Whether something becomes a cover package...

Whether something becomes a cover package for the Daily Pilot

often depends on the quality of the art. Many times we don’t know

what the package will be until the art is shot.

That was the situation this week when I left to cover the rose

garden dedication at California School in Costa Mesa. The cover story

was a toss up between the Ring of Lights competition, part of the

Newport Beach Boat Parade, and the dedication. There was some

concern, as Ring of Light photo ended up sans winner (it was a photo

of the actual house) and no one knew how the garden shoot would turn

out.

Usually I stress over situations like this, but this time I was

more optimistic.

As I headed down the hall at the school, I saw the newly

landscaped rose garden with one wilted rose in it and a speakers

podium. This is when the glass that was half full became half empty,

and I started to worry.

But as I rounded the corner, I immediately saw a group of students

huddling together, consoling one another as they remembered the

teacher they lost to cancer, Ellen Rose. There was no question about

it, this was the picture. -- Sean Hiller