Archive for the ‘fallbrook’ Category

Brooktown photojournalism

August 11, 2010

One of my first photos published in the North County Times was of Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he was visiting Valley Oaks after the devastating October 2007 wildfires. It was a front-page shot, taken with my old Nikon D80, and since then I’ve proudly seen dozens of my pictures appear in those pages. These days, I’m turning in around one assignment a week with photos, and due to space limitations, not all of the pictures I submit are used. So I thought I’d do some housekeeping and post the unused extras here, since otherwise they would never be seen. Accompanying each shot, or set of shots, will be a link where you can read the story or see the rest of the photos that the Times decided to use. Thanks for reading/viewing! (P.S. I love comments, but rarely get them. Seriously, if you leave me a comment, you will be my favorite person in the world for at least five minutes.) :) :) Enjoy!

First up are these three from Hot Summer Nites, the series of downtown events held in Fallbrook on six different Friday nights throughout each summer. I went to the event on July 9, and drooled all over the classic cars.

(Please note, the paper incorrectly slugged the story as “CARLSBAD,” which I assume was due to the fact that the couple in the photo they chose were from Carlsbad. Don’t be deceived, the picture was taken right here, in Fallbrook!)

CARLSBAD: Hot Summer Nites

An admirer looks in the window of a classic yellow car during Hot Summer Nites in downtown Fallbrook

An admirer looks in the window of a '57 Chevy during Hot Summer Nites in downtown Fallbrook

A visitor walks by a pair of classic cars during Hot Summer Nites in downtown Fallbrook.

BONSALL: Last flight out of Bonsall International Airport

One day this spring, I was driving home from Oceanside with Dori, and noticed that there were several people out flying model airplanes at the old Bonsall airstrip that was scheduled to be closed the next morning for road construction. The airport was in the path of the new and improved Highway 76, and I ended up hanging out with Glen Looft as he took the last flight ever taken there. It was a really interesting story, and here are a few photos that the Times passed over.

A hobbyist replaces the propellor on a model airplane.

A hobbyist prepares his model airplane for takeoff in Bonsall, California.

A man works on a model airplane.

MILITARY: New VA cemetery pleases vets

For this story, I drove down to Miramar to take some pictures of a deserted field that will, next year, be developed into the VA’s latest cemetery. San Marcos Pearl Harbor survivor Ted Roosvall was an early and persistent champion of the project.

The future site of Miramar National Cemeter as seen through a chain-link fence.

Pearl Harbor survivor Ted Roosvall holds a folder of paperwork.

FALLBROOK: Annual repainting of water tower signals new class of seniors

Another one of my recent favorites, I had been after this story for years. Anyone who’s been to Fallbrook knows about the water tower with the years painted on it. Last month, I went up and watched while the tower was repainted, and, of course, took some photos. Here’s one:

A Fallbrook Public Utility District employee paints over the zero in "10" while on a boom lift. Fallbrook photojournalism.

NORTH COUNTY: San Marcos, Fallbrook students celebrate the day

Lastly, I was there for all three high school graduations in Fallbrook in June. Here is one of the graduates singing the National Anthem:

Ivy High School graduate in green cap and gown sings the Star Spangled Banner while teachers look on. Fallbrook photojournalism.

Please let me know if this was an interesting post. If there is positive feedback, I will make a habit of doing this every couple of months.

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The Currybooth!!!

August 7, 2010

Last weekend, the big day finally came for my Uncle Paul and his bride, Nadine. We had a blast shooting their wedding at The Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, where the weather was in the mid-80s — perfect for an afternoon of shooting. As usual, the photobooth was a blast, and we have to thank their guests for being such a fun group to shoot!

First up, my nephew, the ring-bearer.

Close-up of a ring bearer wearing a lei. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

He flexes:

Wide-angle view of a boy against a white background. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

Wide-angle view of a couple embracing like dancers against a white background. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

Currybooth

Close-up of a groom dipping a bride, as if in mid-dance. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

And……… the flower girl. (Love this sequence, after we gave her a handful of petals.)

“Should I do it?”

