see seeing saw

Max

2009-06-09T20:47:00.001-07:00

Doin' his thing.

BENNY and NEW WEBSITE

2009-06-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

Benny in beautiful light.

Also wanted to let everyone, or anyone, know that I'll be moving my blog over to jakobschiller.com/blog pretty soon here. If you haven't seen my new website, check it out!

jakobschiller.com

Blessed by Jesus

2009-05-24T08:42:00.001-07:00

The watermelon was damn good.

Dangerous Roads

2009-05-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

New Mexico is famous for its roadside crosses. These are just a couple from my drive today along the road from Albuquerque to Farmington.

A day in the life

2009-05-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

Carson Coon, 2. From Easter celebration at the Mason house.

Rest in Peace Kitty

2009-04-15T11:55:00.001-07:00

We will always love you Kitty. You brought so much joy to our lives and it will be so hard to be here without you. Know that we will always, always think of you, and know that you you touched us in a way that changed us forever. We miss you so much.

Ya Tenemos Un Perro

2009-04-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Everybody, meet Benny. We just got him yesterday and we're already in love. He has one eye (someone shot him in the eye with a BB gun) and a huge heart. Wanna come meet him?

He's a little timid, and our cat is not super happy, but we're working through it. We're super happy to have him in our lives.

Que Viva Benny!

LA FAMLILIA

2009-04-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

Stood my nephews in the middle of the street in the wonderful New Mexico light and told them to show me their muscles. Love it.

Poco a Poco, ya voy

2009-03-18T21:24:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to say that I will have a post soon! I finally ordered a camera and a laptop and can start to make snaps again.

Ya Basta!

CHAINS REQUIRED

2009-02-12T07:48:00.001-08:00

Bulls and Geldings 2009

2009-01-29T18:33:00.000-08:00

I love this event in Red Bluff. More to come on the stock dog competition.

PRAYER

2009-01-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

Roger Yellowknife, a Marine Corps veteran, and a member of the Hu Puus Witam Native American Color Guard, uses eagle feathers to pray Friday during the burial service for James Swett at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery.

BORED

2009-01-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

I'm not too old to remember what that feels like. In Circuit City for a going out of business story.

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

2009-01-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

I walked into one of the trade school classes offered for local high school students and immediately saw this guy. He was responsible for handing out and keeping track of all the tools the students used to work on cars. I made him pose for a portrait.

LOVE

2009-01-16T10:14:00.001-08:00

Going out of business

2009-01-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

They are dropping like flies in Redding. In business for 45 years.......

YA BASTA!!!!!!!!

2009-01-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

A protest in Albuqueruqe against the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

Diamond Rings

2008-12-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

It was their anniversary. They were married on the bridge exactly a year ago.

Fire and Ice

2008-12-17T17:33:00.001-08:00

It's sorta starting to feel like winter here. Sorta.

Deja Vu

2008-12-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

Just burning slash, but the smell of smoke definitely stirs the memory. This is also another Craig Fritz inspired photo.

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T18:57:00.001-08:00

Fire

2008-11-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

I have never seen so much fire in all my life

Even in Redding

2008-11-09T18:15:00.001-08:00

You know you live in the sticks when.....

2008-10-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

the highway patrol responds to:

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
8:15AM HERD OF DAIRY CATTLE IN RDWY

Love it.

MARRIED

2008-10-20T12:42:00.001-07:00

She's 91 and he's 88. The wedding is October 25.

There is no one I know...

2008-10-16T16:03:00.003-07:00

who has not been touched by cancer.

Preview for an upcoming story.

Que viva La Virgen

2008-10-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

Driving home from Sacramento.

RAIN

2008-10-04T23:47:00.000-07:00

Whoops.......

2008-09-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Who are your influences?

2008-09-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

After a summer of running around on fires I was fortunate to spend a day photographing on an old train that connects two little towns here in Northern California. It's not a real commuter train, more of a tourist attraction. Nonetheless, it was one of the most relaxing days I've spent all summer and much needed.

During the trip, I had the opportunity to borrow work from some of the photographers I look up to most. The red-hatted conductor immediately reminded me of a photo made by Craig Fritz from a project he shot on the rail yards in Albuquerque. When he made that shot and showed it around (his is of a conductor standing between two trains with a sliver of noon-day light falling directly on him, and it is amazing) I admit I didn't get it right away. But I stored the information away, and as soon as I saw the noon-day light hitting this young man, I knew it was a good thing I had paid attention. I didn't really come close to making as nice a frame as Craig, but it was nice to relive that moment back in Albuquerque and understand the learning curve I've been on.

