dedicate the downtown...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:05:13 -0400

At least 100 guests attended a ceremony to dedicate the downtown Mountain View post office as the Lt. Kenneth M. Ballard Memorial Post Office April 13.

Ballard, a 1995 graduate of Mountain View High school, received three Bronze Star Medals, two with Valor Device, and the Purple Heart for his service in Iraq. In 2004, Ballard died during combat in Iraq.

With the unanimous support of her colleagues in the U.S. Congress, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo passed a piece of legislation in 2013 to dedicate the Mountain View Post Office in honor of Lt. Kenneth Ballard. She joined family and friends for the dedication ceremony of the post office in Mountain View, CA last weekend.

I spent my Saturday morning taking portraits and group photos of...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:46:00 -0400

I spent my Saturday morning taking portraits and group photos of players in the Above and Beyond Basketball program – a Silicon Valley based program that trains young athletes in on court and off court skills and leadership. The founder, Mani Messy, also hosts basketball trainings in Cameroon for aspiring players.

I worked with a simple setup of available light and on-camera flash to create individual portraits. I challenged each of the players to give me a unique look – I didn’t want the photos to look like school photos. Did they shoot, dribble, block, have a special trick? If so, I asked them to fuse their skill(s) and personality together.

Above are some of my favorite group photos.

I spent my Saturday morning taking portraits and group photos of...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:29:40 -0400

Above are some of my favorite photos. I’ll post some of my best group and candid shots in the next post.

Kids take to the creek to monitor watershed Written by Ellie Van...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:29:00 -0400

Kids take to the creek to monitor watershed

Written by Ellie Van Houtte - Staff Writer/ellievh@latc.com

Mix curious children, a creek and creative monitoring tools together, and a one-of-a-kind World Water Monitoring Challenge ensues.

More than three dozen young explorers and their parents, equipped with clipboards and plastic gloves, examined the water quality of Permanente Creek at Heritage Oaks Park in Los Altos March 16.

“We think the most effective watershed education comes from getting volunteers into the field to work on stewardship projects,” said Joanne McFarlin, a senior ecologist at Acterra who organized the event with GreenTown Los Altos. “Volunteers learn what makes for a healthy creek system while they contribute to making it healthy.”

Read the full story in the March 27 Town Crier here.

Several hundred Bay Area residents gathered March 30 at the...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:04:22 -0400

Several hundred Bay Area residents gathered March 30 at the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple to celebrate the Indian Spring Festival of Holi – also known as the festival of colors.

There was dancing, jubilant children and the obligatory Raas Rang (bursts of colorful powder) in every direction. Although my camera remained unscathed from beneath a plastic coverings, I was soaked with color from head to toe by the time I left the event. A fun interlude for a Saturday…

Behind the scene … the Town Crier newsroom My boss, Bruce...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 02:58:00 -0400

Behind the scene … the Town Crier newsroom

My boss, Bruce Barton (Editor of the Los Altos Town Crier), takes a break from editorial responsibilities to educate and entertain a tiger scouts group from a local elementary school last week in the photo above. I think that he’s enjoying the experience as much as the youth!

At a community newspaper, connection to our readers matters and more often than not we’re welcoming guests of every age and interest into our office. I think it’s the extras (in addition to providing news and information you won’t find elsewhere) that makes our paper such a valuable asset to the local community.

Spring arrives in Los Altos’ town plaza with the beautiful...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 02:37:15 -0400

Spring arrives in Los Altos’ town plaza with the beautiful blossoming trees…

64 student representatives from seven San Francisco Bay Area...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 02:33:00 -0400

64 student representatives from seven San Francisco Bay Area catholic schools gathered at St. Simon Parish School in Los Altos, CA for a model papal conclave March 14.

From a prayer blessing to the administration of oath, voting and the acceptance and proclamation of a new model pope, the simulation gave students a look at a historical church process conducted behind closed doors

Learn more about his unique event through my story in the Los Altos Town Crier’s March 20 paper.

20 years and still going strong

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:04:00 -0400

20 years and still going strong:

The Los Altos Town Crier in Los Altos, CA has been operating nonstop for 65 years and owned by the same local couple for the past 20 years.

For some insight into why this small community paper continues to be relevant and beloved by so many subscribers, please take a glimpse at the editorial that our publisher Paul Nyberg wrote in this week’s paper.

I’m proud to belong to such a wonderful newsroom!

