Members of the Yoki Daiko Taiko Drum group perform Sunday at the Tropical Daze Summer Music Festival in Thousand Oaks.

Sunday was spent mentally in Hawaii. I attended the Tropical Daze Summer Music Festival in Thousand Oaks. Great music, food and crafts all made me think of those islands. Well, this is as close as I will get this year. Damm. Enjoy the photos.

Tropical Daze flickr set (click on slideshow icon if not on an iPhone or iPad)

Salutes, flags, uniforms and aircraft fly-bys marked today's Lest We Forget Memorial Day program in Westlake Village. About 3000 attended the event at the Garden of Valor at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park. Enjoy the photos and enjoy Memorial Day! Remember all those in uniform!

Flickr flash slide show

Flickr Lest We Forget photo set

A wet rose from Tuesday's rain. Topaz Detail used.

Photo of hillside covered with mustard next to the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden taken on Sunday, May 2, 2010, on out of date 400 ASA Kodak film with a Argus C-4.

Today’s digital cameras are so east to aim, compose and fire away. Just for the exercise, I borrowed an Argus C-4 camera from the late 1950s, from co-worker Robert Lachman. I loaded it with ten year old 400 ASA Kodak film and went out Sunday shooting photos.

Before shooting an image, I actually had to slow down to figure exposure, focus, and compose to my liking. After exposing the 36 frames, I actually had to wait 24 hours to see the final results. No back-of-camera instant feedback.

For the photo above, exposure was 1/300 a second at f/16. The 50 mm lens was focused at about 20 feet letting depth-of-field sharpen everything from five feet to infinite.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention, I had no light meter. I just used the sunshine rule to figure my exposure. Also known as the Sunny 16 rule: for objects lit by the sun, at f/16 the shutter speed equals ASA/ISO. 1/300 is the highest shutter speed on the Argus C-4, but close enough.

Starting in the 1950s, Ed Lawrence hiked and photographed every inch of the Conejo Valley. This combination of hiking and photography produced a remarkable collection of images — a visual history of how Thousand Oaks grew to a city of nearly 130,000.

This last Saturday and Sunday at California Lutheran University, Ed Lawrence gave a retrospective of his work. Titled "From Ranches to Residences" Lawrence gave the backstory of a series of over 100 images taken from his extensive history of the Thousand Oaks area. Many of the before and after images — before development and after development — were taken years apart from the same location.

Not only did Lawrence shoot what photojournalist call the "overalls,” he covered the everyday life of rural Conejo, its rapid development in the 1960s, and then the slower development since the early 1970s.

Gone are sheep and cattle ranching. Gone is the movie production. Gone is the Conejo Valley Days rodeo and parade. All these come alive in Lawrence's collection of images.

But Lawrence is not gone. He is 86 years old and in excellent health. His three keys to good health are "think positive, eat healthy and exercise."

In 1958 freelance photographer Ed Lawrence moved to the Conejo Valley, a rural community of about 1600.

A big part of his exercise was hiking every local trail and mountain with several cameras. He also owned a VW bus with a photographers' deck built on top. "It was great for those dirt roads — went everywhere."

In 1958 freelance photographer Ed Lawrence moved to the Conejo Valley, a rural community of about 1600. The rapid growth soon followed. In the mid 60s Thousand Oaks was according to Lawrence, "the fastest growing city in 14 (southern) California counties."

In the 1960s, “homes went for $12,000 with a good front and back yard. Today $600,000 gets a Lang Ranch home with no backyard. "Homes now jammed in tighter and tighter."

Lawrence is a big supporter of Stagecoach Inn. He showed images of the "Last Great Stagecoach Race" a fundraiser to help relocate the Inn. He also has good color images of the 1970 fire that destroyed the Stagecoach Inn.

Golfers will never stop playing. One of Lawrence's images of a brush fire near Los Robles has golfers playing through.

The Wildwood area was used in many film productions. The Gunsmoke set was on present day Ave De Los Arbolis and "would have made a great entrance to Wildwood Park. It should have been preserved."

