Jose Chica foreman of Dragt Farms irrigates a silage field on Ave. 296 near the Tulare/Kings County line © Visalia Times-Delta.

Just before was about to start my 45 minute commute to work, my photo editor called me and told me that news was slow and they had a huge hole in the front page. Assignment was to get “free art” something weather themed as we had had an odd combo of rain followed by clear skies, followed by rain again, all in the same day.

I saw this image as a sped past at 60 mph, turned around, took the image, got his name and was back on the road, only added 15 minutes to my drive to work. My photo editor was very pleased with the image, as it was exactly what he wanted. My turnaround time on the assignment was so fast that the page editor went from not knowing how to fill his page to having his page ready to go 6 hours before deadline.

Posada

Chelsea Cruz, 8, of Tulare (as the shepherd girl), Krystal Chavaz, 7, of Tulare, (as Mary), Logan Johnson, 7, of Visalia (as Joseph) and Alyssa Johnson, 5, of Visalia (as an Angel), all first cousins, conduct a posada (a Latin American Christmas celebration) at the Tulare home of their aunt. © Tulare Advance-Register

Shooting this live nativity scene I asked the family to ID the children. Several of them gasped (after reviewing the image on my camera back) because the angel looked like she had a real halo.

How it was done:
The halo effect was my solution to a distracting part of the image. A hanging lamp was sticking out from behind the subject’s head(s). After taking several frames trying to work aroundit, a little light went off in my head. Put the lamp directly behind the angels head and open of the exposure so the light cascades across the ceiling. There you have it from distracting element to best part of the image just by moving a few inches.

Fire, 53 minutes after midnight

Hanford volunteer fire fighters Logan Braz, left, and Jared Bracy, right, fight a fire at 115 West Elm Street. The home was unoccupied because the renters had moved out earlier that day. It was is a total loss, the home to the West sustained moderate damage, and the home the East sustained minor damage. © Christopher A. Zumwalt

The Hanford Fire Department is not far from my home, when a fire happens I know about it because they roar past my house. Sometimes think my friend Fire Marshal Bill has them blow their horn right as they pass my window to wake me up (not a pun on the SNL Character, I really have a friend named Bill who is a Fire Marshal).

Sometimes people I photograph don’t make it.

Alejandro Montoya, 15, center of Exeter, who survived "Ewing sarcoma" a type of cancer and is in remission for the third time in five years, makes handprints on a flag that he made at a camp for kids and there families who have or have had cancer. On right is Montoya’s brother Martin, 8, and on left is his Mother Victoria. The Greek Orthodox Church sponsors this camp at St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat. Montoya died with in a year of this photo being taken. © Visalia Times-Delta

I was going though my photo archives, and was surprised how many images I found of people who are no longer with us. Some old, some young, and I imagine a lot I don’t even know about have pasted. Not long ago I used to photograph between 2-3 thousand people a year (many of them military & military family)

Makes you realize how important photography is. The images I make, the little slices of life will outlast us and be a visual reminder to those left behind.

FAQ

Nikon or Canon?
Both, I am currently using a Canon cameras but unhappy with the company in general and hope to switch back to Nikon.

Can I buy print(s) of your work?
Yes prints of my work are(will) available at http://www.zumwaltphotos.printroom.com

Do take editorial/advertising/wedding assignments?
Yes I do, please contact me so we might discus your project.

Many of the photos on your blog are not listed on printroom?
Unfortunately my former employers hold the copyright to many of the images on my blog, if you would like to contact them for prints click the link under that image.

Some of the images on your blog look like they were taken some time ago?
I have been making images sense the mid-90’s and only recently started bloging. Instead of letting them rot in my archives I like to post and comment about images that I feel are relevant to current times.

Do you do pro bono work?
Yes I do a few pro bono projects a year. The project must be for a "charitable organization”.
Non-profit social cubs & trade organizations don’t count. I am happily work with you to come to an agreement that fits your needs/budget. But please understand pro-level digital cameras are expensive and go out of date every 18 mouths, along with the other bills I have to play like rent/gas/food.