A Scenic Path to Learning Photography

Joanne Chase Mattillo has taken the same photo for ten years: A path that seems to trail into infinity, framed by curved trees.

Joanne volunteers monthly to lead photographers on a free, public nature walk through a scenic trail of the 588-acre King Gillette Ranch for a program dubbed

She leads participants to locales ideal for picture taking and offers tips as well.

Her husband, John Mattillo, tags along to help guide the walks. John is especially talented at finding inhabitants of the mountains just in time for his wife and her group to snap photos. 

"[Trails] are a bit mystical," said Joanne, who earned a masters in fine arts with an emphasis in photography from California State University, Los Angeles and is a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Community Adult School during the week. "You know what paths you've been on, but after [the photographs are] developed, you've created something that wasn't there before."

The path is brimmed with photographic opportunities beginning at a pond rich with local birds near the contrasting white structures erected for King C. Gillette, the shaving razor magnate. Then, Joanne leads participants through a trail with countless oak trees, native flowers and the occasional large mammal or reptile. 

Thousand Oaks resident Karen Maloney tried her hand at wildlife photography Saturday, following the tips and advice Joanne had to offer. 

"I can see every little detail," said Maloney while looking through her digital SLR's viewfinder.

Maloney crouched down to get a close-up shot of a yellow flower known as the sticky money that's native to the Santa Monica Mountains, per Joanne's advice. When snakes, lizards or the occasional deer crosses Joanne's path on the two-hour walks, she encourages participants to patiently adjust their settings until they are confident with their composition.

"I've never gotten so close to something with my camera," Maloney said.

The next wildlife photography walk is scheduled for June 11 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. "Capture a Moment in Nature" is open to people of all ages.

There is a $7 parking fee to park in the King Gillette Ranch lot.

The 588-acre ranch is owned and cared for by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area unit of the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and California State Parks, according to the Los Angeles Mountains' website.