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.

See video...

Tell me what you think? What is your favorite?

Email me at propixelographer@gmail.com

Getting Into The Center Of The Action

A photographer's dream is great access. Walking the sidelines for as many years as I have, I've begun to be a familiar face and my access has greatly improved. I enjoy being able to really get right next to the players that I cover. I think it brings a unique perspective to the viewers. It shows them an angle that they don't have access to. That is what I was able to do when covering a Chico State women's basketball game. I walked right up to the huddle during warmups and snapped a couple shots over the players. The image really puts you close to the intensity of the moment.

Chico State's #11 Natasha Smith (center) cheers on the team against Cal State East Bay before the first half of their women's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Saturday, January 8, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

See full post...

Tell me what you think? What is your favorite?

Email me at propixelographer@gmail.com

Low Angle, High Action

During a Chico State basketball game I decided to place a camera at my feet and shoot at a really wide angle to capture all the action that happens under the basket. I wasn't able to look through the viewfinder, so I couldn't "see" what I was taking pictures of, but I knew something would fall into the frame. It was a "worm's eye" view of the game. A viewpoint that most do not see.

Chico State's #34 Roderick Hawkins (center) goes up for a shot against UC San Diego in the first half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 7, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

See full post...

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)

See full post...

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)

See full post...

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....