U.S. Presidential hopefuls John Sidney McCain and Barack Hussein Obama were both in Long Beach, not for an event or to visit the International City, but instead to use the city as their parking lot. Both candidates parked their Boeing aircraft on the tarmac at Long Beach airport before driving almost 40 miles to attend a faith forum at Orange County's Saddleback Church.
LONG BEACH AIRPORT - FedEx team leader Al Johnson helps pull a Boeing 727 on the tarmac at Long Beach airport August 16, 2008. The 2nd Annual Plane Pull, pits teams of 20 people against each other as they pull a 153-foot, 158,000-pound FedEx plane 25 feet. The event benefits Special Olympics Southern California. See more photos/buy reprints>>
I had to go to the beach to take pictures for a story on a sewage spill that closed shore from Alamitos to 72nd Place. After shooting pictures I was sitting in my car making a few calls and the meter expired. As I prepared to back out of the spot a meter maid parked behind me blocking me in. Apparently you can't sit in your car with the motor running at an expired meter or you will get a ticket. Any help Tony?
A sign on the beach near Cherry Ave. warns swimmers of a sewage spill that closed the beach on August 13, 2008. The spill was caused by a broken sewer line near Watts that flowed down the Los Angeles River from Compton Creek.
Olympic fever hits the sand castle contest in Belmont Shore as Max Nishimoto, of Crew 4, blows sand from the top of a panda he is working on during 75th. Annual Great Sand Sculpture Contest. see more pictures/buy reprints>>
Installer Guillermo Arroyo from the Michan Sign Company install a new sign on the Art Theatre in Long Beach, Calif. on August 8, 2008. When the Art Theatrd opened, the 636 seat theatre showed silent films and contained an orchestra pit and a pipe organ. Originally called "The Carter Theatre" when in 1924, it later became "The Lee" in 1935 and then "The Art" in the 1940's.See more photos/buy reprints>>
It's a sad day when $3.99 a gallon is considered cheap, but here we are corner of Del Amo Blvd. and Cherry Ave and the Arco, the Exxon and the Shell (not pictured) are all in the 3s. Too bad the average price a year ago was $2.94.
WILMINGTON - Victor Garcia, the father of Sgt. Israel "Ira" Garcia, hangs his head during his funeral in Wilmington, Calif. Garcia, 24, was among nine soldiers killed in combat in Afghanistan. He and his fellow soldiers were fatally injured when their outpost was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades from enemy forces in the Wanat area, according to the Department of Defense. See more photos>>
Wim Griffith in his Lakewood, Calif. home on July 22, 2008. His 25-piece exhibit, "Wim Noir-Men in Suits." includes a series of oil paintings that are inspired by film noir. The exhibit runs July 26 to Sept. 6 at Flazh! Alley Studios in San Pedro.
Chad Dominguez, 19, is all smiles as he runs towards his sister, Kris Georgeson after getting a ride on a water craft at Marina Stadium. The Catalina Ski Club sponsored a day of water-related activities for children with special needs, including boat rides, tubing, kayaking, PWC rides, and In-N-Out. Dominguez suffers from Downs Syndrom. See more pictures/buy reprints>>
Michael Goessling shows off Thumbelina, the world's smallest horse, to patients at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. on July 8, 2008. Thumbelina, at just 171⁄2 inches tall and 57 pounds, holds the Guinness World Record as the worlds smallest living horse and works as a therapy horse for many sick and needy children. Thumbelina's stop at Miller Children's Hospital is part of The Thumbelina Children's Tour.
As far as summer sequels go, this one wasn't too exciting. That's probably a good thing because no one was injured when a fire broke out in the 11th floor kitchen of Myra Steiner around noon Saturday. It was a different story 15 months ago when a man jumped to his death when his kitchen caught fire.