It was a tough game for the St. Francis High School boys...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:19:00 -0400

It was a tough game for the St. Francis High School boys basketball team March 12. Just one win away from the NorCal final game, they lost 85-82 to College Park High School.

Although the game was filled with great moments of athleticism, my favorite moments might be the emotion that overcame the players in the aftermath of their loss. Someday this loss will be a fleeting moment and perhaps a stepping stone for even greater accomplishments to emerge.

For the full album, click here.

It’s not every day that the relatively crime-free...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:59:57 -0400

It’s not every day that the relatively crime-free community of Los Altos has a bank robbery. When a colleague at my paper walked into our offices recalling the site of ten-dollar bills floating across the street of a local bank moments after a robber fled a bank, I grabbed my camera bag and walked down the street (yes, Los Altos is that small) to the action.

I was just in time to see the police arrive on site. Bills were still sitting in the grass near the bank and the police searched a neighboring building with their guns drawn as they searched for the robber.

Although we posted single photos on Facebook and our online newsflash as soon as I arrived back to our offices, I quickly compiled a photo montage of the scene. It was a HUGE hit on Facebook, receiving more than 431 views.

For more details, visit http://www.losaltosonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45686&Itemid=46.

CAPTION: Ten dollar bills sit in the grass across from Comerica Bank on Third Street in Los Altos, left and top right, after a robber fled from the bank. A member of the Los Altos Police Department searches an adjacent property, bottom right, for the suspect. It appears that the suspect was not found, top middle.

In honor of International Women’s Day, I’d like to...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:23:30 -0500

In honor of International Women’s Day, I’d like to share the story of Ruth Patrick – an incredibly passionate advocate supporting victims of domestic violence in Los Altos, CA and the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can read my story about Ruth and the organization she founded ( WOMEN~SV) at http://www.losaltosonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43463&Itemid=47.

Since founding her organization last Spring, she has helped more than 50 women escape domestic violence and is reaching out to law enforcement agencies, lawyers, psychologists and social workers in the Bay Area to educate them on how they can better address the needs of those facing DV.

Ruth and I have become friends over the past year and I recently spent time taking some portraits, above, of her. I think they capture her brave spirit.

The mountains in the background were a beautiful complement to...

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:52:58 -0500

The mountains in the background were a beautiful complement to an exciting CCS Division II championship girls soccer game Saturday in San Jose, CA.

Los Altos High School and St. Francis High School – both local teams for the Los Altos Town Crier – made it to the finals and it was exciting to see the teams battle it out on the green.

Media were restricted to one side of the field and were not allowed to enter the end zones (one of my favorite places to shoot soccer). Fortunately, I did a pretty good job of anticipating the action and was close enough to the goals to capture some great saves by the goalies.

I’m looking forward to seeing what our sports editor decides to print in the paper. Overall, a winning day for local teams – regardless of the score.

All the right shots: final b-ball game of season The Town Crier...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:53:00 -0500

All the right shots: final b-ball game of season

The Town Crier had three teams playing in the Central Coast Section (CCS) basketball championship games. I had the chance to photograph Pinewood High School against Alma Heights Christian School in the CCS Division V boys Basketball championship game March 2.

Pinewood won the game 53-27 to capture their fourth consecutive CCS title.

Although I started the season as a newbie to sports photography – having never really watched a basketball or football game in full before – I’ve actually come to enjoy documenting high school sports.

My pre-game camera preparation routine is now second nature and despite challenging indoor lighting, I think that my photographs reflect the growth I’ve had this season.

Like the success of our local teams, I too feel like I’ve captured some images that might win over those who haven’t been converted to sports fan.

Some of my favorite photos from the opening of new Physical...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:32:23 -0500

Some of my favorite photos from the opening of new Physical Sciences and Engineering Center at Foothill-De Anza College

Feb. 26, 2013

Los Altos Hills, CA

New Physical Sciences and Engineering Center at Foothill College - Images by Los Altos Town Crier

The Town of Los Altos Hills was recently awarded over $83,000...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:34:23 -0500

The Town of Los Altos Hills was recently awarded over $83,000 from the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Environmental Enhancement Implementation Grant Program. These funds are being used to restore Adobe Creek at Edith Park to native riparian habitat and to provide education outreach to local students. Students from Gardner Bullis Elementary attended the ceremony along with Los Altos Hills Mayor Gary Waldeck, pictured above, and other community leaders and residents. For the full set of photos, see the slideshow below.

Adobe Creek Restoration Ribbon Cutting - Images by Los Altos Town Crier