" You would be amazed by the number of films made in the Conejo Valley," says Lawrence as he showed photos of Clint Eastwood and other stars.

Albertson Ranch - site of Westlake Village, was another major movie production spot around 1960. "As many as five moves were being filmed at a time."

Permission to take pictures was very restricted, until Donna Fargo got Lawrence into the ranch. He hiked to the top of "porkchop hill,” so named for a Korean War movie filmed there, and shot a remarkable image of clouds over an empty valley that would become Westlake Village.

Lawrence gave a large print to the ranch owners and soon had unlimited access to the ranch.

Everyone would call Lawrence with photo opportunity tips. Sheep owner Nick Costa always would let Ed know when he was moving a herd through Thousand Oaks from one field to another. To avoid traffic, the moves were usually early on a Sunday morning.

Lawrence said other photographers would have covered the sheep moves — if they knew when and where. Thus he now has the iconic images of sheep on Thousand Oaks Blvd.


Sheep being moved on Thousand Oaks Blvd. 1965. © copyright Ed Lawrence. Used with permission.

Today lives with family in Lake Tahoe. Lawrence lived in the Conejo Valley from 1958 through 2003.

"I feel very fortunate to be able to do this. I love climbing the hllls. I had such a wonderful time taking all these photos. I did it because I loved it."

Before and after the program, audience members were able to purchase copies of many of Lawrence's photographs.

Ed Lawrence's collection of work needs to find a home locally. In addition to preserving the photographs, his two hour presentation also needs to be videotaped. He really brings to images to life.


Photos on display and for sale after Ed Lawrence’s presentation.

Cartoonist Jack Bonestell as "Tumbleweed Jack" works on cartoon for kids at the 1983 first anniversary party of the Thousand Oaks Library. Photo by Scott Harrison / The News Chronicle

New on my flickr page are ten images from 1982-83 of Donna Fargo, civic leader and former stuntwoman. Needless to say, when I arrived in Thousand Oaks in 1982, she welcomed and introduced me to the city. Well, I am still here.

Short bio on Donna Fargo: Stagecoach Inn Web Site

Flickr photos: Donna Fargo Set

Photo taken back in January of the distortion from rain water on my car windshield. I just liked the effect.

Bonnie Morgan in character as "Sassafrass Thistlebottom.”

Yes, this little story is true. Just yesterday I posted images from the 1982 Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Then last night I stumbled across the Friends of Paramount Ranch web site. Today was a reunion for former members of the Renaissance Faire that was held from the mid-1960s to 1988 at the ranch.

So I dropped by and was welcomed today just as much as twenty-five years ago. The only difference - the stages, crowds, musicians , etc., were only a memory.

I did have one moment of déjà vu. While walking up one trail, I suddenly remembered the gate, flags, and hay bales that lined the very same trail. Later it was confirmed that the trail was the participants and press entrance.

About 50 attended today’s 12th reunion. Several wore their Renaissance Faire outfits. After enjoying picnic lunches, everyone marched up “Procession Hill” to have a memorial service to remember Renaissance Faire friends who have passed away. Several hundred names were read and many humorous memories shared.

In 1988, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire were forced to move to make way for a proposed development to be built at Paramount Ranch. Instead of spending the night researching and writing a history of Paramount Ranch, let’s just say that the development fell through and the land ended up with the National Park service.

But the Faire moved on to a long multi-year run at Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore. Currently the Faire is held at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale.

In addition to remembering old friends, today’s reunion was also a celebration that the former Renaissance Faire site is now preserved as open space for old farts - like me - to take a hike on a Sunday afternoon.


Old friends are remembered during memorial at former site of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

I added over thirty reunion photos to my Renaissance Pleasure Faire flickr set.

Luanne Blaich, of Woodland Hills, and Michael Morgan of Encino, at the 1982 Renaissance Pleasure Faire at Paramount Ranch near Agoura. Photo by Scott Harrison / The News Chronicle

Tonight I posted a batch of photos from the 1982 Renaissance Pleasure Faire to flickr. More to come.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire flickr set.

