Aug. 21, 2008
To whom it may concern:
I worked with Herman Bustamante on and off for more than eight years at the East County Times and its predecessor, the Ledger Dispatch. During this time I found him to be not only a wonderful photographer but also a conscientious hard worker who could be relied on to rise to any occasion to get the job done, and done well.
As a news photographer, Herman showed a good eye to capture the essence of news events, including everything from sports to theatrical events, environmental portraits, social events, public meetings and breaking news. With decades of experience in the field, he has considerable skill in using and processing both black and white and color film and digital photography. He is well-versed in the use of a numerous camera types and lenses of a wide variety of focal lengths.
Herman also has a high level of expertise in the use of Photoshop and other photo software. In fact, it was Herman that all the other photographers turned to when they had questions about computer software, hardware or photography equipment. Herman was especially a great mentor to the more novice photographers who came his way, serving as a willing and patient teacher to many. For a time, he also worked as a supervisor, ably directing other photographers and scheduling assignments.
In carrying out his many assignments, Herman worked well with reporters and editors and established good rapport with his subjects in the community. A good representative of the newspaper, he was so well-liked subjects often requested that he be the shooter for their assignments. In addition, reporters and editors alike enjoyed working with him because he always had good ideas and was eager to help in any way possible.
There is a huge void in our office since Herman decided to leave. Any company, school or institution that is able to hire him will be a lucky one. Herman is a highly reliable, talented, hardworking photographer who is a joy to work with. If you have any further questions about him or his work, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Judith Prieve Gutierrez
Assistant City Editor
East County Times
(925) 779-7178
