Best Photos from our Readers and Staff

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PRESIDENT’S DAY PATRIOTISM

Photo by Robert Gehr

February 29, 2024 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon shows its patriotic spirit on President’s Day.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: WATERFALL AT MISSION TRAILS

East County News Service

February 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- January's heavy rains created waterfalls in many rocky areas across East County.  Rod Lagace sent in this beautiful photo of a waterfall that formed at Mission Trails Regional Park after the storm.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: COYOTE PAIR

January 27, 2024 (Ramona) -- Joe Cortez photographed this pair of coyotes chilling out in the Ramona Grasslands County Preserve. This biologically diverse 3,541 acre preserve also supports 23 butterfly species, 21 reptile species, six types of amphibians, 37 mammals, over 100 types of birds, and 408 plant species. You can visit on your own, or join a docent-led guided excursion.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY PARADE

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2024 (San Diego) – Tim and Susan Taylor sent in these photos from this weekend’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in San Diego. Participants carried messages in support of Reverend. King’s goals including freedom, equality, peace, and love triumphing over hate.

Others called for an end to gun violence.

Participants came from across San Diego County, including students San Diego State University and Gompers Preparatory Academy, shown below.

 

 

 


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: RESCUED PUPPIES IN RAMONA

East County News Service

Photos courtesy of CalFire San Diego

December 20, 2023 (Ramona)—The crew from Cal Fire’s Station 80 rescued nearly 20 animals from a barn fire in Ramona earlier this week, including these adorable puppies.

Unfortunately, one animal perished in the fire on Ramona Real.


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THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR LAKESIDE’S SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ON MAINE

By Shiloh Ireland

December 12, 2023 (Lakeside)-- Thousands of merrymakers attended Lakeside’s Spirit of Christmas on Maine event December 2.  

The event along Maine Avenue featured vendors, local merchant displays, food trucks, dance and vocals from local middle schools, community information booths, animals, local dignitaries, a band, classic car show, Lakeside Rodeo And Bulls Only Queens, Lakeside pre-teen and teen queens, Lakeside Fire Department, Lieutenant Katra of San Diego Sheriff Lakeside office and much more.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BEAUTIFUL BOULEVARD

November 5, 2023 (Boulevard, CA) -- Benjamin Hayden took these scenic shots earlier this year in Boulevard, a high-desert town in San Diego's East County.

From colorful sunrises to dramatic sunbeams, the photos depict spectacular skies over mountains, rocky terrain, and ridges topped with wind turbines.


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PHOTO OF THEWEEK: SOLAR ECLIPSE

October 15, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—Jake Christie of East County snapped this shot of yesterday’s solar eclipse, shot through a welder’s mask.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: OPEN HOUSE AT THE LAKESIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Story and photos by Shiloh Ireland

October 15, 2023 (Lakeside) -- On Saturday, September 30, Lakeside Fire Protection District held its annual Open House featuring department trucks and an ambulance, a Sheriff department K9 demonstration, a REACH helicopter landing, face painting for kids, a dunk- a-firefighter booth and agencies with booths and demonstrations. The event brought a full house of guests, with firefighters serving hot dogs and hamburgers to the crowd of smiling faces.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: BOBCAT IN JAMUL

October 2, 2023 (Jamul) -- Fabrice Borel of Jamul snapped a photo of this beautiful bobcat, which was so close he says he thought it might jump into his vehicle.

California, where hunting bobcats has been illegal since Jan. 1, 2020, now has an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 bobcats, according to the California Fish and Wildlife Dept. 


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THE MIGRANT CRISIS IN PHOTOS

By Rebecca Person

Photos by Rebecca Person and photographers who asked to be anonymous

October 1, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- Waves of border crossers quietly filter into the high desert towns of Jacumba Hot Springs and Boulevard in the farthest eastern corner of San Diego County.

Local residents and volunteers there respond with rounds of water and supplies. Surprisingly, many locals are unaware of the human drama unfolding all around them. Some who do encounter bands of migrants on back country roads use caution, fearing arrest for assisting illegal border crossers.


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WINNERS IN LAKE JENNINGS PHOTO CONTEST

September 28, 2023 (Lakeside)--Helix Water District announces the winners of the 2023 Lake Jennings Photo Contest, with this year’s first place in the adult category going to photographer Billy Ortiz of Lakeside for his image “Reflection.” (Photo, left)


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: ELECTRICAL STORM LIGHTS UP COWLES MOUNTAIN

August 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) –Michael Adam Cohen, award-winning entertainment reporter and photographer, shot these surreal images of a lightning storm over Cowles Mountain,  as Tropical Storm Hilary drenched our region.

The first image, viewed from  Mt. Helix,  makes Cowles Mountain appear to be an island floating in a foggy sea. In reality, those are clouds obscuring Interstate 8.

The second images shows  multilpe lightning bolts creating a dramatic light show in the skies above Cowles Mountain, which is located in  Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPACEX ROCKET OVER EAST COUNTY

July 22, 2023 (Campo) – Mary Simmonds snapped this dramatic image from Campo of a SpaceX rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on July 19.

The Falcon 9 rocket launched 15 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit.