And the second shot, this one of the hand, is thanks to Greg Kahn. Again, my shot is nothing compared to his, but it was fun to make it and remember Greg's work. His shot is from NASCAR. All it is is hands gripping a fence (people waiting to get a glimpse, I think, of their favorite drivers) and then all of a sudden, one of those gripped hands breaks free and points towards something in the distance. It's beautiful. And I'm glad I paid attention when I saw it.

Here's to being influenced and inspired by great photographers.

REMEMBRANCE

2008-09-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

She lost her son in the August 5, 2008 helicopter crash near the Buckhorn Fire in Trinity County.

9/11

2008-09-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

Bigger (thanks to Josh)

2008-09-09T11:01:00.001-07:00

You'll see that my photos are now bigger thanks to my homie Josh!

Thanks Josh!

QUEENS

2008-09-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

The 44th-annual Queen Scholarship Program at the Inter-Mountain Fair. A good ol' fair queen contest at a tiny little fair in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere.

Ridin'

2008-09-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

Police ride along. This boy's mom called the cops on him because she couldn't control him. He is seven and disabled and has been living in a motel room with his mom and two siblings. It was completely gut wrenching and awful.

On and On, 'Til the Break a' Dawn

2008-08-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

Wind fueled craziness almost every day this week. And fire season doesn't end until October.

Winds

2008-08-27T11:52:00.001-07:00

The scariest fire I've been on all summer burned through the heart of Redding yesterday. Gusty winds pushed a fire down a gully and into town next to the river and botanical gardens. It didn't get any houses, but it had the potential too.

CANALS

2008-08-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

Look familiar?

New Mexico

2008-08-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

I've run into firefighters from New Zealand, Wisconsin, etc., but was yet to run into my people from New Mexico. That was until yesterday, when I ran into the Gila Hotshots. Problem is, they didn't know that the media in California can pretty much go anywhere we want. I showed up and they got super scared and pretty much escorted me out. It wasn't worth dragging it out, but the Forest Service got a piece of my mind later that night for not letting people know the rules. I drove 200 miles and came back with 20 frames. That makes me mad.

A Moment of Silence

2008-08-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

At 7 p.m. last night, all firefighters on the Iron Complex (the complex of fires where the helicopter crashed) stopped working and took a minute to remember the firefighters who died in the crash. This crew was out working on the west end of Buckhorn Fire. The helicopter went down on the north end of the same fire.

From the sky

2008-08-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

We went up to try and get photos of the helicopter crash site outside of Redding. It was too smokey and they wouldn't let us below 10,000 feet because other aircraft were in the area. But another photographer was able to get in yesterday. I pray fire season ends soon so everyone can go home safe.

We run on a lot of breaking news

2008-08-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

YOGA

2008-07-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

I hiked nine miles into the Trinity Alps Wilderness to do a story about firefighters who camp out for up to 10 days and battle a blaze burning through very steep forest near a bunch of old gold mines. All together it was 25 miles of hiking in two days and took every ounce of strength in me. Yoga probably would have helped.

The President is Coming, The President is Coming

2008-07-14T19:07:00.001-07:00

These fires have put us on the map. Two huge cargo planes and several helicopters landed in Redding today in preparation for the President's visit.

EVACUEE

2008-07-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

She spent the night watching TV, pacing the road and sleeping on the front porch of the town store because the fire prevented her from returning to her house.

I Love Planes

2008-07-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Except when they drop fire retardant on you.

And the sky fell.....

2008-07-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

The photo staff was just hauled into a meeting and told that one of our positions was almost cut to half time. Then they said that they had figured a way to keep all three of us at full time. We, the photographers, are now on the cops reporting rotation. For one week at a time, we are responsible for coming in at 7 a.m. and writing cops briefs.

I'll let you decided what you think about that.

AND THE WINDS CAME

2008-07-09T00:06:00.001-07:00

They were getting the fires under control until the winds came.

2008-07-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

TIRED

2008-07-02T16:15:00.001-07:00

Some of the fires are not supposed to be out until August.

Burn California, Burn......

2008-06-27T22:57:00.000-07:00

There are like 1,000 forest fires in this state at the moment.

GAY MARRIAGE

2008-06-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Shasta County joined the rest of California yesterday by legally marrying same-sex couples for the first time.

COUNTY FAIR

2008-06-18T08:11:00.001-07:00

GRADUATION

2008-06-13T10:42:00.001-07:00

A(F)PAD

2008-06-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start a new photo website called A Fire Photo A Day. Who wants to join? If you live in California you should have no problem coming up with at least one a day. Today I think we ran on four?

