by Jim Bass | Feb 10, 2017 | On Assignment
The Ventura County Medical Center began constructing a new hospital in 2013, and I have been keeping a photographic chronicle since demolition of the old structure began. There have been many fascinating moments watching the new facility come together. In December, I...
by Jim Bass | Nov 5, 2016 | On Assignment
When you pass a billboard, you have an average of seven seconds to read it. Sometimes less, as with the billboard on US 101 northbound into Oxnard. Because of the Del Norte freeway overpass, the billboard is not visible until you pass under it, cutting the time to get...
by Jim Bass | Jul 25, 2016 | Nature, Personal work
California has the tallest peak (Mt. Whitney) in the continental US and the lowest point (Death Valley.) It also boasts the tallest trees, the biggest trees and the oldest trees. The latter are the Bristlecone pines, located in the White Mountains, one of which has...
by Jim Bass | Jul 6, 2016 | Food, On Assignment
Calamari is not one of my favorite foods. Once or twice I’ve had it fixed perfectly and it was a delight, but it’s usually like tasteless rubber. That said, I’m always curious about how things are done and the work people do. So I was pleased to be...
by Jim Bass | Jun 9, 2016 | On Assignment
My assignment was simple: shoot an image to promote an event by the Victory Gymnastics Academy in Newbury Park, CA. The academy offers instruction to kids who come for fun and exercise, and to those serious about competing in the sport. My subjects were the latter,...
by Jim Bass | May 19, 2016 | On Assignment
Debates once raged on photographer websites about whether it was impure to rely on Photoshop to make an image. Purists argue: get it in the camera. Of course any smart shooter, given the chance, prefers to shoot a final image in camera and be done with it. But...
by Jim Bass | May 10, 2016 | Nature, Personal work
What makes a scenic photograph interesting enough to hold interest over time? Portraits are easily explained because the human face can register and communicate many things at once and be open to interpretation that keeps us looking. The Mona Lisa is exhibit A. But...
by Jim Bass | Apr 22, 2016 | Music, On Assignment
I’ve been a longtime fan of blues musician Robert Cray–what a voice, what a guitar player! When the chance came to photograph a small concert (80 lucky souls) in Ventura one evening in December, I couldn’t believe my luck. Special appearances by sax...
by Jim Bass | Aug 25, 2014 | On Assignment, Portraits
Just a quick post on some work done for the Watermark restaurant in Ventura. It’s located in a gorgeously restored historic building on Main Street where it serves very fine food. I was shooting for a direct mail piece that included dozens of images. Here are...
by Jim Bass | Aug 12, 2014 | On Assignment
One of the hidden gems at Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor is the Maritime Museum, home to priceless ships models and oil paintings. I was there a week ago to photograph some images for their website and promotional materials. The ships models lend themselves to...