See more photos>>
read the full story>>
I've had my share of people tell me to F*$# off when taking their pictures. Usually its when I show up after someone has been shot or when someone is convicted of a crime in court. So shooting an Independence Day parade on a block that is celebrating its 50th. 4th of July party should be a fun thing. But then I met Uncle Sam. While everyone on this street was very nice to me. Uncle Sam was not. After taking a picture of him leading a parade I asked him his name. When he found out I was with the Press-Telegram he replied while laughing, "No, no, no." I thought he was joking. I mean who wouldn't give out their name during a 4th. of July parade on a public street - especially since they invited the press to the party. So I asked again and found out he was serious. Then he walked away. I went on about shooting pictures of the parade. As I was leaving I walked by Uncle Sam standing next to a woman. She said, "I'll give you his name" and as she told me the man's name, Tom Grau, who has played Uncle Sam for over 30 years, said in a defeated tone, "She told me I had to give you my name."See more photos/buy reprints
LONG BEACH - Wench Scarlett Harlett and Pirate Lycan share a kiss on the Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach, Calif. during Pier Daze - Pirate Invasion and Faire. To see more pictures or buy reprints click here>>
Crew members use a black shade to block the Press-Telegram exit and stop me from taking pictures during a scene from the show Prison Break filming at Arco Center in Long Beach. Little did the crew know that they were filming right in front of the newspaper offices. The location manager said he didn't want me taking pictures because I might spoil the plot.
I guess thats the risk you run when you film in front of a newspaper.
The Press-Telegram has a long standing feature in the print edition called Roving Reader. Subscribers are asked to submit photos of themselves in exotic places holding a copy of the P-T. I'm sure this was harder years ago when the paper was thicker, but these days travelers can just folder it up and stick it in their pocket.
During a recent trip to Cambodia writer Greg Mellen and I didn't want to be left out so we took our own Roving picture. If you want to see more readers roving click here If you want to submit your own photo click here
Opera singer Amber Mercomes will be performing June 29 at the Museum of Latin American Art in a show featuring Latin and African-American music. She then will hit the road for Rome, where she will peform in the lead role in an opera to be performed at a festival.
Runners on the Los Angeles River trail during the 10k race in the first Wrigley River Run.
Fagaloa Mose Tiavaasu'e sits by her son's casket during his funeral service at Westside Christian Church. Roketi Tiavaasu'e (Su'e) was shot multiple times in the torso in front of his home in the 3400 block of East 67th Street at after an alleged struggle with two police officers. The family said they are going to sue the Long Beach Police Department.
Every time I see former Long Beach mayor Eunice Sato, center, she seems to be a little shorter - my best guess puts her at about three feet tall - but what she lacks in height she more then makes up for in niceness.
Pastor Reuben English Sr. is retiring after 24 years at New Hope Baptist Church. His final sermon is Sunday.
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, along with Downtown Long Beach Guides and other officials, pose for a picture during a press event at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company at the Pike in Long Beach, Calif. on May 7, 2008. Foster helped mark the official launch of the Downtown Guides on Segways.
See more photos/buy reprints>>
A Long Beach (Calif.) firefighter tends to a residential burglary suspect who was bit by a poilce dog while hiding in the 4700 block of Lorelei Ave.
LOS ALAMITOS - Sgt Donald Chang greets his sons Jason Chang, 4, and James Chang, 12, as he and other soldiers of the 160th Long Range
Surveillance Detachment arrive at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, Calif. after a 12-month combat tour in Iraq on Sunday, April 27, 2008.
During their deployment, the Soldiers conducted security missions around Camp Slayer as Task Force Shield's Quick Reaction Force. Task Force Shield, consisted of five companies of National Guard units from California,
North Dakota, and Iowa. see more photos/buy reprints >>
I spent most of the day taking beautiful pictures of the rarely seen snow-covered mountains (see below) and when I got back to the newsroom the only thing the editors wanted was a picture of rain. Why? "Because its gonna rain tomorrow," said one editor. The problem I had was that it wasn't raining when they asked me for pictures of rain. So I waited and waited and waited. Of course It didn't start raining until the sun went down.
SIGNAL HILL - Snow cap mountains are visible from Alamitos Well Park in Signal HIll, Calif. on January 26, 2008. This image was stitched together from 10 seperate photos.
Boy Scouts lead the start of the 20th. annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on Martin L. King, Jr. Avenue during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend in Long Beach, Calif.
William Shatner, (A.K.A. Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker or Denny Crane) along with some intense fans, are at the opening of the Star Trek Tour under the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach, Calif. Over the next five years Star Trek the Tour will visit 40 cities - bringing memorabilia, movie artifacts and life size replicas of the bridge of the Enterprise.
A man's body was found in the surf in Belmont Shore around 8 a.m. near Ocean Boulevard and Granada Avenue. The body of the man, apparently in his 30s, will be turned over to the coroner's office for an autopsy.
Clouds move over Downtown Long Beach - but no rain.
