Los Angeles Valley College - Crown Yearbook (Valley Glen, CA)

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By Vanessa Finan Illustrated by Robert Lachman Ah, to be a photographer. A life of Riley. All you have to do is click the shutter, and you've got it made. If you think these are the qualifications for newspaper photojournalists, you're material for a good argument with Los Angeles Times Staff Pho- tographer Bill Varie. But before you attempt to knock down the walls of lericho, perhaps a little insight into the day and the life of Bill Varie will cure you of the deadly snapshot disease. Eight a.m. Assignment: photo story on the Am- track train system. lf he decides to accept-of course he does, considering that photo stories are his forte. In his car, equipped with the latest model in police radios, Varie leaves his Agoura oasis and heads up the coast to an Amtrack train station in Oxnard. His main objective is to photograph the train enroute, therefore necessity demands that he find a picturesque setting. Traveling up the coast, it soon becomes evident that the professional makes more stops than a Greyhound bus. While looking for the perfect location, the keen- eyed photographer saw two repairmen working on the Amtrack rails, which in a matter of hours, would be occupied by the train. Taking into consideration another possible aspect of the train system, he proceeded to pictorialize the repairmen's efforts on film. The thing about a photographer is he should always be open minded and always accept and observe things that he doesn't plan on because those usually will make the best pictures, said the Valley College instructor of photography, Talent seems to run in the Varie family. So does iournalism. Wife Patricia is a reporter for the Valley News and Green Sheet. Photography is in the Mind Varie stops to include an Amtrack railway repairman in his photo essay. 40 lt's just a matter of what I call, and what I teach, 'seeing imaginativelyf Seeing in terms of a picture. The whole thing is in what you see, he stressed. The way I teach photography, technique is very important, but it's only a tool. Everything else is in the mind. So, once you have the technique, then it's up to your mind to create something. Then use your body and your camera to come up to what your mind has created. Three hours and several stops later, the pho- tographer decided on a location which he felt was effective background area for the train. The assignment was more or less stabilized, and with the permission of good weather, virtually no elements disrupted the assigned shooting. However, Varie explained that assignments often had to ac- commodate unforeseen disruptions. He said ele- mental factors such as weather, misinformation, and unexciting surroundings often limited a photograph- er and his pictures. Working under the doctrines of professionalism, the photographer explained when elements prevent him from competently fulfilling his assignments, a degree and understanding of respect is practiced among employer and employees in the professional media.

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lt's something we all can have fun with, Cicotti says, although his Marlon Brando poster, Official Mafia plaque, and assorted knick-knacks do nothing to downplay the image. This is not to give the impression that Bruno sits at his desk all day, speaking with a gravely voice and guarded by two amici with machineguns, his chair is barely worn in as he scrambles from committee to committee, finance to budget, ad- visory to athletic meetings. Bruno's had his problems, though. I don't like to make people feel unhappy, I like to make them feel at home, he says. But sometimes I just get too involved, The baseball umbilical still hasn't been cut, though. Currently, Cicotti is commissioner of the California junior College Baseball Coaches Associa- tion, college representative to the Metropolitan Conference, and author of the new state baseball playoff system. He still coaches some baseball, El Camino Real High's entry in the prep winter leagues, but misses the steady duty of supervising horsehide, leather, and wood. A college presidency is Cicotti's next goal, but they just may have to invent a new name for it when he arrives, What an impression he'll make - wearing cleats and a baseball uniform, guarded by two machine- gun-carrying Mafiosos. Who knows - the godfather may set education ahead 50 years. A day s work done, Cicotti relaxes with his wife, Carol amidst the dusk rays of the sun. Cicotti, former head coach of VaIley's baseball team currently coaches his son Brad's team, the Yankees.'

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There should be a degree of respect as far as employee and employer relationships, he said. The employer knows that you're going to do the iob and do it well. But at the same time, there are certain circumstances that prevent one from doing a good job, and it's not the photographers fault. The talents and experience of Bill Varie are not reserved solely for the professional media. Students enrolled in his Photography 23 class would be the first to appreciate this situation. As a photography instructor, Varie explains the best education for photographers is taking pictures and wanting to be a good photographer. lf you want to be a good photographer, you're never going to really be happy with your product, and you're continually going to be striving for a better product, he said. Youfre going to be self- examining yourself all the time, striving for some- thing better with every picture. After fulfilling his responsibilities to the L.A. Times and teaching, Varie manages to devote time to working on a book. Amazingly enough, the subiect matter is photography. No one could argue that the photographer has a hard time getting along with reporters. Why, he even went so far as to marry one. His wife, Patricia, is a reporter for the Valley News and Green Sheet. Since meeting his wife at San lose State College, where both were studying journalism, a third mem- ber has been added to the family. Cara, their white German Shepard dog, rules over the Varie domain in Agoura. A talent in her own right, Cara is credited with many professional quali- ties revered in the dog world. Varie explained her vast realm of talents, include sitting down, shaking, rolling over, opening Christmas presents, and when I want her to, we can howl together, he said. However, Cara has her price. Her price is a people cracker. They have people crackers in various shapes, the photographer ex- plained. They have mailmen, firemen, and police- men. I think she likes the policemen most. Having a darkroom available to him at all times, Varie finds it easier to make his deadlines. U