Photography

Mark R. Madler Nicholas G. Vasu, owner of an award-winning animation photography studio, has died. He was 78. Vasu died Monday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. His animation photography company, Nick Vasu Inc., became a training ground for special effects creators and animators and for many years did work for "Charlie Brown" animated specials and Warner Bros. cartoons, said Chuck Martin, Vasu's stepson. "He had by far the biggest camera service in Hollywood at the time and the most prestigious," Martin said.

Jeff Tully BURBANK -- "Pop quiz. What do the photograph and baseball have in common? They both officially were invented in 1839 -- though baseball's debut is in fact tougher to pin down -- and they both stop time, permitting us to retain in our mind's eye what in 'real life' passes before us too quickly," John Thorn from the 1988 book "The Game for all America. From its early beginnings, the game of baseball has had its history and pageantry documented by photography.

Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra officials are hoping to create a harmonious blend of the visual and performing arts at the free classical music concert on Saturday. Local high school students will display photographic illustrations they’ve created, and all ages can try out musical instruments before the concert in the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. John Burroughs High School’s advanced photography class has created the illustrations of composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” said Lynda Willner, of Glendale, who is president of the philharmonic’s board of directors.

Disappointing Melissa Brown of Montrose is an artist. In some ways it seems unfair to be unduly hard on an accomplished actor/director such as Robert Redford. I think his average film is more watchable than most. But quite frankly, I was bored with this movie, its story and its local golf hero. The nostalgic backdrop to the film created an air of unreality (c'mon, there's nothing dreamy about America's Great Depression) while failing to develop the theme of golf and its enduring mysticism.

TODAY An environmental clean-up event is at 8 a.m. at the Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 Walnut Ave. For more information, call 238-5440. Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-Step group for people suffering from compulsive overeating and other eating disorders, meets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Magnolia Park United Methodist Church, 2828 Magnolia Blvd. Meetings are free and confidential. For more information, call 881-4776. Blind and visually impaired people and their families and friends meet at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of every month to provide support and discuss available services.

Send DATEBOOK items to Burbank Leader, 111 W. Wilson Ave., Suite 200, Glendale, CA 91203 or fax to (818) 241-1975. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. TODAY Brand 35: 35th National Juried Exhibition Works on Paper: "Borders" is continuing at Brand Library & Art Center in Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. The show closes Jan. 19. The event is hosted by the Associates of the Brand Library & Art Center. Eighty-five works on paper in a variety of media, including watercolor, etchings, photography, drawings and mixed media works, have been selected for display by Juror Jim Morphesis, a Los Angeles painter.

Burbank Adult School is offering several new photography classes in the photo department at John Burroughs High School. All classes begin next week. The following classes are for 16 weeks: Beginning black-and-white photography from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays. Fee is $60. Color photograph from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Fee is $65. Digital photography from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Fee is $65. Advanced black-and-white lab class for advanced students is from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The lush landscape and vivid colors found at Descanso Gardens are an inspiration for actress Angela Cartwright. A photographer since her parents gave her a Nikon camera on her 16th birthday, she now creates hand-painted photographs, enhancing black-and-white images by applying transparent oil paint. Following a successful career in television ("The Danny Thomas Show" and "Lost in Space") and movies ("The Sound of Music,") she took some time off to raise her children.

Shoppers in the market for one-of-a-kind, handmade artwork, and families looking for daytime entertainment could satisfy both desires at the Burbank Fine Arts Festival next weekend. The two-day, open-air marketplace on June 21 and 22 will feature more than 100 artists showing their works, which will range from sculpture, photography and oil paintings to handicrafts like jewelry and accessories along San Fernando Boulevard from Magnolia Boulevard to Olive Avenue in Downtown Burbank.

A local aerial photography firm is doing its part to scour the nation for dwindling water sources. Burbank-based I.K. Curtis Services Inc. employees in 2007 flew into the Mojave Desert with an infrared camera to assess the area’s water demand. The photos are used by the Mojave Water Agency to capture areas of water usage. “The specialized film used for this project picked out vegetation in a very discernible way that allows analysts to determine how much water is being used, and whether that level of water demand is consistent with groundwater supplies and allocations,” company President Rick Harter said.