Andrew Munden, right, and Brendalee "Pebbles," Melcher, left, share a moment as they listen to musicians playing Christmas Music in the homeless shelter at the First Congregational Church in Long Beach, Calif. Tuesday, January 1, 2008. The church has opened a temporary shelter through the holidays because other shelters in the city area are not open yet.
Newborn babies in the nursery at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Rosendo Rios attaches money to a shrine during a Virgin of Guadalupe Day celebration at an apartment complex in Downtown Long Beach, Calif. on Wednesday, December 12, 2007. Rios said each year he and his friends and family attach money and after two day anybody who need it can take it. Last year he took twenty dollars, this year he gave one-hundred dollars. About 50 people braved the cold weather as they gathered in the courtyard of the u-shaped building on Sixth Street between Golden Ave and Daisy Avenue to pray, eat and listen to music.
Watch and listen as
workers assemble the 35-foot Long Beach Christmas Tree at the corner of Shoreline Drive and Pine Ave.
Click here to see more pictures>>
Long Beach Police enforce a judge's order that this Honda, belonging to a street racer, be destroyed.
The Silver Gloves District Tournament at the Long Beach Police Athletic League.
The tall ship American Pride arrives at Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach after it started taking October 5, 2007. The ship was returning from a five-day trip to Catalina Island with a group of ninth-graders. The American Pride is a 130-foot three-masted schooner operated by the Children's Maritime Foundation. The ship was given assistance by the Coast Guard but was able to dock on its own just after 2:30 p.m..
Last night I was sick as a dog so when I awoke I was dog tired. After I read my assignments I thought to myself, "this paper is going to the dogs". I looked out the window and was glad it was not raining cats and dogs. I was going to complain to my boss about what I had to shoot today, but I figured I better let sleeping dogs lie because you just can't teach an old dog new tricks. I decided I didn't want to turn in any pictures so I just told my boos that the dog ate my pictures.
Bellflower City Manager Michael Egan in a store window on Bellflower Blvd. on September 26, 2007. The city is turning 50 next month and the Press-Telegram is publishing a special section for the occasion.
What do Ansel Adams and I have in common? Before today my only answer would be that we are both photographers and both fond of Yosemite. But now I have another thing in common with Adams - we both shot the same statue. He photographed the Angel of Sorrows at Sunnyside Cemetry in Long Beach in 1939 - I photographed it today after vandals pushed the 1 1/2 ton sandstone statue off it pedestal. 
Another day another shooting - well, kinda. The police received a call of a shooting at Cal Rec Park but when they arrived there was no victim. Turns out residents did hear gun shots and saw a man running down the street shooting. The confusing part was that some kids walked in to the rec center pretending they were hurt. In typical fashion the Long Beach police cordoned off the entire neighborhood, grabbed every kid they could find, started searching cars and question neighbors.
Buzz Aldrin was in Long Beach today. That's not really newsworthy and neither is this picture. But I did find something amusing - THE 38 YEAR-OLD SPIN.
Everybody knows that Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon and Buzz was number two. But, Buzz's website refers to the moon landing like this,
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed their Lunar Module on the moon's Sea of Tranquility and became the first two humans to walk on the moon.All of a sudden Buzz is the first at something and not the second - interesting.
Jessica Brimley picks up trash in Belmont Shore. She was among a few 100 people who joined Justin Rudd in his 100th. consecutive monthly '30-minute' beach clean-up. Since the first cleanup in June 1999 Rudd says he estimates he and his volunteers have picked up well over 10,000 bags of trash.
Members of Temple Israel practice blowing the Shofar for the Jewish High Holy Days.
Court Interpreter Juan Escobar join other Los Angeles County Superior Court interpreters on strike
EMT Josh Rickert carries a dummy in a hallway of a Mobile Field Hospital (MFH) at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Center in Los Alamitos, Calif. The MFH, one of California's three new 200-bed mobile hospitals, was on display during Rough and Ready 2007. The event a practice day for the California Emergency Medical Services Authority to test their response capabilities and to provide a scenario for practicing patient treatment skills in a field environment under disaster conditions. Click here to see more pictures >>
Ranae Covach, left, and Zion Revivo share a moment at The Sky Bar atop the Breakers building in Downtown Long Beach on August 11, 2007.
Seventeen 20-person teams pull a Boeing 727 down a taxiway at Long Beach (Calif.) Airport on August 11, 2007. The teams took turns as they competed to helped raise money for the Special Olympics. They were timed to see how fast they could pull a 155,000 lb. FedEx 727-200 airplane 25 feet.