Anyone think ML will help me get the site started?

FRITZ

2008-06-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

Northern California is catching fire like 10 times a day. At the small brush fire today, I tried to channel a little Craig Fritz of the Albuquerque Tribune but didn't even get close.

Nonetheless, I want to thank Craig for making the ordinary interesting and inspiring the rest of us to try.

OUTSIDE

2008-06-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

My friend Eli came up for a long weekend and we got out. Out to the lake, out to some fishing, and out on top of a mountain. More pictures to come, but the first round is from today when we climbed Lassen Peak, 10,457 feet.

There is just something about mountains......

MEMORIAL DAY

2008-05-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

GUNS

2008-05-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

A venture crew member (boy scout affiliate) at the Redding Gun Club shooting trap.

Bodies Revealed

2008-05-24T16:26:00.001-07:00

Outtakes from an exhibit here in Redding called Bodies Revealed. Quite an amazing show, with incredible diagrams of the human body, all made from real bodies.

Big

2008-05-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

Redding Rodeo

2008-05-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

"It's not about the hat. It's about what's underneath the hat."

15 Minute Break

2008-05-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

OLD FRIENDS

2008-05-04T15:34:00.001-07:00

GRADUATION

2008-05-02T22:10:00.001-07:00

BOW TOURNAMENT

2008-05-02T22:02:00.001-07:00

National Day of Prayer

2008-05-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

FEATURE

2008-04-28T16:42:00.001-07:00

It hit 90 on Saturday. It supposedly gets to be 115 here. I will be camping on the shore of a nearby lake or in the Sacramento River all summer so I can get in the water when it gets that hot. Florida was hot. But not that hot.

DESIGN

2008-04-24T21:05:00.001-07:00

We've had good picture play lately which has forced us to think harder about editing and design. Nobody has very much experience with all this, but we have a great design desk who is enthusiastic and it's so nice to see your pictures used well. We have a LOT to learn. No joke. But it's a start.

2008-04-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

"It was a mistake"

2008-04-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

This is from a story today in the paper. The Sheriff apologized but the Rodeo officials claim they wanted my photos to help them with the investigation.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/apr/22/officials-remain-tight-lipped/

A sheriff’s deputy providing security and a Red Bluff Round-Up official interrupted and then prevented Record Searchlight photojournalist Jakob Schiller from taking pictures of the accident until the ambulances had left. State law allows members of the media to enter areas otherwise closed to the public for emergencies.

Schiller said he had been in the sports medicine trailer, photographing a doctor treating a bronco rider with a broken leg, when someone burst in saying a bull had hit the doctor’s wife. Medics already were loading victims onto stretchers when Schiller and others burst from the trailer.

Schiller said he stayed near the trailer, next to the Tehama District Fairgrounds general office, using a telephoto lens. A sheriff’s deputy told him he should not be photographing the accident aftermath, Schiller said.

Told about the incident on Monday, Parker said his deputy had acted incorrectly when barring the photographer from access.

“That’s against my policy,” Parker said. “We know you guys have a job to do. If it happened, it was a mistake and we’ll correct the mistake and it won’t happen again, I hope.”

Shortly after the deputy confronted Schiller, a Round-Up official approached him, put an arm around him and led him to a place where he could not photograph the victims.

Froome said the Round-Up official had asked Schiller to leave a restricted area as part of an emergency procedure.

“We want to control the area to allow the folks that need medical attention to get it and make sure no else is hurt and make sure the animals are not hurt,” Froome said. “We want to assess the whole situation while being protective of everyone’s rights. It’s no different than a fire drill.”

Froome later demanded to see Schiller’s photos. Schiller refused to share them. Asked about that exchange Monday, Froome said he had wanted to review the images to help the Red Bluff Round-Up in its investigation of the accident.

“That whole situation was less than a minute,” Froome said. “If there is no documentation, how can you go back and say, ‘This is how it worked?’ That’s why the FAA investigates plane crashes.”

1ST AMMENDMENT IN RED BLUFF

2008-04-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was at the rodeo in Red Bluff when a bull jumped the fence and got into the crowd. We don't have all the details still, but as far as we know he injured six people and several went to the hospital, nothing critical, but at least one person is still being monitored.

At the time, I was actually in the sportsmedicine trailer with a rider who had just broken his leg. When I ran out, they were carrying people into ambulances. It took me a second to get my head around what was happening, but as soon as I did I started to try and make pictures. A young girl was lying on a stretcher being responded to by paramedics so with a long lens I stepped back to make a picture. Almost immediately, I was confronted by a Sheriff's deputy who told me I did not need to be making pictures of this situation and that I need to give the family space. I was already fairly far back, but in the commotion, I decided to give them space and go around to the back to another angle, again with a long lens. At that point I was confronted by a rodeo official who stood directly in my line of site and then told me to leave the situation. Another official proceeded to then corral me until all the ambulances left.