Close-up of a flower girl holding a handful of white and pink petals. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

“I’m gonna do it…”

Close-up of a flower girl holding a handful of white and pink petals. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

Close-up of a flower girl tossing a handful of pink and white petals in the air. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

Wide-angle view of a flower girl and her mom while pink and white petals rain down around the girl. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

There were a lot of my nephews running around.

Close-up of a boy looking off-camera while his dad watched in the background. Fallbrook wedding photography photobooth.

Stay tuned for some amazing images from their day. We love you, Uncle Paul and Aunt Nadine!!!

Currybooth (89 of 89)

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“B” is for “Brooktown,” but it’s also for…

June 21, 2010

Blocks spell out the word "boy" on a pregnant belly. Fallbrook maternity photos.

Dori had her first ultrasound last month, and this is what it told us. Couldn’t be happier. :)

Blocks spell out the word "boy" beneath a pregnant belly. Fallbrook maternity photos.

Three color blocks spell out "boy" in a jumble of black and white blocks. Fallbrook maternity photos.

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Uncle Paul and Aunt Nadine – Fallbrook engagement photos

June 8, 2010

The youngest of my dad’s brothers is getting married in July, and we were so honored when Uncle Paul and his fiancee, Nadine, asked if we would be their photographers. Our family–both sides–has been blessed with an incredible array of aunts, uncles, grandparents, brothers, sisters–and now nieces and nephews. What a special thing it is to be part of their lives, and to document their milestones as they happen. We’ll have tons of great pictures from Paul and Nadine’s day later this summer, but for now, here is a sampling of their engagement session last month at The Grand Tradition.

Full-length portrait of a couple posing together under a pepper tree. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Wide-angle view of a couple leaning against the lakeside gazebo at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Wide-angle view of a couple standing together on a bridge at Arbor Terrace at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Close-up of a bride-to-be while her fiance looks at her. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Close-up of a groom-to-be while his fiancee looks at him. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Wide-angle view of a couple standing together on a bridge at Arbor Terrace at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

A couple holds hands on the steps of the lakeside gazebo at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Side-by-side images of a couple posing at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Black-and-white close-up of a couple posing beneath a pepper tree at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

We’re especially looking forward to their Hawaiian theme. A few years ago, The Grand Tradition added a second wedding site called “Arbor Terrace,” and the lush landscaping goes so well with tropical shirts and the rest. :) :)

Wide-angle view of a couple beside a fountain in a lush garden. Fallbrook engagement photos.

Wide-angle view of a couple holding hands on the steps of the lakeside gazebo at The Grand Tradition. Fallbrook engagement photos.

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Posted in engagements, fallbrook, family, portraits | 1 Comment »

Three Bonsall bridges

March 1, 2010
And now for something completely different…

After five years as a full-time local reporter for the North County Times, Tom now writes a weekly column for the Times called “Sincerely Fallbrook.” (An archive of all his stuff since last summer can be found here.) Recently, driving to and from Oceanside, we have noticed that Caltrans is getting ready to widen the road. Tom’s column this Sunday was about the third bridge that’s going to be built over the San Luis Rey River at Vista Way, and so, last week, we headed out to take some pictures at that intersection. The paper didn’t run any of them, so we decided to post them here, nice and big, along with the first part of the column. We hope you enjoy. :)

A tale of three bridges

By TOM PFINGSTEN – For the North County Times

First there was the simple arch bridge —- two stone-and-asphalt lanes built in 1925 to carry motorists over the San Luis Rey River west of Bonsall.

It had style in the same way black-and-white films did. Sophisticated, you might say, especially considering the farms and groves that overlook the antique span.

But then it was too narrow. Passing a big rig was delicate business on your way out to the beach in the 1980s and early ’90s.

So they built another bridge, this one twisting over the river in an elegant curve and wide enough for two trucks to pass each other comfortably.

It felt like a superhighway compared with the original.

But then two lanes were too few.

Sometimes, in the early evening or on a hot Saturday in July, cars would be idling by the dozens atop that big span, their drivers wishing for another lane in each direction.

So, early this year, construction workers cut a swath in the afternoon shadow of the newer bridge, from riverbank to riverbank, and began to prepare for a third bridge.

Read the rest of the story at nctimes.com.

Highway 76

Highway 76 (2 of 2)

Highway 76 (1 of 2)

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