Popular Long Beach eatery, and a favorite hang out for North Town cops, Johnny Reb's was destroyed by an early morning fire. Click play on the video above to watch an audio slideshow.
Proponents from both sides of the immigration debate squared in front of St. Luke's Church. Save Our State, an anti-illegal immigration group, was upset because of a recent decision by St. Luke's to offer sanctuary to a 29 year-old illegal immigrant and her U.S.-born infant son. Counter-protesters organized by Fast Response Network, Workers in Resistance and Cuauhtemoc Dance also yelled their little hearts out. These groups support the New Sanctuary Movement, which placed Mexican native Liliana, whose last name was withheld, and her son Pablo at the Long Beach church. At one point during the back and forth yelling Liliana's supporter dragged out her two older children, who, after being prompted, said to the news media, "We want our mommy." The crazy part about this protest is that police had each group separated in to their own corrals facing one another. And both groups were using the same religious rhetoric and The Constitution to defend their positions. Oh, and apparently both sides hate George Bush.
Ok, so you might be thinking "being a photographer is a pretty easy job" I run in to alot of people who think that. You say to me "wow, that's a cool camera, IT must take great pictures." Well, that's like saying to a writer, "thats a cool pen, it must write great stories." Anyway, I've gotten off track. My goal today was to tell you about the problems I encounter at the most mundane assignments. Today the clowns from the circus were visiting the sick kids at the hospital. Pretty straight forward right? Well, I get to the hospital and the front desk makes me wait for 15 minutes before I can get clearance to go inside. Keep in mind that the hospital invited us. Then I get to the sick kids and the hospital tells me they only have permission to photograph one child. After taking pictures of a very nice boy who has Leukemia we head to another part of the hospital. When were arrive I'm told they don't have authorization to photography any of the kids. Sure, these problems pale in comparison to the kids who are sick in the hospital - but I'm stilll left wondering why the hospital and the circus would invite the press and then say "NO PICTURES"
I think I see the world a little different ever since my son was born. I seem to keep finding moments like this. Steven Suderon, center, gets a kiss from his son, Michael Suderno during the Long Beach Police Department's academy class 83 graduation.
Workers from the Aquarium of the Pacific use a net to capture a 6-foot Blue Shark in Key 5 at the Marina Pacific Waterfront Community. It must have been a slow news day 'cause in addition to me, there were two television stations covering this story and four helicopter overhead. Click here to see more pictures
So the powers that be in the newsroom decide they want me to see what's happening in Bellflower for the Fourth of July (actually the 3rd.) and I get sent to this carnival. The rides opened at 11 A.M. - well, it's 4:30 P.M. in this picture and there is nobody here - maybe it was too hot... or maybe Bellflourdians don't like carnivals.
As far a graduations go, this was was pretty sedate. Before the ceremony started the teachers were bragging about how 'fast' it would be and the speakers were called to the stage one after another with no personality or excitement. But that didn't stop Darren Wallace from being overcome with emotion as he receives his diploma.
Kim Harden holds a sign with pictures of her daughter Amber Harden at Stepehns' Field during Wilson High's commencement ceremony.
Long Beach Unified teachers got mad at their own union when the board of the union decided to fire its executive director. Here a teacher screams at the door of TALB president Tony Diaz after he and other union members stormed the building demanding that the board of directors reinstate its executive director, Scott McVarish. The teacher refused to be identified becase he said he, "hates the Press-Telegram" Click here to watch the video>>
Jessica Hanan cheers as she holds up handfuls of confetti while entering the graduation ceremony for the College Health & Human Services at Cal State Long Beach. Hanan earned a degree in Child Development.
Now I know why everyone wants to look at me and smile.
All is calm a week after a wildfire that scorched Catalina Island and threatened Avalon. "The main thing is trying to undo this image that people have ... from three days of watching (the fire) on the news," a Chamber of Commerce official said. But that didn't stop Taylor Brown, foreground, and classmates Trevor McDonald and Sidney Barloon from enjoying the beach during their senior class.
Purple flowers hover above Petaluma Ave. in Long Beach, Calif. on May 23, 2007. The Jacaranda tree's purple flowers bloom for about six weeks in late April and May. Check out the audio slideshow>>
Usually getting to spot news from our new newsroom is a pain in the ass. When I hear about something breaking I have to go down 14 floors - the elevator stopping at random places when other lift riders hit the button - then go down the parking elevator - hoping to remember where I parked - then wait in line to get out of the structure. But today it was much easier - I just looked out the window! This is was the view fas smoke rises behind Downtown Los Angeles from a wildfire near Griffith Park.
