Fall colors from trees of the Shinzen Garden at Woodward Park reflect in the lake as a coot breaks the surface. This shot took planning and patience. I saw the colors on the water, decided what lens I needed, and knew that in time a bird would drift by. Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long.

A young runner in the Susan Komen "Race for the Cure" didn't seem to appreciate the welcome at the finish line by the Sanger High cheerleaders.

5-year-old Ryan Quinn and sister Bailey, 7, right, pile on dad, Lt. Dan Quinn after he arrived home with the "Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron 22, after he arrived home at Lemoore Naval Air Station, following a five-month deployment aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. The air wing operated in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations, which encompasses the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean, for more than two months. They provided 30 percent of all air support to U.S. and Coalition ground forces in Afghanistatn. In total, the Air Wing flew more than 1,600 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Tiny CO2 bubbles gather under the frothy head of a just-drawn beer at Sequoia Brewing Co. for a story on beers for Oktoberfest

This was really a step back in time...I was granted a visit inside the historic closed Bow-On building in Chinatown, seeing relics such as the old desk, 48-star flags, eating utensils, frozen in time.

It really pays, for the sake of personal embarassment, to not to rent wet suits too big as these teen girl boogie boarders found out after having their fun at Pismo Beach, this last weekend, taking with them some of the Pacific Ocean. The area was bustling with visitors from the Valley, squeezing in days at the coast before the start of school, and taking a break from the warm weather. They caught my eye as I watched my daughters boogie board nearby, and couldn't help but get a good laugh, as did many others as they trudged and jiggled down the beach.

In a home without television or computers, under antique maps of the world and the United States, and an old chalkboard, 5-year-old Gage Mullen scribbles in his notebook. At the window at left, above the bed of brother McKay, a curious deer appeard early one morning. Much of the decor their parents, Charleen and John Mullen use are used are items they found at second-hand stores, junk shops, yard sales, antique shops or salvaged by John, a contractor. Gage was proud of the little red reading lamp, which he found at a yard sale. I really liked this shot and how it illustrated the lifestyle the family has embraced.

Under majestic oaks in the twilight, and holding lanterns reading "No More Hiroshimas!", 3 1/2-year-old Nadine Araujo and her mother Melissa Alberti-Araujo take part in the candle light vigil in remembrance of the 64th anniversery of the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, at the Visalia Friends Meeting House. They were among about two dozen attending the Hiroshima Day Memorial, with a group discussion with individuals sharing of views of the decision to use the weapon to end WWII, with its implications for the present, and what needs to be done to assure that the use of nuclear weapons never happens again.

This says HOT... red-faced and sweaty, Garrett Bier, 9, right, tries cooling down in the 108-degree heat Friday afternoon with a wet towel, along with Central 9-year-old All-Star teammates Brandon Bien, left, and Tyler Hintz, center, before their game against the Bullard 9-year-old All-Star team at Polk Elementary School.

Franziska Walls, enjoys her magazine and a noontime spot of tea, keeping company with "Ya Ya," the resident mannequin mascot of Ya Ya's Creative Boutique. Walls helps out her daughter, Maryann Ward, one of the shop's owners, at the boutique, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Ward said that five women, including herself, four of whom are grandmothers, "jump started" the business, which specializes in creations "vintage to chic," folk art and one of a kind home decor items, and gifts, a year ago. The women were big fans of the movie "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," and named the business in its honor, with "Ya Ya" putting a face, although a fake one, to the boutique, occupying her relaxing spot out front. Ward said that a next-door to the shop barber has been know to come over and plant a kiss on "Ya Ya." The cup "Ya Ya" holds reads: Drink Coffee...Do Stupid Things Faster."

The photo at left was taken by me in the summer of 2004, looking up highway 168 northeast of Clovis, on an obviously smoggy day...you can barely make out the Sierra foothills in the background. I shot the one on the right last week from the same spot, 5 years later...it was breezy that day, but maybe our air is getting cleaner.

"Juggalos" from left "Wolf," (bearing his fangs) "Razor Blade," and "Puzzles," hang out during a recent party at a member's home. Fans of Insane Clown Posse, juggalos say they are more of a family, not a gang as police say. The online video I shot explains the draw of members to the juggalo "family,"

This is "Wolf," a local "juggalo," enjoying a cigar at a recent party. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse, juggalos paint their faces like scary clowns. They dispute police claims that they are a gang.

In the blue light cast by tattered overhead tarps, Lana Meranda tries without too much luck to stay cool in her makeshift shelter of scrap wood, in an encampment along H Street, called "Tent City." The city plans on closing two homeless camps in the next few weeks and relocating the people in temporary housing elsewhere. The real heat hasn't hit Fresno yet, and I can't imagine how the homeless such as Lana can withstand the intense heat in the shanties...I was in her home around five minutes, and was drenched from the heat in the short time I was there.

Actress Charlize Theron was on hand to lend support for the "Meet in the Middle For Equality" rally at city hall, Saturday afternoon.