Photography

The best event at the Orange County Fair is absolutely free. No, it's not the All Alaskan Pig Races. The magician? Good guess, but it's not him either. Nor is it the singers, the dancers, the livestock or the exhibits. That's because the best event at the fair -- at least for the Daily Pilot's photography staff -- is people watching. Where else can you see a child carried next to an enormous stuffed dog on her father's shoulders. How about a man in a kooky hat?

Surf company Ocean Pacific is hosting a film festival with surf movies, a photography exhibit, live music, and prize giveaways from Friday to Sunday at the Lido Theater, 3459 Via Lido, in Newport Beach. The event is being held in conjunction with the O.P. Newport Classic Surfing Championship, which is at 56th Street in Newport Beach through Saturday. Taylor Steele's newest release, "Campaign 2," is kicking off the festival on Friday. On Saturday, the lineup includes "Tom Curren: Trials to Title," documentary film "Flow," Surfing Magazine's 1984 classic, "20 Years of Surfing" and a theatrical premiere of Ira Opper's "Fin."

The Daily Pilot visited seventh- and eighth-graders at TeWinkle Middle School and asked, "What are you most looking forward to in publications class?" "I'm looking forward to putting a lot of input into the yearbook and the newspaper. Since we don't have any limits, we're really starting on our own." MELISSA FACKLER, 13 Costa Mesa "I'm looking forward to putting my ideas into the newspaper, because this is the first time we'll be able to do this."

The opening ceremonies at the Orange County Fair, which featured the Hodads at the Heritage Stage, were made much more attractive thanks to the roller-skating waitresses from Frisco's Diner. The fair offers many side-stage acts with artists performing for the crowd. When you see this year after year, it becomes pretty mundane. The addition of roller-skating beauties was genius and it made the Hodads' act so much more energetic. A dozen girls in pink skirts dancing on roller skates in front of the stage made the Hodads' '50s tunes even more alive.

Talk about a lucky break. In what could easily have been a much more serious crash, a local woman?s speedy right turn on Santa Ana Avenue in Costa Mesa steered her straight into a photography studio, police said. Mercedes Castellanos-Constantino, 46, was cited for driving without a license Wednesday afternoon after police said she drove her car into Belle Amie Studios, 1720 Santa Ana Ave., while making a right turn into an adjacent driveway. The store owner said that the crash occurred during the only time slot during the entire month when her studio was empty.

Painter Bill Denham recently took first place in the 2008 Orange County Artist Juried Exhibition for his oil painting “Newport Back Bay Low Tide.” The exhibition last weekend at Newport Beach Central Library featured 225 entries from 75 local artists ranging from painting, sculpture, photography and jewelry — a record number of entries for the event, which has been held each spring for more than 20 years. Other award winners include Narek Bagdagulyan, second, for his sculpture “Ancient Bath;” Wendell Stanley, third, for his photograph, “Crystal Cove, Clearing Storm;” and Barbara Ruffini, honorable mention, for “Buenos Aires Building.

A Newport Beach photographer accused of having sex with an underage teenager and his fiancée accused of facilitating the abuse pleaded not guilty Monday following a judge’s ruling last month that the case could go to trial. Jason Ellis, 34, is accused of sexually abusing a girl between 14 and 15 years old after his fiancée, Michelle Hecker, 32, allegedly lured the girl into his photography studio with promises he would turn her into a model. Ellis was arrested during a traffic stop by Newport Beach police in July, and Hecker turned herself in to police days later.

The California Coastal Commission is currently hosting its fourth annual Amateur Photography Competition in an effort to "pay tribute to the resources it is mandated to protect -- California's spectacular coast and ocean." All interested amateur photographers who earn less than 50% of their income from photography have until March 15 to send in photos that depict California's scenic coast, the way people use the coast and coastal wildlife. Photos must be taken from a public place and should be in color.

A listing of special events to entertain you through the weekend and beyond. TODAY Listen to Irish tunes. The Fenians will present a free courtyard concert for the Orange County debut of their new CD, titled "Have Fun or Get Out," at 3 p.m. in the courtyard of Muldoon's Dublin Pub, 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. The Prodigals, a popular Irish rock band from New York, will make a guest appearance. (949) 640-4110. SUNDAY Hitting the high notes.

Some photographers use stands, tripods, giant lenses and backpacks full of equipment to capture the perfect photo. But Irvine Police Lt. Julia Engen used her slender Droid X smartphone to snap a shot of the rolling hills and wooden bridge at Strawberry Farms golf course. Engen was one of five finalists among 30 people who submitted entries into a city employee photo contest as part of the celebration for Irvine's 40th anniversary of incorporation, according to city spokesman Craig Reem.