The men's restroom on the 2-mile trail at the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach, Calif. on May 8, 2007. The bathroom, along with the women's side, a water fountain and some park benches were vandalized last week. Click here to see more pictures>>
Liz Davis, publisher and founder of Kids Guide,
a magazine with listings of educational and recreational activities, and
articles for parents, on May 5, 2007, in Los Alamitos, Calif. The publication recently celebrated its 21st birthday.
I was taught in school that election day is always the first Tuesday AFTER the first monday - but appearently not in Long Beach. Mayor Bob Foster, left, talks with city council candidate Al Austin as they wait for results at Tacos Don Chente Restaurant. Austin was the favorite - and supported by the mayor - but long time candidate Dee Andrews took the race. Covering the council meetings on Tuesday night should be fun now.
Long Beach Police Chief Anthony Batts walks past hats representing fallen officers during the city's 7th. Annual Police And Fire Memorial Ceremony at city hall.
Valerie McDonald, daughter of U.S. Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, holds hands with her family and Carson, Calif. councilwoman Lula Davis-Holms, left, during a memorial service for her mother at Christ Central Baptist Church in Carson, Calif. on Monday, April 23, 2007. Millender-McDonald died yesterday, succumbing to colon cancer at the age of 68 at her home in Carson. Click here to see more pictures>>
Clark Frehner, center with hat, helps Bruno Wagner, center in red, cheer on his car during Cub Scout Pack 116's Pinewood Derby at the 20th. Annual Seal Beach Car Show. Click here to see more pictures
What do you get when you put 2000 stoners in the hull of a giant ship? I don't know, but it sure didn't smell pretty. The 420 Smoke on the Water Music Festival featured pro-pot acts like KottonMouth Kings, King Spade, Sen Dog from Cypress Hill, Bredrin Daddys, and Dogboy. The fact that there were thousands of pot heads there was not surprising - although I surprised by the number of parents who drove their children to the event - most were from the 909.
Virek Vy, left, plays Cambodian Chess during a gathering to remember the Pol Pot's take over of Cambodia on April 17, 2007. Surviors of the Killing Fields commemorated the April 17, 1975 rise to power of the Khmer Rouge at Wat Vipassanaram, a Buddhist temple. Check out more pictures >>
Its April again, the cars are on the street and the celebrities are in the HOUSE! In the pits for the Pro/Celebrity Race Kelly Hu, actress, model and former Miss Teen USA, sign pictures of herself. Sure, there were plenty of cars to see too. If thats what your in to you can click here to see a video about the sounds of race cars or click here to visit the Press-Telegram Grand Prix section.
The Grand Prix Association used to have a black tie Ball every year - until 2003. This year the group that puts on the big race in Long Beach hooked up with the Boys and Girls Club during their 52nd. Annual Gala to raise money. Here Summer Barnes demonstrates her gymnastics skills as she introduces herself while practicing her performance.
In an area of Long Beach that locals hope to soon call Cambodia Town, Destiny Uy, 8, laughs as she marches with the Khmer Arts Cultural Center during the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street. Click here to see more pictures
It was a slow day and the Photo Editor tells me she got a call from some residentsin Lakewood about a cat that has been stuck in a tree for three days... After I finished laughing I headed over to the 5400 block of Pearce Avenue to check it out. Sure enough there it was, a cat, sitting atop a 50-foot tree. According to the neighbors they had been calling the Los Angels County fire department everyday for the past three days and their response was, "Its not our job." People who live on the street also tried the Human Society and the county animal shelter. All the agencies told them to put food under the tree and the cat would eventually come down.
After spending an hour taking pictures, talking with the residents and recording audio I headed back to the office. The neighbors called the fire department and told them the I was there. About an hour later the Fire Department showed up to save the cat.