I argued my case, as respectfully as possible with both the deputy and the official, telling them that I was only doing my job and absolutely trying to stay out of the way. Neither budged.

As a photographer, I hate these situations. The last thing I want to do is invade someone's space during a tragic event. But it is my job to report on the news. Period. At no point did I get in the way of emergency workers, and at not point did I try to get in the face of any victims. And, the rodeo was held on a public fair grounds.

The result is that I came away with one bad picture that does very little to report on the chaos of the scene. Again, I would have much rather the event not happened. But it did, and I was kept from doing my job. The fact that I was prevented from making pictures was reported in the article we ran today and there has been an enormous response by the readers, most criticizing the deputy and the rodeo officials for restricting me. My photo editor and the editor of the paper are meeting to figure out how we will respond.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/apr/21/bull-jumps-fence-at/

It's straight out of a handbook on the 1st Ammendment and I feel like I am back in my law class for journalists.

RED BLUFF

2008-04-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely getting those cowboy boots.

MAS Y MAS

2008-04-19T17:10:00.000-07:00

I DO NOT LIKE....

2008-04-19T15:50:00.001-07:00

car shows. But I'm not a hater.

The Greeter

2008-04-17T09:18:00.001-07:00

Jay Miller, the greeter at a retirement home, waits for a local breakfast joint to open so he can get a cup of coffee before heading to work. This is just one frame from a little story I'm working on.

SIGNS

2008-04-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Someone once said "No pictures of signs!" I can't remember who, and I'm not sure if I agree or not.

'TIS THE SEASON

2008-04-08T11:51:00.001-07:00

For rodeos.

UNHAPPY

2008-04-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

FLIRT

2008-04-05T16:35:00.001-07:00

High School Rodeo. High School Flirting

Knee

2008-03-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

Snow

2008-03-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Snowboard competition. Mt. Shasta Ski Park.

War

2008-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Last week the city of Redding dedicated a new war memorial.

Recovery

2008-03-14T09:43:00.001-07:00

Sherri Montalvo, 28, former meth addict trying to piece her life back together. This one is from her GED test this week. More to come.

Strong

2008-03-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

71 years old. Can't stop. Won't stop.

Love and Hate

2008-02-19T15:48:00.001-08:00

People in Redding love to comment about the paper. Here are two links to recent stuff I've been involved with and the reaction. Scroll down.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/feb/15/vets-code-pink-square-off/
http://www.redding.com/news/2008/feb/19/car-crash-victim-dies/

Witness

2008-02-18T19:12:00.000-08:00

I spent the afternoon in a hospital with friends and family of a young man who was taken off life support today.

Dont Mess With.....

2008-02-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

people in Redding who support the military. CodePink had a "Make Out, Not War" anti-war protest in front of the Army Recruiting center in Redding on Valentines Day. They were outnumbered two-to-one by supporters of the Military. At points it got a little heated.

Rainbows

2008-02-13T18:45:00.000-08:00

Sun. Water. Rainbow. Tadaaaa.

Losing Mike

2008-02-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/feb/10/a-life-lived-and-lost/

A couple photos and a link to multimedia piece I did about a couple who are coping with the after-effects of a severe stroke.

Pringles and the Bus

2008-01-29T09:24:00.000-08:00

Shot on the bus yesterday for a story on possible route changes. Nice piece of light and a can of Pringles.

A treatise on trees

2008-01-26T22:00:00.000-08:00

Highway 99, California Central Valley.

YMCA in the rain

2008-01-26T21:58:00.001-08:00

Bulls and Geldings

2008-01-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

One of the first assignments I got to shoot up here in Redding was the Bull and Gelding sale down in Red Bluff. For those of ya'll that don't know the word Gelding (I didn't) it means castrated horse. It's a week-long event that originally started in the 40s after the Depression and was meant to create a market for farmers and ranchers to sell their livestock. It's now grown into one of the largest livestock events in the West. At the sale, bulls and geldings are examined, judged, and then finally sold. There were other events including a stock dog competition, vendors, etc. It was a lot of fun, and I've decided to buy a pair of not cowboy boots, but something like cowboy boots. That way I fit in a little more and have something to wear when I'm tromping through the sh%^ and mud at the next sale. Let me know what you think, if you're so inclined. The feedback is much appreciated because I need it. I hope everyone is well. Luv......

