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)

Lighten Up The Night

Ricky Jones, 8 (left) and Jaron Letlow, 8 (right) ride their BMX bikes with the Silver Dollar BMX bicyclists down 3rd St. in Chico's Parade of Lights that shows its festivity with the theme of the Chico Experience through downtown Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Katherine White plays a sousaphone as she marches with Pleasant Valley High School marching band in Chico's Parade of Lights with the theme of the Chico Experience through downtown Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Zoe Newton, 3, Lisa Newton, Gary Newton, and Dax Newton, 9, (left to right) watch Chico's Parade of Lights shows its festivity with the theme of the Chico Experience through downtown Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Chico, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Late Night Shooting Sends Officers Scrambling

Chico Police assist Butte County Sheriff who responded to a shooting at a home along Sega Dr. Friday, April 15, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police officer Matt Seipert puts up crime scene tape as CPD assist Butte County Sheriff who responded to a shooting at a home along Sega Dr. Friday, April 15, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Celebrating Cesar Chavez Day

Cesar Chavez Day did bring out hard work in volunteering Chico State students who cleaned up parts of the town. But it also brought out its usual crowd of intoxicated youth celebrating not what the day stands for, but the fact they have the day off. The later afternoon saw an increase in activity. Nothing was out of control or unusual.

Chico Police mounted patrol detectives Abigail Madden (left) waves to people partying at W 4th St and Hazel St. to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

People party in front of a house on W 4th St. and Ivy St. to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

People play music and dance in front of a house on W 4th St. and Ivy St. to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police mounted patrol detectives Jim Parrott (right) keeps an eye on the crowd as detective Abigail Madden (left) detains a suspect who assaulted the horse at W 4th St and Ivy St. in the south campus area during the celebration of Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Fire engineer Carlos Munoz hoses down a couch frame that was lit of fire as people celebrate Cesar Chavez Day in the south campus area Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police administer a DUI checkpoint along Esplanade and E. Lincoln Ave during Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Photographing in the Dark

When the power goes out at night everything is in the dark. It can be challenging to photograph something when you can't even see it. And what does the image turn out to be? A black picture? Power outages happen from time to time and you have to work in complete darkness. You can't see what is through your viewfinder. You really don't know where you are focusing or where your composition is. Then when you take the picture, you are trying to get a photo that has the lights off. Photography is all about capturing light, but when the power goes out it becomes about capturing the non-light... if that makes sense.

Homes along Bedford Dr. wait in the dark as PG&E works to restore power that left the east side of town in complete darkness Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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A Foggy Sunset

While working, I am always on the lookout for something neat or interesting. Sometimes, I am lucky enough to be blessed with something absolutely gorgeous. There was a heavy fog that had rested on the valley floor for a couple of days. Fog as a weather pattern is not that unusual. It doesn't come all the time, but it definitely adds an interesting environment for shooting. After gathering the typical people walking through the fog, I decided to see if I could get above the clouds.





I headed up Hwy 32 toward Forest Ranch, but didn't have to far to rise above the fog. I was able to pull over to this area that overlooked the valley. I was right above the fog that covered end to end. It was quite a sight that I don't think my photos can even describe properly.

I set up three cameras, two that were on time-lapse taking shots about every 5 seconds. I held the third camera in hand shooting both video and stills. The sun began to set as I began to work. It was truly a view that I was powerful. I need to figure out how to build a house at that spot. As the sun set and the moon began to shine brighter, I noticed the stars that began to show. The absolutely clear sky was something that I had not seen for a couple days. Stars filled the sky and the city lights created a glow from below the fog. There was no way to capture it all. I just breathed deeply to enjoy what I could. I did manage to snap a self portrait of me out in the scene.









Fog lies on the valley floor over Chico as seen from Hwy 32 Friday, January 7, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

I later came down the hill and compiled the time-lapse shots into a video. I was surprised how much the "apparent" motionless fog actually moved. It was something you didn't notice as you stood their watching, but over the span of 30 minutes you could see the fog rolling like a river.

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Tell me what you think? What is your favorite?

Email me at propixelographer@gmail.com

From New Moon To No Moon

Stepping outside as it was getting dark I noticed a strange circular shape in the sky. It was a new moon. It looked huge. I tried driving around town to get a better view. I headed up Hwy 32 and saw the thumbnail shape hanging over the foothills. I took out my camera and was only able to capture of couple of shots before the moon tucked behind the mountains. It was too dark to see the ridge line, but as the moon descended into the horizon, the outline of the mountain range appeared silhouetted in front of the moon. It was a great sight to see, and then it was gone.

A new moon phase sets behind the mountain range as seen from Hwy 32 Wednesday, January 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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