I feel so used. Click here to see an audio slideshow>>
Sitting at home on Wednesday night I get a call from the photo editor, "THERE IS A HIGHRISE ON FIRE AT OCEAN AND TEMPLE, PEOPLE ARE JUMPING OUT OF THE WINDOWS, CAN YOU GO?" Of course I Can! As I arrive I see the fire is out, but fellow photographer Stephen Carr has been there for about a half hour and has pictures with flames! In the picture above: smoke rises from the 18th floor of the Galaxy Towers on Ocean Boulevard. A tenant on the floor jumped to his death, according to Long Beach Fire Department officials. Click here to see more picutres>>
More than 1,300 students in grades K-12 display their best science projects, while volunteer reviewers judges their work during the Long Beach Unified School District's 12th. Annual Science Fair at Cabrillo High School
I'm sure Doctor Evil's cat would be proud of Downey firefighter Zach Neilsen as he gets his head shaved at Station 1 on March 17, 2007. He joined 18 other men who volunteered for the crew cut for the St. Baldrick's Foundation to help raise money to find a cure for pediatric cancer. The firefighters raised over $15,000 in donations. See and hear all the hairless details >>
Dirty foreheads showed up all over Long Beach today. This one belongs to Jacob Lemieux, a student at St. Maria Goretti School. See more pictures >>
What a better way to embarrass a high school kid than have girls sing to him in class. But Sean Holtkamp was a good sport as Mayfair High School Vocal students sing a Valentine greeting to him. The singers are raising money for a trip to Nashville, Tenn. Each call costs five dollars. Watch the audio slideshow >>
When I think of a polar swim I envision some place with snow on the ground - maybe Michigan - where the water is actually cold. But for the polar plunge in Seal Beach the water was 62 degrees! Thats good, because Rachel Cushman, left, and Jacqueline Diulio could wear their bikinis and join about 200 other swimmers just West of the Seal Beach (Calif.) pier during the 2nd. annual Polar Plunge. The plunge raised money for the Special Olympics. See the pictures >>
When the sky opens up and sane people head for shelter I go outside looking for 'Rain Art'. Today I found Juan Berera paving a parking lot in the rain. While I was out shooting in the rain I had a camera on a timer in pointing out the window of our newsroom. Check out the time-lapse photography >>
This is just bizarre. An exact replica of the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail in the middle of a court room. The faux cell was built by movie crews so prosecutors could demonstrate how Santiago Pineda allegedly killed two men while in jail. Pineda was found guilty in one count and sentenced to death. The jury is still deliberating the other count. Click here to read the story>>
Cristel, the parent of on of nine Black teens accused of beating three white women on Halloween, cries as she talks about her child. The parents represents nine of the 10 youths showed up at a community forum to talk about their kids. In my book it on thing to say, "My kid didn't do it", which is what most of the parents were saying. But, Cristel took the opportunity to tell the crowd that, "It was just kids out having fun"..."you gotta look that a group of White girls insulted our children" Check out the audio slideshow>>
Tonight is the last night of Hanukkah and the after school program at the Jewish Community Center lit up their Menorah and played a little dreidel. Check out the video>>
Kids at Orizaba Park got a chance to help design their new park. The City of Long Beach, jetBlue and KaBoom got the youngsters together to ask what they wanted in a new park and while some of the ideas, like a pool or a rock climbing wall, may not pan out - it will be interesting to see if any of the ideas the kids had make it in to the final design. Another photographer at the paper told me she shot a similar assignment and the kids all wanted a soccer field, but when that park was built there was no field, just plastic playground equipment. The park is slated to be built in February.
The north complex of the Paradise Gardens apartments were engulfed in smoke and flames Friday evening. I was sitting in our new lofty perch (the newsroom) when I got a call about the fire. After battling traffic to get to the scene the Long Beach Police were uncharacteristically nice as they moved the barricade and let me park inside the police line. First thing I saw was residents being treated by firefighters - but when I lifted my camera to my eye and pushed the shutter button I heard an unfamiliar THUMP - it was the mirror inside the camera body breaking. So now my job just became twice as hard - not only did I need to cover this major story in our city, but I had to do it with one camera. One camera might sound like enough, but when your used to having different camera with different lens just an arms reach away the change can really slow you down. I watched as the firefighters fought the blaze and the Red Cross set up a shelter in the high school across the street. - Then the politicians started showing up; First it was Counclilman Val Lerch, that makes sense, the fire was in his district. Then Mayor Bob Foster, ok, he is the mayor of the city. Then Coucilmember Bonnie Lothenthal shows up, not sure why, she's in charge of the first district, but she looked like she was enjoying reading to children in the shelter. And for some reason I can't figure out there were a number of Realtors wearing name tags with their agency name on it trying to help. All in all it was a pretty long night.
