Top 20 of 2012

Team Rocket (Eric Hansen and Ken Fowler) crisscross as the sun sets behind them in the Twilight Air Show at the Chico Airport Friday September 28, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's Anthony Rodriguez (65) reacts to a interception against Pleasant Valley High in the fourth quarter of their Almond Bowl football game at CSUC University Stadium Friday, October 26, 2012 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's Hannah Womack (left) collides with Western Washington's Trishi Williams (right) when going for a loose ball in the second half of their women's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, December 7, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Enterprise-Record)

Chico High competes against Pleasant Valley High's Gracie Hernandez (top) leaps from the platform as Kimberly Harbert (bottom) touches the wall in the 200 Medley Relay during their swim meet at In Motion Fitness Wednesday October 10, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record) 

A double rainbow reaches across the sky over Bidwell Ranch at the entrance of upper Bidwell Park Friday, November 30, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Enterprise-Record)

Durham High's Eric Shanks bleeds from the head after being knocked down against Willows High's Eduardo Briones (not seen) on an attempt to score at home plate in the bottom of the sixth inning during their baseball game at Butte College's Cowan field Saturday, May 19, 2012 in Oroville, Calif. Shanks was called safe because of obstruction, though suffered a bleeding laceration to the head on the play.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Butte College's Solomon Means (24, right) flips Shasta College's Tevin Slaton (8, center) on a tackle in the second quarter of their football game at Cowan Stadium Saturday, September 15, 2012 in Oroville, Calif. 

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Fire within the smoke column of the Chips Fire moves toward the shoreline of Butt Valley Reservoir as it continues to grow Saturday, August 11, 2012 in West Lake Almanor, Calif. 

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Hamilton High celebrates a win against Modoc High after the fourth quarter of their football game at HHS Friday, November 16, 2012 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cal Fire - Butte County firefighters Jason Signes (left) and Jason Hawkins (right) battle a house on Royal Meadows Lane, off Neal Road in south Paradise, burns Friday afternoon as Cal Fire-Butte County, Paradise, Chico and volunteer firefighters try to keep the flames from spreading Friday, August 3, 2012 in Paradise, Calif. 

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police officer Jeramie Struthers (left) looks at the blood on his hand as he arrest Devin Walker, 20 (center), for shoplifting JCPenny and resisting arrest which led officers on a foot pursuit from the Chico Mall across Hwy 99 into Michael's where he was detained by Butte County Sheriff on Saturday June 2, 2012 in Chico, Calif. Walker was injured with a laceration to the chin during the pursuit and treated on scene.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Hamilton City Volunteer Fire Protection District firefighters Danny Andreasen Jr. (left) and Dustyn Sousa (right) wait around with not much to do with the little over 1900 tubers took to the 58 degree cold waters of the Sacramento River for tubing Labor Day Weekend Saturday, September 1, 2012 in Hamilton City, Calif. 

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cal Fire-Butte County firefighter John Gaddie along with Chico FIre, and Chico Fire Company 1 volunteer firefighters respond to a engulfed apartment structure fire in the 200 block of W 22nd St. that displaced at least one family Friday, November 9, 2012 in Chico, Calif. The family included a father with his 19-yr-old son and four younger daughters. The residence had its electricity recently turned off. Cause is still under investigation. The son was alerted by her sister screaming with smoke in one of the bedrooms. The family evacuated the residence as firefighters arrived to scene with the upstairs unit in flames. Other units were also damaged from smoke and water. Red Cross was called to help the displaced family. No injuries were reported at this time. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Sergeant Ethan White holds his daughter Elle White, 10 months, as members of the National Guard are honored for their tour of duty at the Freedom Salute Campaign at the Elks Lodge Saturday, February 18, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

Chico Police offier Tony Ferreira (left) and det. Terry Tupper (center) talk to a young man who was given an minor in possession as they tend to unruly crowds along Ivy St. as early César Chavez festivities take place the day before the actual holiday on Friday, March 30, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

Jacob Asher, 16, flips into the Feather River underneath the green bridge along Washington Ave. Thursday, August 2, 2012 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley /Chico Enterprise-Record)

Butte County Sheriff deputy Dan Angel (center) and other units search the alley between Oakdale St. and Broadway near 12th St.  for a suspect who ran through backyards after fleeing on foot following a police pursuit near 12th and Broadway Thursday, February 2, 2012 in Chico, Calif. Butte County Sheriff first attempted to make a traffic stop at 9th St. and Ivy on a Mercury Cougar that failed to signal making a turn onto Ivy, when the suspect failed to yield and a pursuit with unsafe speeds up to 55mph led officers in chase down Ivy to 11th st turning onto Broadway attempting to head down 12th st. when the suspects vehicle spun out turning around and accelerating into the Sheriff patrol car that was closing in. The male driver fled on foot after the collision and a female passenger, Stephania Gulbronson, 25, attempted to assault a Sheriff deputy wtih a 3" fixed blade knife. Gulbronson was taken into custody and will be charged with assult with a deadly weapon. The male suspect fled into nearby backyards jumping fences. A perimeter was set up as Sheriff units called Chico Police and K-9 to assist in the search of the male suspect, which turned up negative. Sheriff have leads to the identity of the male suspect which they are investigating and the reason the suspect fled was undetermined at the time. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