Photo taken Sunday, March 14th of trees reflected in creek next to Willow Bend picnic area of Conejo Creek North Park in Thousand Oaks. Image given artistiic look with Topaz Simplify 2 oil painting preset. iPhone photo.

Sunday was a visit to the 23rd Spring Arts and Crafts Faire at Borchard Park in Newbury Park. Besides taking a few pics, I found myself chatting with various artists, especially ones where where doing some of their work in their booths. Enjoy the pics.

Flickr Photo Set.


Carl and Angela Carrubba, above, show off a tie-dye sheet at their Rainbow Tie-Dyes booth. Of course, I had to shoot a couple of happy face t-shirts on the iPhone and use PhotoTropedelic, below.

Tonight I checked out three Newbury Park homes where the owners took holiday displays to the next level- full fledged light shows.

First stop was 538 Brisbaine Ave. near Kimber and Reino. The owner was not home, so I was not able to talk to him. I found this home listed on at www.vcstar.com/seasonal/displays on the map. Santa is there and waves to the kids! The audio is transmitted on 100.5 FM. Show runs from 5 p.m. till 10 p.m. until January 1st.

My second stop was at 5209 Via Jacinto in Dos Vientos. Owner Eric Adem, a software developer, created his show with 104 individually computer-controlled sections of lights. This is his 4th year. The audio is on 99.1 FM. His display is on from 5 p.m. till 10 p.m.. Adem loves to greet visitors with cookies!

The third show is also in Dos Vientos, at 5332 Via Patricia. This is electrical engineer Brian Fuchs' second year. His audio is broadcasted on 99.1 FM until 10pm. Fuchs is usually out front greeting visitors.

Both Dos Vientos locations had about 15 cars in front watching the shows when I stopped by.

Adem was written up recently in the Thousand Oaks Acorn. Fuchs was in the Acorn a year ago, but the story is still online.

January, 1984 photo of dead fish in Potrero Creek below Lake Sherwood Dam.

Events twenty-six years ago led to this week's golf tournament. Lake Sherwood was the center of a major anti-development battle between Dayton Realty Co., on one side and long-time lake residents and Ventura County on the other.

The dam was originally built in 1904. For years a small group of residents lived along the edge of the lake. In the 1970s, the owners of Lake Sherwood, Dayton Realty proposed a nearly 1400 housing unit development. After years of fighting, Ventura County in 1980 rejected the development.

Around 1983 statewide concerns over the safety of old dams led to a Dayton Realty proposal to drain the lake to inspect the dam. After court hearings, the lake was allowed to be drained in December, 1983. Dead fish filled Potrero Creek below the dam. In January, 1984, two 15-year-olds and a 9-year-old had to be rescued from the mud by the Ventura County Fire Department.

The dam passed inspection, but the lake was not refilled. Weeds and decaying muck filled the lakebed.

The impasse was only broken when Hidden Valley neighbor David Murdock - reportedly irritated by the dry lake bed - bought Lake Sherwood from Dayton. The lake bed was cleaned up and refilled. Very up-scale homes and a top-notch golf course were built.

But today there is no wall-to-wall condo buildings around the lake.

I posted 20 Lake Sherwood photos to this Flickr set. I shot these photos in 1984 while working at The News Chronicle.


Lake Sherwood in 1984 after water lowered 25 feet to allow inspection of dam, below.



Lake Sherwood today.

In Thousand Oaks, the fall foliage usually reaches its peak right around Thanksgiving. Here is my favorite from a shoot on Monday.


Be grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Civil War Reenactment Image before Topaz Detail.


Same Image after applying Topaz Detail.

A couple nights ago I finished post-processing the images from the Moorpark Civil War Reenactment. Out of some 600 frames, digital and on film, I have ended up with 40. They are posted at this filckr set.

