Brown Pelicans over Pacific Grove, Oct. 22, 2013

A group of Brown pelicans fly in formation over the Pacific Grove shoreline. 

Salinas Press Conference, July 29, 2013

Covering a press conference can be a challenge. A subject standing at a lectern speaking is not inherently compelling. The goal for me is to come away with something different or unexpected, an image that makes you stop and draws you into the story.  

Police Commander Vincent Maiorana holds a picture of parolee and gang member Juan Acuna while discussing the events that led officers to fatally shoot him on Friday during a press conference at Salinas City Hall in Salinas, Calif. on July 29, 2013. At left is Monterey County Undersheriff Max Houser. (Photo David Royal/ Monterey County Herald)

The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, July 21, 2013

Colin Edwards during the warm-up session at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix in Monterey on July 21, 2013.
Edwards was traveling about 180 mph and was photographed at 1/160 of a second at f/20 with a 200mm lens.  (Vern Fisher/Monterey County Herald)

CCS Semifinals Baseball, May 21, 2013

Harsh light and cluttered backgrounds at San Jose’s Municipal Stadium forced me to take a position in the third base dugout and photograph the backlit action at second-base.  Pacific Grove's Chris Fife gets tangled with Stevenson's Chandler Bluhm during their CCS semifinals game on May 21, 2013.  Camera used was a Canon EOS Mark III with a Canon 300mm f2.8 lens with a 1.4x extender.  (Vern Fisher/Monterey County Herald)

Water Shortage Illustration

My assignment was to illustrate "water shortage" to go with a big desal project.  This garden hose with one small drip coming out was photographed with a 100mm macro lens.  To accentuate the drip I set the lens wide open at f2.8.

ALMS Laguna Seca, May 9, 2013

Panning at 1/40 sec. of Angel Benitez, Jr. as he races out of the corkscrew during the practice session for the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 9, 2013.  (Vern Fisher/Monterey County Herald)

Alvarez Swim Team, April 4, 2013

The Everett Alvarez High swim team does a cheer prior to their meet against Salinas High on April 4, 2013.  The 65 members strong swim team has stepped up to the blocks with strong individual and team performances this year including nine school records already being set. 

(Vern Fisher/Monterey County Herald)

Spring Wildflowers, 3/27/13

This Padres Shooting Star wildflower photographed in Toro Regional Park in Salinas gives testament to how fleeting and delicate the annual wildflowers are in our area. 

Clearing Storm, Feb. 13, 2013

Weather systems producing any significant rain this year have been few and far between.  When a small cold system moved through Monterey County on February 13, I noticed some very interesting cloud formations around Moss Landing on my drive home.  I realized with the setting sun and clearing cumulous clouds there was a chance for a interesting sunset.  Here are the results.

Cancer Research Doctor David S. Terman

A few weeks back I was assigned to shoot a photo of cancer research Doctor David S. Terman. Terman is studying a theory that sickle cells can be used to choke a tumor. 

I shot a few frames of Terman speaking on his couch and then asked if he had any items that he uses in his research that I could photograph him with to help illustrate what he does. At first he couldn't come up with anything, as we were away from the lab. So I just shot a few more portraits of him on the couch. 

Then he remembered the overflowing piles of paperwork on the desktop of his home office and we ran downstairs to take a look. I made some frames of the doctor surrounded by the same clutter that filled some of my former professors' offices... which must surely be the sign of genius. 

Cancer researcher David S. Terman M.D. stands amongst piles of research and patent work paperwork in his home office in Pebble Beach, Calif. on Friday January 11, 2013. Terman runs the Jenomic Research Institute in Carmel. (Photo David Royal/ Monterey County Herald)