Looking for Wild Art...Finding Wildlife

I headed out to Oroville in search of some "wild art" on a slow news day. With all the bad rap that Oroville gets, I find the town to be a great place for those who love the outdoors. There are many hidden trails, and many spots along river and waterway areas. It might not be right in front of your face like Bidwell Park in Chico, but spend enough time getting lost and you'll stumble across something beautiful. That's exactly what I did. I walked along the Feather River when I noticed a bird take flight. Having a long shutter speed I panned with the bird as it flew just inches above the water.

A merganser bird takes flight along the Feather River Wednesday, January 5, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Fire Damages Home

A fire completely destroyed a home in north Chico today. I unfortunately was at the Polar Bear Swim when the incident was called out. I didn't know it was going to be a big fire. I couldn't leave the Polar Bear Swim right away, being that it was about to start soon. I tried to listen to my scanner hoping it was nothing, but didn't hear any chatter. I figured nothing ever came of the first response. It wasn't until the fire had already been put out and engines were being released that I realized something serious had happened. I headed over to the scene hoping there was still firefighters at the scene. To my luck they were still there and I was able to get a nice picture of a firefighter hosing down the hotspots in the walls. The slower shutter speed gave the image a nice look, even though I was quite late to the incident. It just goes to show that I can't be in two places at once.

Cal Fire - Butte County volunteer firefighter Eric Pittman from station 42 hoses down hotspots at the scene of a fire that burned down a home on Meridian Rd Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The 3 residents were not home at the time of the fire that began around 12:40pm and fully engulfed the home by the time the first engine arrived. The landlord, had not been accounted for at the time, but is not believed to have been home either. The home had no electrical or heat source and the cause is under investigation. The fire was reported by neighbors and burned an approximate 1200 sq. ft home as total loss.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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....

BestFPS: Best Photos of 2010 Part 3

And the last part of my best photos of 2010. Here is to hoping for a more exciting new year.

Standing only 5'1" tall, female Japanese knuckleball pitcher Eri Yoshida, stands on top of risers as she talks to media and fans after she was introduced as the first female pitcher for the Chico Outlaws in the Golden Baseball League at a press conference at Chico Sports Club on Friday, May 7, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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)

A flock of snow geese take flight as people view the geese, ducks, raptors and other waterfowl at Sacramento River Refuge Llano Seco Viewing Platform during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 30, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's #77 Jordan Rigsbee (center) breaks through the banner against Red Bluff High before the first quarter of their football game at PVHS Asgard Yard Friday September 3, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's #17 Brandon Coborn makes a diving catch for the out against Paradise High's #4 Matt Smoots (not seen) in the top of the second inning during their baseball game at Doryland on Friday, May 7, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

BestFPS: Best Photos of 2010 Part 2

Here is the second batch:

Alex Henry, 10, play in the fountains at the Downtown City Plaza September 9, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Outlaws' #3 Eri Yoshida (center) laughs with #5 Pascual De Real (left) against the Na Koa Ikaika Maui before the start of the top of the first inning during their baseball game at Nettelton Stadium on Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Ella Campbell, 9, of Coarsegold, CA (left), practices with Shannon Hall, 10 of Clovis, CA (right) as they prepare to compete in the CA Old Time Fiddlers State Fiddle/Picking Contest at the Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, March 20, 2010 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Fire Capt. Ray Silverman takes of his mask as he is covered in insulation after battling a fire on Tuesday, October 1, 2009 in Chico, Calif. Chico Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a home along E. 12th St. near Locust st. The fire broke out sometime after 3:00pm. There was a report of a dog inside the home. The fire was reported by several neighbors and passing individuals. There was a report to no one home at the time of the fire. It is unclear at this time the cause of the fire. Damage was extended to the attic of the residence as firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Jessen Cole is reflected in a computer screen 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)

BestFPS: Best Photos of 2010 Part 1

There are three parts to this FPS. Part of the reason to get back to blogging was not just the fact that I am on vacation from graduate school, but also because I was looking over the photos I took this last year and thought, "Wow, I actually took some images I like." So, here are my best frames of the last year.

Chico Police officer Travis Johnson (right) looks over CHP officer Brian White (left) as he talks to the suspect, German Herrera-Alvarez, 32, who involved in a high speed (105mph) pursuit that started from southbound Hwy99 and East Ave that ended with a two-vehicle collision at Hwy99 just south of E. 20th Ave Friday, May 14, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's #7 Josh Johnson (left) and #6 Zach Bradford (right) react to loosing the game against Midwestern State at the end of the second half of their men's soccer game at CSUC University Stadium Saturday, November 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

South Confederates (seen) fire a cannon to engage the North Union in a "Battle of Tuscan Ridge" Civil War re-enactment at Tuscan Ridge Golf Course Saturday, October 23, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's #12 Chase Drews (right) lays out for a completed catch in the endzone to score a touchdown against Chico High's #9 Jesse Holmes (left) in the second quarter of their Almond Bowl football game at CSUC University Stadium Friday, October 22, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Carter Addington, 8, Joshua Addington, 10, Leah Addington, 5, Ellie Addington, 2 1/2, and, Eric Addington, (left to right) cheer for the Canadian Snowbirds that fly in formation during the Twilight Chico Air Show dazzles the crowd at the Chico Municipal Airport Friday September 24, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

In Absence Too Long

I'm not usually tardy and never absent, but for the last couple months this blog has been vacant. I'd like to say that starting graduate school at the Academy of Art for an MFA in photography made me stop, but the truth is I probably could have kept it updated a little bit more. Yes it is true graduate school has completely consumed my life. But as this year winds down, I think it only appropriate to have a New Year's resolution to be to get back to blogging. Hopefully I will continue throughout the year.