As mentioned in a previous post, this was the basic workflow:

1 - In Lightroom apply antique photo preset.

2 - In Lightroom Apply Matt Kloskowski's medium edge darkening preset.

3 - Still in Lightroom adjust image contrast and brightness.

4 - Open copy of image in Photoshop.

5 - Pice one of about 30 masks from Extreme Edges disk.

6 - Size mask to size of image, select all, copy, add alpha channel to image, paste into alpha channel, load selection inverted and delete edges. I often used free-transform to size the mask.

7 - Save back to Lightroom.

8 - Open another copy of image into Photoshop and apply Topaz Detail. ( Or Topaz Simplify)

9 - Save back into Lightroom, caption and upload to flickr.

After trying various Topaz Simplify and Detail presets I settled on the Creative Detail and Interior Strong Detail as the one to use. The gritty effect from these presets best matched the edge masks used.

I tried a second very different effect with single frames from the Oktomat camera. The camera puts eight very low quality images on each 35 mm frame. I picked a couple of single frames, enlarged and processed through Topaz Simplify. Below is one of the images that resembles 1800's paintings.

Vietnam veteran David Stull stands guard while supporting a flagpole carrying the American flag at the Garden of Valor at Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village. This was one of three 30 minute shifts he stood guard. November ,1984 photo by Scott Harrison/The News Chronicle

Back in the 1980s Conejo Valley residents would observe a 24-hour vigil during the Veterans Day holiday. I took photos several times, but this 1984 photo at dusk remains my favorite. The current full name of Valley Oaks is Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park. The flame is still burning at the Garden of Valor.

Remember our Veterans on Wednesday.

To prepare a different look to this year's Moorpark Civil War Reenactment, I checked out many of the images at Civil War Photos.net. Some of the images had interesting aging effects from loss of emulsion or torn edges. I even considered making masks from some of these interesting borders. But I remembered a collection of masks I had purchased at Photoshop World in 2002. I found the disk of Extreme Edges Volume 2 done for Photoshop 3. Perfect.

Sunday was spent at the Civil War Reenactment. Sunday night was spent paying with the masks. My basic workflow is:

1 - In Lightroom apply antique photo preset.

2 - In Lightroom Apply Matt Kloskowski's medium edge darkening preset.

3 - Still in Lightroom adjust image contast and brightness.

4 - Open copy of image in Photoshop.

5 - Pice one of about 30 masks from Extreme Edges disk.

6 - Size mask to size of image, select all, copy, add alpha channel to image, paste into alpha channel, load selection inverted and delete edges.

7 - Save back to Lightroom.

8 - Open another copy of image into Photoshop and apply Topaz Detail. ( Or Topaz Simplify)

9 - Save back into Lightroom, caption and upload to Flickr Civil War 2009 set.



Shoot it's getting late. So far I have finished and uploaded about ten images. Looks like another fun project that will take a few extra days. I will continue posting to my filckr site. Enjoy the photos. Scott

Man, I can't believe its been a year since I shot the Civil War Reenactment in Moorpark. Here are a couple photos from last November's event. The next shoot-out is this weekend!


From the conejovalleyguide.com: The Rotary Club of Moorpark presents what is billed as the largest Civil War Reenactment in Southern California at Tierra Rejada Ranch (enter at Underwood Farms), 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark. Events start at 10 a.m. Dates are set for Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th. For more information go to Conejo Valley Guide.

Last year I was only able to attend one of four re-enactment battles. But I was able to get these images: flickr Civil War 2008 set. I uploaded 48 images this morning to that flickr set.

Last year I put many of the same images in this flash gallery.

For anyone who loves history, this is a must see event. Last year the Civil War Reenactment had 800 soldiers.

Can anyone guess where I will be this weekend?

In May, 1985, BalloonArt by Treb was hired by a Japanese Advertising Agency to make 30 x 65 foot billboard out of 8-10,000 balloons. The crew worked in North Ranch from 7 pm all night to blow up and assemble the sign before filming.