Part 2

2008-01-25T20:37:00.001-08:00

2008-01-23T21:56:00.003-08:00

I will post a real piece of journalism soon, but I couldn't resist. I was driving home from a bull sale (welcome to Redding) and saw this on the way. Mt. Shasta just sat there illuminated and I had to pull over. Holy, moly..........

2008-01-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

And then there was Northern California........

I am finally here, sitting in the living room of my new apartment in Redding, CA having completed my first day at work. I still have Florida in my bones and can't seem to warm up, but also feel right at home and can't wait to explore all that is this place.

Some very important people in my life helped me move up to Redding over the weekend and then we all spent the weekend before my first day exploring the mountains north of the city. This waterfall flows into the headwaters of the Sacramento river and was one of the most spectacular places I've seen in a while.

Thank you Bessma, Eli and Abby for an incredible weekend..... You don't know how much it meant to me.

2008-01-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Asleep...............

Been hanging in New Mexico with la familia y la novia and relaxing......and getting ready to move back to Cali. The quick update is I start work out in Redding on Jan. 21, J.O.B. That's right, full-time.....

Bought a new car in NM, been eating green chile when my stomach permits and enjoying my home. There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home...........

Abrazos para todos and more to come soon.......

2007-12-29T09:59:00.000-08:00

Well Florida.............

This should be my last post from Naples as I move onto the next thing. Which, if you haven't heard, is a jobby job in Redding, CA. I drive out of Florida on Monday, will spend a couple weeks in New Mexico and then start in Redding on Jan. 21.

There is too much to say in some lousy blog post, but I still want to say something................

I guess what stands out most is all I've learned since I've been here, all I've learned about myself, about photography, about a part of the world I never thought I would get to know like I have. I've missed home like crazy, and I'm excited to go to California, but Florida will always be in my heart. I tell the story about flying in over the gulf one day and looking down at the ocean, the mangroves, and feeling at home. Who would have through some kid from the mountains of Northern New Mexico could feel at home in SWFL, but it happened. I'll never forger what it feels like to be out in the swamp, or float on my back in the ocean.............

And a lot of why I felt so at home here was of course the people. You know who you are, but I can never thank you enough for taking me in and making me feel at home. I can never thank you enough for helping me to grow professionally and as a person. I look back at the work I've done here and I'm really, really proud. I've learned so much as a photographer and I finally, finally feel like I can stand on my own two feet behind the camera. I have so much to learn, but the experiences and skill I've gained here have set the path for me. And don't ya'll think you're off the hook so easy. I am going to bug you for edits from now until my fingers can't press the shutter button any more.

Here's to SWFL, here's to my people..........

This is only see you later.........

Hasta Pronto,

Jakobo

2007-12-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

I shot the 50th anniversary of the local greyhound dog track last night and was able to get right up on the track during warm-ups. Elvis and his back-ups were performing at the edge of the field as part of the celebration. Elvis and greyhounds, love it.

see seeing saw

Max

BENNY and NEW WEBSITE

Blessed by Jesus

Dangerous Roads

A day in the life

Rest in Peace Kitty

Ya Tenemos Un Perro

LA FAMLILIA

Poco a Poco, ya voy

CHAINS REQUIRED

Bulls and Geldings 2009

PRAYER

BORED

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

LOVE

Going out of business

YA BASTA!!!!!!!!

Diamond Rings

Fire and Ice

Deja Vu

Veterans Day

Fire

Even in Redding

You know you live in the sticks when.....

MARRIED

There is no one I know...

Que viva La Virgen

RAIN

Whoops.......

Who are your influences?

REMEMBRANCE

9/11

Bigger (thanks to Josh)

QUEENS

Ridin'

On and On, 'Til the Break a' Dawn

Winds

CANALS

New Mexico

A Moment of Silence

From the sky

We run on a lot of breaking news

YOGA

The President is Coming, The President is Coming

EVACUEE

I Love Planes

And the sky fell.....

AND THE WINDS CAME

MORE

TIRED

Burn California, Burn......

GAY MARRIAGE

COUNTY FAIR

GRADUATION

A(F)PAD

FRITZ

OUTSIDE

MEMORIAL DAY

GUNS

Bodies Revealed

Big

Redding Rodeo

15 Minute Break

OLD FRIENDS

GRADUATION

BOW TOURNAMENT

National Day of Prayer

FEATURE

DESIGN

"It was a mistake"

1ST AMMENDMENT IN RED BLUFF

RED BLUFF

MAS Y MAS

I DO NOT LIKE....

The Greeter

SIGNS

'TIS THE SEASON

UNHAPPY

FLIRT