Click here to see more pictures>>
In the newspaper business we call it Wild Art, although sometimes its referred to as a 'lines only' picture or Enterprise Art. What is it? It's a picture that stands alone, usually a graphic picture, or a pretty picture or an image that tells a story better then words could - and sometimes we just have extra space in the paper - either way, when the call for 'Wild Art' comes in I cruise the city streets looking for something happening to make a picture. Today it was easy as I glanced out the window of our new offices and saw the shadows dancing on the pavement 13 floors below.
Well, it happened. After two years of planning and promises the Press-Telegram is at its new home. Its got a great view - but since the parking situation is worse then the Grand Prix I won't be enjoying it often.
Today the Long Beach Fire Department tried to demonstrate how fast a Christmas tree could catch on fire. One problem, the tree wouldn't light. The first tree they lit had small flames which quickly went out and the second was too green to hold a flame. But the lack of an ignitable tree wasn't gonna stop the demonstration - with a bunch of wadded up pages of the Press-Telegram under the tree and the pines sufficiently doused with gasoline all that was needed was a small flame and BOOM, the Conifer lit up, well... like a Christmas Tree.
Click here to watch the video>>
Wow, talk about a slow news day - sure we've got a paper to fill, but this is just a truck. Thats right a motorcoach, bus or, if you prefer, recreational vehicle. The City of Lakewood just rolled out its Emergency
Operations Center/Community Resource Center. The center, uh.. I mean... RV, has a table in the back for meetings, a computer work area and some televisions. I'm not sure how the city will use thier new 'mobil meeting space' but I do know they won't be able to park it on a city street without a permit.
You find them all over the world, and now you can find one in Long Beach too... A live poultry market. Thats right, live chickens, turkey and rabbits are all awaitng their destiny at the new PCH Poultry and Market. The animals aren't processed (killed) until they are ordered by a customer, talk about fresh! You can get a chicken whenever you want, but if you want to hand-pick your thanksgiving dinner you needed to do it yesterday. Take a peek inside the market >>
I always enjoy watching other photographers contort themselves for a picture. This is a photo I took of Photographer Russ Roca taking a photo. I've often wondered what I look like when I'm working. Anyway, today Homeless people and their supporters marched through the streets of Downtown Long Beach - in their words, " to bring awareness of the 4,500 homeless in the city." - The ironic thing is that the only people around to see the march were the people who live there - and they already know about the homeless because they see them everyday. I think they should have marched on a weekday when city officials and business people could have seen them. - Oh well, I guess if they were good at PR they wouldn't be homeless. Click here to see more pictures of the march>>
After reading that Long Beach K-9 officers spend thousands of dollars of their own money to care for their dogs - Veterinarian Greg Perrault decided to help by providing first aid kits and training for the officers. Here Perrault explains how to use your hands to create a seal over a dog's snout for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at Cats and Dogs Animal Hospital.
Its Tuesday evening and already about 15 people are lined up at the new Best Buy in Signal Hill waiting to plop down $600 dollars for the game console that doesn't go on sale until Friday. - I'm still trying to master Adventure on my Atari 2600, which, by the way, had the best controller ever! Click here to see more pictures >>
Today is Veteran's Day - so "Thanks" to all who protect our freedom. Veteran's Day started as Armistice Day. The day was to commemorate the end of World War I, November 11, 1918 as the end of “the war to end all wars.? When World War II happened the day was changed to reflect those lives lost in all wars. Click here to see more pictures from the parade >>
Funerals are tough. As a journalist I sometimes have to cover the deaths of noteworthy people in our community. As a member of the community I worry about bothering the family so I can "do my job". The goal is always to be respectful to the mourners while covering the story. Sometime that means shooting from the balcony during the service - today it ment standing across the street. It was the funeral service for Marlin McKeever, a two-time All-American at USC who played also played for the Los Angeles Rams. McKeever died last Friday of head injuries from a fall at his home earlier in the week. He was 66 and lived in the Belmont Heights area of Long Beach. Click here to see more pictures >>
One of the best things about being a photojournalist is getting to see things that are "out of my world" - that's me on the left. - Since Long Beach is the home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia it seemed natural a group of dancers from the Plam Tree Orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, would stop in California on their way to New York. The group is visiting the United States to raise money for the Palm Tree and ChamCao orphanages in Phnom Penh. Click here to see more pictures >>
We are back from Cambodia!