The balloon company set up a tent on an empty lot off Lakeview Canyon Road. After assembly, the "Miki House" sign was walked up Lakeview Canyon Road to Valley Spring Drive. The commercial was for a children's clothing company to be broadcast on Japanese TV

By 1985, BalloonArt by Treb was already a very successful company. Their services were used in the 1984 Olympics and other major events. This 10,000 balloon project was an average size job. The balloons were blown up with regular air six large helium balloons held up the sign.

Treb Heining, the balloon artist, did jobs involving the release of up to 1.4 million balloons. So this North Ranch commercial was really no big deal He closed BalloonArt by Treb in 1995. I found this story in the OC Register.


Photos by Scott Harrison/The News Chronicle

After last week's brush fires I stopped at the Thousand Oaks Auto Fair and took some images of a 1988 Pierce Pump Tank Fire Truck. Besides I was also looking for images to test Topaz Detail. Here are the results. I posted a total of 7 images on my Flickr.com page.

The fire truck has 83,000 miles on it and is on display at Ventura Freeway @ Borchard Rd, In the Park and ride facility. Looks like a good piece of equipment for a Fillmore area ranch- pump water for both irrigation and fighting fires.

And yes I like the results I am getting with Topaz Detail. It makes any used vehicle look new.

The closing ceremonies for The Dignity Memorial Vietnam was this morning, photo above. The program was well attended and emotional for all.

My favorite moment was seeing a group of Pt. Hueneme based Navy Seabees, assigned to help take down the wall, head straight to names from 1965. Every member made etching and photos of Marvin G. Shields, a Pt. Hueneme based Seabee killed on June 10th, 1965. Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Marvin Shields was the first Seabee to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.


Seabees making etchings of the name of Marvin Shields.

More photos on Flickr.

For the entire weekend, volunteers have taken fifteen minute shifts reading the names of all those killed in Vietnam. Deek Janoian, of La Canada, above, reads names around 1 am this morning. The stage is set up in front of The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall facing the eternal flame at Garden of Valor in Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park.

Here is my flickr set of photos of this weekend's Wall event.

Back in May for Memorial Day, I collected names of Thousand Oaks residents killed in wars. Last night I took my list of six killed in Vietnam and photographed their names on the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall on display this weekend. Here is a montage of the six names.


My list from Memorial Day:

Charles Ivan DeGraw - Army 1968

David Earl Farr - Army 1970

Eric James Hubberth - Air Force 1970

Colin Frank Jackson - Marine 1967

Larry Allan Jones - Marine 1968

John Clarence Shamel - Marine 1967

I have to thank the Boy Scouts and volunteers that helped me locate the names. I was visiting the wall at 1 am this morning and in the dark would never have found all the names.


The wall at 1 am today.

The Dignity Memorial Wall has arrived at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village for Labor Day weekend. This is a three-quarter scale replica of he Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Dignity Memorial Wall will be open till Monday morning.

For more information check out this Conejo Valley Guide link.

Here are a couple of images from this morning's opening ceremonies. Of course I will be posting more images this weekend.

In 1982, this was the biggest flag in Thousand Oaks. I sat on the field with a 20mm lens and let the students carry the flag over me.


Giant U.S. Flag carried by California Lutheran students during a 1982 football game at the Thousand Oaks college campus.

1982 photo of the annual City of Thousand Oaks Fireworks show over the Ventura Freeway looking east from Borchard Road.

Mario Palomino, from Peru, spent the winter of 1982-83 watching over 800 sheep in the hills above Thousand Oaks. I dropped in a couple of evenings in January, 1983, and made this series of images.

Palomino spoke very little english, but between him and his boss, I was able to get some information. He was here on a one year contract. From November, 1982 till the spring of 1983, Palomino lived in the small trailer with two sheep dogs Yori and Lassie. The trailer was placed not too far from the North Ranch Country Club.

In 1983, North Ranch was only about half built. The area is now homes and the newer 18 holes of the North Ranch Country Club.

