Which do you prefer? Photo A or B?

I recently photographed a girls basketball game between Chico High and Las Plumas High and had two shots from the same play; one right after the other. When editing the shoot from the office I came across both images and couldn't decide which one I liked better? Help me decide and let me know which one do you prefer? Is there really a big difference? I feel like there is. Even though there were split seconds between the two, what do you think of the differences in the photos?

                         PHOTO A

 Chico High's #14 Nina Holmes (right) reaches for a high pass against Las Plumas High's #12 Kylie Nore (left) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game at LPHS Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

or

                          PHOTO B

Chico High's #14 Nina Holmes (right) reaches for a high pass against Las Plumas High's #12 Kylie Nore (left) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game at LPHS Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Stanky and Stinky Butts

Chico does have its characters, but two new characters are hitting the streets to tell people to get them off the street. Meet Stanky and Stinky, two cigarette mascots that are telling the public not to throw their cigarettes in the street, which are washed into drains and into the creeks. I followed them out walking around downtown telling their message. I also shot a video of the event.

Costume characters "Stanky" and "Stinky" give out portable ashtrays to Carlos Cuellar, 25 (right) who was smoking while sitting outside the Naked Lounge as they walk around downtown educating the public about not throwing cigarette butts in the street Friday, April 22, 2011 in Chico Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Costume characters "Stanky" and "Stinky" give out portable ashtrays to Brenda Bergland, as they walk around downtown educating the public about not throwing cigarette butts in the street Friday, April 22, 2011 in Chico Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

See video...

See full post...

Taking the Plunge into the New Year

Well 2011 has arrived and it was an eventful day. Hundreds of Chicoans gathered for the annual Polar Bear Swim across the Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area. I was assigned to cover the event. I decided to shoot both video and photos. It was quite challenging being that the swim last no more than 20 seconds. How did I shoot both?

People brave the chilling cold water in Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Wearing a "Happy New Year" headband, Kelly Nokleby laughs with friends after she and other people brave the chilling cold water in Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

I just set up 5 different cameras. I had one remote camera on the west end of the pool and a second remote camera on east end. They were both point and shoot cameras shooting video. I also placed a remote camera with a fisheye lens looking over the middle of the pool that was going to shoot a timelapse of the event. I carried the fourth and fifth cameras on me to shoot both video and photos.

It was a hectic scramble. What made it difficult wasn't shooting both the video and photos at the same time, but rather the large crowd that had gathered. Both sides were filled with people who gathered to take the plunge on one end, and to watch on the other.

People leap and dive into the chilling cold water in Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Two remote cameras were placed in the trees for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The one on the left was shooting a time-lapse and the one on the right was shooting video.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Next year, I will probably try some different angles to switch things up a bit.

See video....

FFA Contest Sets a Spark

I love welding. I know nothing about it, I just love to photograph it. It is like a small fireworks show right in front of your face, and who doesn't like fireworks?!? God Bless America! This afternoon I had the opportunity to head out to the Chico State University Farm to photograph a Future Farmers of America (FFA) contest put on by the college. It was nice to get up close to the sparks and snap some shots. 

Alex Marsh, of Arbuckle FFA, (left) conducts gas welding for the test in the Ag Mechanics testing area as hundreds of FFA students test their skills during the FFA Field Day at CSUC University Farm Saturday, March 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Sparks fly from a contestants gas welding for the test in the Ag Mechanics testing area as hundreds of FFA students test their skills during the FFA Field Day at CSUC University Farm Saturday, March 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Forums, Workshops, and Mugshots...oh my!

There is a general rule in the newspaper biz to photograph people doing real things. And while meetings, forums, and workshops are real events, they don't lead themselves to the most exciting visual news. It is part of the ups and downs of the newspaper business. Most of the time we would rather photograph the story behind the meetings, but time doesn't always lead to it. The most unfortunate thing about this boring visual stories is that the stories are not boring at all. They deal with major issues. This Wednesday, I had four assignments all relating to forums and workshops. They dealt with water issues, downtown street renovation, Google's interest in Chico, and CUSD Hall of Fame recipients. The stories deal with public figures that we might hear about in the future, so it is always a good bet to snap a "talking head", or mugshot. The assignments don't give much to photograph outside the workshop or forum, so we need to give the important issues some coverage, rather than leaving it just to text.


Speakers Thad Bettner speaks to a crowd about the Delta Water Plan at the Northern Sacramento Valley Water Forum at the Masonic Center Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)


Bob Greenlaw (left) shows Stephanie Taber (right) the changes to be made during a public workshop about the rerouting of W. 1st St and W. 2nd St. in the Downtown Chico area Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)


Fritz McKinley (left) shows Ed Holohan (right) the changes to be made during a public workshop about the rerouting of W. 1st St and W. 2nd St. in the Downtown Chico area Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)


Bob Linscheid, of CEPCO, speaks about the benefits of Google Fiber lines at a public forum about attracting Google Fiber line for Chico homes was held at CSUC PAC 144 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)


Rick Hubbard (center) gives his opinion at a public forum about attracting Google Fiber line for Chico homes that was held at CSUC PAC 144 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)


A series of mugshots taken during the four assignments for the day. Many of these public figures will be in the news again, giving reason to have an image of them on file. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tell me what you think? What is your favorite?

Email me at propixelographer@gmail.com

Not Very Welcoming, Chico

The Welcome to Chico sign was damaged early in the year from a strong wind storm that blew through Butte County. The storm left the old sign significantly broken. The sign sits on private property and takes a some time to go through the hoops to get it fixed. There was increasing damage over the years, but repairs never happened. After the storm, the sign was welcoming visitors and Chicoans into the "ghetto" by the looks of the sign, thus it was in real need of being fixed. I went out today to take some pictures of the damaged sign that is going to get its much needed repairs soon.

The Welcome to Chico Sign along northbound Highway 99, seen Friday, March 5, 2010 in Chico, Calif., is moving forward in the repairs needed to fix from a wind storm that damaged the sign early in the year. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The damage to the Welcome to Chico Sign is very extensive from a wind storm early in the year. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Debris from the Welcome to Chico sign lies on the ground waiting to be cleaned. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tell me what you think? What is your favorite?

Email me at propixelographer@gmail.com