Nick Wright wipes his brow as he is interviewed for the American Homecomings project in his home as he discusses his life as a civilian after serving in the armed services Thursday, April 26, 2012 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico firefighters Jesse Campos, opens a vent in the roof of an active attic fire at a home at 18 Woodside Lane Friday, August 10, 2012 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

Chico State student Taylor Lord, 20, walk underneath her umbrella over fallen leaves along Salem Street near W. 3rd Street on Thursday, November 29, 2012 in Chico, Calif. Lord was on her way to a class on CSUC campus. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Family Seeks Answers and Help

Dominic is a young 19 month old boy that looks and acts like any other 19 month old. But Dominic deals with a rare skin disease that his parents are looking for help in curing. The disease is called mastocytosis, and it causes Dominic's skin to blister along with nausea and vomiting. His parents are looking to raise money in order to travel to the National Institute of Health in Maryland. They are searching for answers and treatment to the condition.

Dominic Rodriguez, 19 month old (left) pushes his toy car like any other kid his age, yet he deals with a rare skin disease called mastocytosis Tuesday, March 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Michele Rodriguez talks about her 19 month old son Dominic Rodriguez skin disease mastocytosis in their home Tuesday, March 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Michele Rodriguez (center) and Ricardo Rodriguez (right) talk about their 19 month old son Dominic Rodriguez (left) and his rare skin disease mastocytosis in their home Tuesday, March 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

See full story...

See full post...

Chico's Egyptian Vigil

Egyptians have come together to cry out for a new government. And while the middle east can seem so far away, Egyptians in Chico came out to show their support for their people. A small group of Egyptians gathered in the city plaza. While looking for a unique angle to the vigil I managed to match the timing of my image with the flash from another photographer. I had originally been trying to hide the photographer behind the candle in the image, but got lucky when his flash snapped as my camera took the shot. It created a neat flare to the candle that added to the image.

Kimberly Durso (right) speaks to the crowd that gather in Downtown City Plaza for a candlelight vigil for the unrest in Egypt to show solidarity with Egyptian protesters Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

See full post...

Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid Meteor Shower is seen annually in August. It is the result of the Earth's orbit running into the path of the dust from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Hundreds of shooting stars fall from the sky to create a great visual meteor shower. While people can see few shooting stars in a typical night. The Perseid Meteor shower offers one of the best and most frequent viewings for people. While you can see hundreds of shooting stars, photographing them it not as easy.

The Perseid Meteor shower lit up at night along Hwy 32 Thursday, August 12, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The same location is seen the day after the Perseid Meteor shower lit up at night along Hwy 32 Thursday, August 12, 2010 in Chico, Calif.(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

I headed above the city lights and set out my camera. I was alone. After about 10 minutes, I lost interest. It was neat, but really quite boring by myself. This is one of the drawbacks about being a passionate photographer. You generally go out because you are excited to photograph something. It usually is in harsh conditions that other people don't want to join because they don't have the same passion to sit out in the dark and cold for 4 hours without any t.v. or reading light. Technology has improved, so I was able to play a scrabble-like game on my cell phone, which past the time quite quickly. Two hundred and fifteen images later... I had one image with a shooting star. I probably had more, I just couldn't seen them with the settings I was using.

Stars shine above Chico looking south of Upper Bidwell park at night along Hwy 32 Thursday, August 12, 2010 in Chico, Calif.(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The same location looking south of Upper Bidwell park is seen the day after the Perseid Meteor shower lit up at night along Hwy 32 Thursday, August 12, 2010 in Chico, Calif.(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

You have to be very lucky. Getting your settings right helps, but even then you're not guaranteed a bright streak across the camera. I had set my camera to ISO 400 and the exposures to 30 second intervals while leaving the aperture wide open at f/2.8. I would have like to push the ISO sensitivity higher, but I was using an older camera (because my others are broken) for the time being. If I would have pushed it higher, the images would have been too noisy. It was a little dark, but all I needed was one.

I went back the next day to see the same spots that I had taken the pictures from. It was a neat afterthought to what I would consider a successful night.

