Old Town Temecula

CALIFORNIAN GO!: Arts & Entertainment for July 3-9, 2011

SUNDAY, July 3

"Parker Collection: Images of the Brush Country" ---- Dr. Horace Parker, "Parkie" to his friends, grew up in Temecula when the town was quite remote and very rural (his father was the last railroad attendant at the Temecula Station). A veterinarian, Parkie and his wife lived and worked in Orange County for many years. He became a researcher, historian and writer, picking up interesting bits of Southern California history, and put together a series of columns called "Brush Country Journal." See the photographic collection of Parker's "Brush Country Journal" in this exhibit that continues through Aug. 28; museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays (closed Mondays); Temecula Valley Museum, Sam Hicks Monument Park, 28314 Mercedes St., Old Town Temecula; 951-694-6450.

"Robots + Us" ---- The Western Science Center hosts the "Robots + Us" exhibit through Sept. 11. The exhibit explores what it means to be human by examining the lifelike machines humans build, and includes hands-on activities and many videos showing robots from movies, popular literature and research labs. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; Western Science Center, 2345 Searl Pkwy., Hemet; $8, adults (13 and older); $6.50, seniors (62+); $6, youths (5 to 12); $6.50, students (13-22 with current ID); free, youths age 4 and younger and military with current ID; 951-791-0033, westerncentermuseum.org .

Praise Him With Dancing 2011 ---- Presented by Dunamix Dance Project. An encouraging performance of dance, your heart will be touched by this meaningful show presented by Dunamix dancers. Ages 3 through adult, beginning through professional; 3 p.m.; Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula; $15-$18; 866-653-8696, temeculatheater.org .

Classics at the Merc ---- Featuring "Americana!" with Lori Bell, flute, and Diane Snodgrass, piano; 3 p.m.; The Merc, Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula; $11 adults and $5 students); 866-653-8696, temeculatheater.org .

The Four Tops & The Temptations ---- The Four Tops are among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s. They had a stream of hit singles, including two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There." Formed in Detroit in 1960, the Temptations have always featured at least five male vocalists/dancers. Known for their choreography, distinctive harmonies, and sharp suits, the Temptations have been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles are to pop and rock. Having sold tens of millions of albums, they are one of the most successful groups in music history; 6 p.m.; The Arena, Soboba Casino, 23333 Soboba Road, San Jacinto; 866-476-2622, soboba.net .

Jennifer + Shawn : Old Town Temecula | Temecula Wedding ...

On Sunday, June 19th, we were back in what has now officially become my favorite location to photograph engagement portraits — Old Town Temecula. On this day, I was photographing Jennifer Williams and Shawn Percival, whose wedding I will be photographing on Friday, September 30th at Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula — which also happens to be one of my favorite weddings venues.

Jennifer and Shawn hired me to photograph their wedding not only because they liked my work — although it didn’t hurt that Jennifer’s best friend is also a wedding photographer and she also liked my work — but also because when I met them at our studio for their initial consultation, they made it clear that they we not comfortable posing in front of the camera. Excellent! My style of primarily candid-style weddings and portraits would fit in perfectly with their tastes.

Of course, formal portraits typically require a blend of candid with a touch of pose setups — just to ensure that the backgrounds look good, the lighting is right, and that the subjects posture is flattering to them. The first shot below was from the first stop on our “tour” of Old Town Temecula, and was actually the seventh shot of the session. Everything came together on this shot. After sitting Jennifer and Shawn on the wooden steps, and shooting a few eye-level warm-up shots of them, I jumped up onto a pillar surrounding one of the posts that supports a balcony above us. From my perch, I had them look up at me (because everyone looks just a bit better when looking up, I think), and I clicked off this shot. I knew it was good when I clicked the shutter, so I couldn’t help but peek at the LCD display on the back of the camera to see if my vision worked as I’d planned. It did! I immediately hopped off the pillar and showed the image on the back of the camera to Jennifer and Shawn. They loved it! From that moment, their confidence picked up immediately and they were my “super models” for the next hour.

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