In the spring of 1983 the Palomino, the trailer and sheep moved to another location in Agoura. I never ran into Palomino again, but at the time he was looking forward to a vacation in August 1983, and returning to Peru in 1984.

This morning I was able to attend the 2009 Memorial Day Service at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks - Griffin Memorial Park in Westlake Village. Great program and over 2,000 in attendance. Of course I shot photos - lots of salutes, flags, music and remembering those who gave their lives for the United States.

Two vets I was able to spend a little time with were 1st. Lt. Randy Kramer of Encino and Sgt. Donald L. Montgomery of Thousand Oaks.

Kramer served three years in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Italy during World War 2. His original uniform was in perfect condition, except he admitted to having to let it out a little after 60 years. Kramer, a former pilot, had flown with the Van Nuys based Condor Squadron for years, but now is not flying. He was excited to see his buddies in the Condor Squadron do a fly-by half-way through the program.

Montgomery said he served in Korea and China being too young for World War 2. But that didn't stop him from lying about his age and joining the Marines when 16. The Marines must have kept him as he rose to the rank of Sgt. and was loaded down with medals - more than most officers were able to gather.

The program was great. Now I am looking forward to seeing the Traveling Vietnam Wall scheduled to be at Pierce Brothers over Labor Day weekend.

But what really made my day is the photo above. After the big Memorial Day program, I stopped at Beyer Park in Thousand Oaks and checked out the World War 2 memorial. Someone had quietly left a flag and flowers in memory to the five Thousand Oaks residents who lost their lives in World War 2. A special thank-you to who ever cared enough to remember. ( See my blog from Saturday.)

Happy Memorial Day

Scott

On Memorial Day we will remember all those who gave their lives in service to the United States. On Monday, there will be a big ceremony at Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park in Westlake Village. starting at 10:30 am with music, speeches and an aircraft flyby.

I attended last year's program and was both saddened to see the memorial for Lance Cpl. Anthony c. Melia, killed in Iraq in January, 2007, but also gladdened to meet sailor Allan Jones, E5, who had recently returned from Iraq.

Since last year, we lost a third Thousand Oaks military member Navy Lt. Francis L. Toner IV, killed in March, 2009, in Afghanistan. Toner was a football star at Westlake High School.

But Memorial Day is to honor all those who gave their lives in all wars. Hidden and forgotten is a Thousand Oaks Memorial to five soldiers who gave their lives in World War 2. Next to Conejo Elementary School is a pocket size park named after community activist John Beyer. Inside Beyer Park is a small memorial - that resembles a bar-b-q - with the names of those five soldiers.



The tiny 1951 memorial to World War 2 soldiers in Beyer Park in Thousand Oaks.



In the 1940s, I believe Thousand Oak's population was about 1500. Everyone must have known the five soldiers who gave their lives. The 1960 census of Thousand Oaks had a population of 2934, 1970 census had 35, 935. The World War 2 memorial was original placed in 1951 by Thousand Oaks Chamber of Commerce.

Here is my incomplete list of Thousand Oaks residents killed in previous wars:

Listed on the Beyer Park Memorial for World War 2 are:

Cleon Biddle - Air Force

John Hays - Army

Roy Spain - Army

Harold Wienke - Army

Richard Wienkler - Army

Vietnam Link to National Archives Database

Charles Ivan DeGraw - Army 1968

David Earl Farr - Army 1970

Eric James Hubberth - Air Force 1970

Colin Frank Jackson - Marine 1967

Larry Allan Jones - Marine 1968

John Clarence Shamel Marine 1967

There were no listings for Thousand Oaks in the Korean War in the same National Archives Database

For Iraq/Afghanistan

Sean M. Corlew - Air Force 2002 Newbury Park High School Graduate

Anthony C. Melia - Marine 2007 Thousand Oaks High School Graduate

Francis L. Toner IV - Navy 2009 Westlake High School Graduate

The links are to the Los Angeles Times California War Dead Database