Making the Most Of A Press Conference

We photojournalist don't like our assignments to be set up. And nothing is more set up than press conferences. While the press conference provides a good occasion to gather reporters from varying news agencies together in one place, it doesn't give way to much interesting art. Public relations do their best to jazz up the scene. But all the glitter in the world doesn't break away from the fact that the scene is scripted. I always try to look for something more than the normal "person behind the microphone" shot. I take time to search out the real story of the event.

This is what I did when I went to a press conference announcing the new women's basketball coach for Chico State. Brian Fogel was the interim coach for the team the last couple of years, and the press conference announced his removal of "interim" from his title. I noticed some of the key players on the women's basketball team had shown up to congratulate their former, newly announced head coach. I stuck around after the press conference had ended to snap a nice emotional shot to convey the mood of the decision. I felt it was much better than a shot of Fogel talking to reporters.

Newly introduced women's basketball coach Brian Fogel (center) hugged players Natasha Smith (left) and Taylor Lydon (right) after taking questions from media during a press conference at CSUC Acker Gym Thursday, August 5, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The new women's basketball coach Brian Fogel was introduced during a press conference at CSUC Acker Gym Thursday, August 5, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

When I had arrived back at the office with the photos I came to find out one of our sports reporters, Nick Wilson, who was laying out the sports page that night wanted to search for a file photo of Fogel coaching from last season. I help his search out the image in our archives and he ended up putting a nice package together for the story.

Screenshots of the Sports page C1 and C3 show the layout for the Chico Enterprise-Record story by Travis Souders on Chico State's newly announced women's basketball coach.

Scary Surgery Makes Lucky Life

     I was able to meet a very special young man. His name is Jessen Cole. I have taken his picture as a football player for Chico High. This time I was taking his picture for a much different reason. I spent a short time with him as he talked about surviving a rare reaction to anesthesia called malignant hyperthermia. 

     This is very rare condition which Enloe has never experienced in the last 30 years. Cole was set to go under a routine wrist surgery. He was given anesthesia for the surgery. When stitching his wrist, Cole reacted and was in immediate danger. The reaction could have killed him within minutes, but doctors were able to quickly diagnose the symptom and treat it very quickly. A couple weeks later, Cole had made a full recovery. He was back to good health and now you would never even suspect he would have been so near to his death. The malignant hyperthermia is a genetic trait that overwhelms the body and causes it to shut down. Cole remembers going under and waking up in pain.

     He is very lucky. I took pictures of him as he discussed the incident that happened three months ago. He had some images from when he was in the hospital on a laptop. I took pictures of the laptop and had Cole reflected in the screen to the two images looked superimposed on each other. This gave the sense of the imagery to be a visual memory of his experiences.

Jessen Cole is reflected in a computer monitor showing of a picture of Cole when he was in the hospital as he talks about how he survived a rare reaction to anesthesia called malignant hyperthermia after recovering in his home Saturday, July 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Jessen Cole talks about what it was like to have survived a rare reaction to anesthesia called malignant hyperthermia after recovering in his home Saturday, July 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

It's Gonna Be A Long Fire Season

   With the number of wildfires that have already been cooking up in the county, firefighters will have their crews busy. And I will be kept plenty busy as well. A small vegetation fire broke out along The Skyway near Skyway Crossroads Rd. Wednesday evening. A car had pulled off the road as her car overheated. The car burst into flames igniting the nearby grass. The fire quickly spread as firefighters made their way to the scene.

Cal Fire - Butte County firefighter Anthony Brown, of station 65 out of Bangor, hoses down hot spots as Paradise Fire respond to a wildfire that broke out after a driver's car overheated on the Skyway near Skyway Crossroads Rd. burning about 2 acres and coming close to homes Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A firefighter walks through the thick smoke as they respond to a wildfire that broke out after a driver's car overheated on the Skyway near Skyway Crossroads Rd. burning about 2 acres and coming close to homes Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

    It took me a while to get to the scene because of all the traffic that had backed up on the Skyway. The cars were moving, but moving slowly. I didn't get a fast jump on heading out to cover the incident, and thus got caught behind. I eventually made it up, and thankfully was able to pull over near the scene without having to walk very far. 

The driver of the vehicle (left), whom wouldn't give her name talks on her cell phone as firefighters respond to a wildfire started from her car that overheated on the Skyway near Skyway Crossroads Rd. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A small piece of bark continues to burn in a small wildfire about 2 acres and coming close to homes Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

    I immediately ran to a firefighter who was putting out hot spots as firefighters were able to quickly maintain the blaze. I jump on scene so quickly, that I forgot to grab my nomex gear. I snapped a couple shots and went back to my car to put on my gear. Crews were OK with me walking around the perimeter, but I needed my fire gear to get closer. Also the smoke was very thick and it helped to grab a mask to not breathe in the toxic fumes. 

