Captain Kilowatt

When you do something considered dangerous for a living, people tend to give you odd names to describe their point of view. Keith Kent would be one of those examples. He is a lightning photographer.

The term Storm Chaser has been used for photographers interested in tornados and even hurricanes because of the fascinating images that nature serves up under these adverse conditions. Their labours are prized by hundreds of publications not just because the pictures are intriguing but because they are unrepeatable. One also does not get the chance to really look long and hard at such disasters to learn or even emotionally digest the occurrences - much better to see the thing printed on paper than be at its mercy…

Lightning is a little different. It too is fleeting and dangerous. The difference is knowledge and predictability. There is not predictable pattern to tornados or hurricanes. But lightning has the 1001, 1002 going for it. Under the right conditions and armed with information one can somewhat predict when lightning will strike; sadly, however, not where. For the lightning photographer it takes intuition.

Keith has a few techniques up his sleeve that help him get amazing shots of lightning. He will set up multiple cameras on tripods and set the shutters to various speeds. He sometimes used a metronome to help him keep timing accurate while he either opens or closes a shutter. Occasionally several strikes will be caught in a single image. Sometimes a beautiful strike will be captures by only one camera and it will be too far to the side to be effective for Keith’s agents. But that is the nature of the job.

The other main problem of the lightning photographer is the actual storm. They are not daily, weekly or even monthly occurrences. The best are in parts of the country that have few, poop or no roads to access. Mr. Kent’s favourite area for breathtaking strikes is Tucson, Arizona. There three mountainous regions focus warm air into a central column often creating thunderheads – the birthplace of lightning. When a bolt manifests the distance between ground and cloud it makes for a superior visual impact. It can be referred to as Tall Sky.

And sky is what Keith likes best. He is a pilot. His favourite sport is Ultralight flight. He has made several of these craft himself, redesigning existing designs to fit his needs. He often mounts a video camera onboard so he can share the experience with others. His website (www.thinkultralight.com) is being redesigned so he can spread the excitement of Ultralight flight.

And if that wasn’t satisfying enough he has over 1000 parachute jumps… but that’s another story.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July Issue,lightning photographer,Ultralights,thinkultralight,Captain Kilowatt,Niki Chanel

Destination Women

It takes a village… and two women to create a special place where women join together to help each other! The village is "Hillside Village", at the intersection of Via Valmonte and Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. The two women are June Grossberg, owner of Concepts in Yarn & Needlepoint and Loretta Pierce, CEO & President of Master Design Clothing. The place is Destination Women boutique, a charming store with a whimsical theme filled with new, ever-changing treasurers that will delight every woman.

This shop is special in that the merchandise is mainly provided by women, sold by women (volunteers) and financially supports women through charities. The one-of-a-kind accessories and fashionable outfits are deeply discounted, yet of superior quality. Designer clothing, like Gever Originals of LA, hobnobs with paintings, antiques, furniture, hand-made dolls, gorgeous hand knitted sweaters and an ever changing array of creative gifts and keepsakes. The environment, whimsical and bright, the people friendly and approachable make for an easy and validating experience. One can go to peruse… or seek advice.

But the real difference here is the painless fund-raising for women’s issues. A percentage of all purchases are donated to a charity of the customer's choice. A growing list of approved charities is presented at the time of purchase, such as the YWCA of the Harbor and South Bay, H.E.L.P. (Healthcare and Elder Law Programs and Counseling), the Salvation Army of Torrance and Susan G. Komen-Breast Cancer Foundation, to name a few. Volunteers earn a modest commission, thereby helping to employ women with limited time available to work. The customer pays less, the sales force earns a percentage and choice charities and their recipients all benefit, too - it’s a win-win-win!

The boutique goes further than a discount store, sponsoring "events" like Mary Frances Handbag trunk shows, crocheted wire jewelry demonstrations by Mary Austin and the upcoming display of the extensive, nationally famed Annalee Doll collection. The store also sponsors make-up demonstrations showing how to wear makeup as an accessory, consultations and demonstrations on Mastering Color. Stacy Gross-Eldredge CPCP, takes appointments, educates and demonstrates Permanent Cosmetics techniques and tattoo removal. Many more interesting and exciting events are scheduled.

Another unique aspect of Destination Women is that June and Loretta are both entrepreneurial designers; they bring with them extensive business experience and know-how to assist and support other women in their quest for success. Master Design Clothing, Loretta's company, is considered to be the authority in dressing women in business for over 27 years. She provides high-profile fashion to business-women, helping to improve their status in the professional world. “Dressing with success in mind is a business strategy".

June, who has tremendous flair with style and color says, "You can't get away from people judging you by the way you dress." Both women stress how important it is for women to make a "personal style" statement!

The new website, www.destinationwomen.com is becoming another pillar of the organization. There, one can learn more about the charities acknowledged by the boutique and, as the site evolves, new and exciting interactivity will be added. Of special note: a survey designed to find out what causes cancer by delving into the personal habits of women who have experienced it first hand. This is extremely important as it goes further than faulting heredity or exposures to dangerous materials; it will collect personal information (possibly like sleeping habits, exposure to plants and animals, cosmetics) giving researchers more information to work with in an effort to find a cure. This is truly women helping women!

Destination Women is a consciousness-raising spot to meet other women, share stories and be a part of their successes. Come visit this fabulous find and see how women are benefited on all levels, helping other women in the process!

The shop is located at 24576 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, Ca. 90505, in the Hillside Village Center at the intersection of Via Valmonte and Hawthorne. You may call Master Design for more information. To volunteer, please call 310.375.6361.

See you there!

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July Issue,Destination Women,Concepts in Yarn & Needlepoint,Master Design Clothing,Gever Originals of LA,Annalee Dolls,Stacy Gross-Eldredge,Niki Chanel