You can also view video of the rocket taken by Henri Migala at these links:


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: COUNCILMAN GETS A SCARE AT COMICON

 

July 21, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick sent in this photo of his reaction to a monster he encountered at Comicon.  A childhood fan of comic books, Councilman Kendrick credits reading Superman comics with teaching him the important of being respectful to everyone, a value he strives to follow in his civic duties as an elected official.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SHOWING PATRIOTIC SPIRIT IN LAKESIDE

July 5, 2023  (Lakeside) – Shiloh Ireland sent in these photos of spectators and participants celebrating our nation’s birthday at the Lakeside Patriotic 4th of July Parade yesterday.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MEMORIAL DAY IN EAST COUNTY

May 31, 2023 (San Diego’s East  County) –Shiloh Ireland sent photos of East County Memorial Day commemorations, including changing of the flag on the bridge at Santee’s Veterans Memorial on Mast Blvd.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: MISSING MAN TABLE

May 28, 2023 (Lakeside) – This Memorial  Day weekend, the Boll Weevil in Lakeside set up a “missing man” table to commemorate prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action who never came home.


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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE LAKESIDE RODEO

East County News Service

May 25, 2023 (Lakeside) – Shiloh Ireland took photos behind the scenes for two days leading up to the Lakeside  Rodeo last month.

 

Just eight seconds is considered a successful bull ride.  Bulls released into the arena briefly weighed between 1,800 to 2,000 pounds each. 


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE RODEO AND WESTERN DAYS PARADE

By Shiloh Ireland

May 13, 2023 (Lakeside) - Lakeside Rodeo, which is Lakeside's largest event of the year along with the parade, was Thursday through Sunday, April 27th. - April  30th. And the annual Lakeside Western Days Parade rolled out on April 29th. and it too was a fun-packed venue and family event.

ECM was at Texas Roadhouse Restaurant in El Cajon and spoke with and photographed the 2023 Rodeo Lakeside Queens, Emily Cullins, Miss Rodeo Lakeside and Junior Miss Rodeo, Stella Erb, who were greeting guests and signing autographs. They were at the rodeo and signed autographs and rode in the parade.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BALD EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT AT LAKE MORENA

East County News Service

May 2, 2023 (Campo) - Scott Lagace snapped images of a Bald Eagle taking flight at Lake Morena in rural East County.

 

 

 


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: AZTEC STARS VISIT VALLEY FARMS MARKET

Photo by Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2023 (Spring Valley) – With Aztecs men’s basketball advancing to the “final four” for the first time in the team’s history, Aztec players Nate Mensah (left) and Matt Bradley (right) stopped by Valley Farms Market in Spring Valley earlier this week to meet shoppers and pose for pictures with fans, as well as with the store’s owner, Derek Marso (center).


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BOOT DRIVE FOR BURN INSTITUTE

March 22, 2023 (Lakeside) – Shiloh Ireland snapped these phots of firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Department collecting donations for the annual Boot Drive in March. Proceeds benefit the San Diego Burn Institute.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

March 15, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Chuck Cibulka snapped this photo of a beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on pink lantana blooms in La Mesa.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EAST COUNTY SNOW

By Rebecca Person

Photo, left:  Shane Marie - Boulevard

March 7, 2023 (San Diego's East County) - East County’s high desert communities saw a better-than-ever snowfall this winter and many residents have captured scenes unusual to the area in Campo, Jacumba, Live Oak Springs, Boulevard and Bankhead Springs.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: WILDLIFE AT LINDO LAKE

March 4, 2023 (Lakeside) – No, that’s not a penguin at Lindo Lake in Lakeside. Here’s how photographer Shiloh Ireland described this startling image.  “I took out the camera and thought I would look for something unusual. Well, the animal world is amazing. I was able to take many shots of a mammal with a bird, the heron hanging out in harmony with the squirrel.  Nature is beautiful."


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: IN-KO-PAH SNOW

March 2, 2023 (In-Ko-Pah) – Greg Curran sent in these photos of a rare snowfall blanketing In-Ko-Pah in the high desert, near the Desert View Tower and Boulder Park.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: HAIL IN ROLANDO

East County News Service

February 27, 2023 (Roland) -- A rare hailstorm pelted much of San Diego County on Saturday night.  Pat Bennett of Rolando sent in these photos, stating, "I have lived in San Diego for 55 years and have never seen more than a few hailstones fall. Tonight, my garden, deck, patio furniture and roof were covered with it!"


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SNOW PLAY IN SANTA ISABEL

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2023 (Santa Ysabel)-- The weekend storm brough snow to unusually low levels in San Diego County's mountains. With  popular destinations such as Julian, Cuyamaca and Mount Laguna blocked except to residents and chains required in the morning, followed by traffic jams when some highways later opened, ECM's editor and photographer headed to Santa Ysabel instead.

Visitors pulled off alongside the highway were enjoying building a snowman and tossing snowballs, with dogs frolicking in the snow. Several motorists paused to pose for pictures with horses standing just behind a barbed wire fence.

Blue skies,puffy clouds and sunbeams warming the terrain completed this idyllic scene.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WILDFLOWERS BLOOMING IN RAMONA

East County News Service

February 27, 2023 (Ramona) – Looking for wildflowers? You don’t have to go all the way to Anza-Borrego.  Henri Migala took these colorful photos of a hillside abloom in orange and yellow daisies along the Old Julian Highway in Ramona yesterday.

If you’ve found a great place to view wildflowers locally this spring, send your photos and the location to editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

 


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