After covering the scene I snapped a self-portrait in my fire gear and a mask that really came in handy with the thick smoke Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cal Fire - Butte County firefighter Chad Porter puts out hot spots in a wildfire that broke out Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cal Fire Vina Helitack 205 helicopter drops water as Butte County and Paradise Volunteer Firefighter Erick Sill (bottom) respond to a wildfire that broke out after a driver's car overheated on the Skyway near Skyway Crossroads Rd. burning about 2 acres and coming close to homes Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

    I was able to find a variety of shots on this small fire that was contained to just about 2 acres. There was more of a scare than a real threat. Fire crews from Cal Fire-Butte County and Paradise Fire were able to knock down the threat pretty quickly. While walking around the terrain, I managed to find a pretty thick mud puddle where I almost lost my shoe. I'm sure the fire wouldn't have been able to get through the mud as it was very thick.

A took a shot of my foot in a mud puddle next to my footprint about 2-3 inches deep as I covered a small wildfire Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

    The fire brought back some memories of the Humboldt Fire that came through the Paradise area in 2008. Though it was no where near size or intensity, the location alone was enough to bring back those memories. It will be interesting how the year pans out for firefighters. I tend to get excited when a fire roars through, I just hope it is a safe fire... if there is such a thing.

César Chávez Festivities

Chico's south campus neighborhood which generally comprises of CSUC students and out-of-towners, raised up their sombreros and drew on their mustaches to celebrate César Chávez Day. While the actual holiday bears no resemblance to the drunken mess of youth wandering the streets of downtown Chico, the day still had its moments of excitement. Chico State gave the students the Wednesday off, combined with a furlough for Thursday after and most students not having classes for Friday (or teachers letting them off), with the added Monday being a holiday for Easter, all created an extra Spring Break for some. The activity was higher than St. Patrick's Day. A lot more house parties than crowds at the bars. Activity picked up early in the evening but quickly dispersed as nightfall came. 

Morgan Allen, 19, stands at W. 5th St and Ivy st. waiting for her friends as she celebrates Cesar Chavez Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police check the area of a reported gunshot along Ivy St. near W. 5th St. as people celebrate Cesar Chavez Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Alexis Fernandez, 20, wore a big sombrero as she walks near W. 5th St and Ivy st. during Cesar Chavez Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A party had many people dancing with a dj in the backyard at a residence along W. 5th St near Cherry St. on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police mounted patrol Jim Parrott (right) moves partiers along at party in the backyard at a residence along W. 5th St near Cherry St. on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

I did have one encounter that just comes with the crowds. A young man was so intoxicated he had to be transported to Enloe. I was going to take some images of him being transported with the party he was attending behind him to tell the story of young people endangering themselves with alcohol from parties. While waiting for the paramedics to load him into van, his friends decided to hop the railing at the party and tell me not to take pictures of the scene. When I say hop the railing, I mean stumble and fall over the railing. They were concerned that I would take his pictures.

 Well, they should be. I would take his picture. I am in all legal right to do so. He was drunk on a public sidewalk and I was standing in the public road. There were 3 women who approached me raising their hands to my camera. They were in my face, but not hostile. I wasn't afraid of them getting physical with the incident, but it was really nice that a VIPS officer Terry Smith quickly approached and told them to back off. I don't know what it couldn't have ended up as, but I am glad nothing came of it. I did manage to take a picture of what I was wanting... and I got a bonus of his friend trying to block the camera.

Ah Chico, just another day.

Windy Weeds

Tuesday's weather was very windy. With having a light day, I was able to focus on a weather photo for wild art. I drove around town trying to find something. You can imagine this gets pretty tedious after doing it for 5 years. You get to see the same things. I saw a photo in a magazine that showed a bush taken with a slow shutter speed to show movement. I decided that I would try to get that same effect to show the windy day. 

I spotted a field north of town that hand a lot of mustard weeds growing. They were bright yellow, and though not a flower, still pretty. I made my aperture as small as it would go at f/22. I was taking a lot of shots, but because it was so bright outside, I couldn't get my shutter speed slow enough to get the motion effect I wanted. I remembered I had a pair of Dollar Tree sunglasses (worth $1) that I could use to block some of the light. I used the sunglasses as a filter to get a slower shutter speed.

This worked and I decided to find my shot. There was a newly built model home that when angled right I could place it atop a field of these mustard weeds. The weeds were moving all around in the wind and the shot created a feeling of a sea of plants.

The wind whips around mustard weeds atop a hill near a home along DeGarmo Dr. near Bamboo Orchard on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

I enjoy the times I can take time to be creative. The sunglasses took away a little bit of the sharpness and color accuracy, but I couldn't have slowed down the shutter without it. Who would have thought $1 pair of sunglasses would be such an important part of my photography gear.