VENTURA : Youth Honored for Civic Photo Survey

.R. Valenzuela is a 13-year-old boy who likes to build model trains, play violin and collect what he calls “bits of urban archeology.”

The eighth-grader rented a camera and combed Ventura last spring for artifacts of the past, which he found in the city’s fountains, buildings, statues, bridges, roofs and lampposts.

By the time he finished, he had created a 60-page booklet that includes photographs of more than 80 structures in Ventura.

“When you go out there for the purpose of looking, it’s amazing what you find,” J. R. said. “Children probably see the city different than adults. The object of my book is to give the average resident a real beautiful look at Ventura.”

J. R. was honored Friday by Ventura’s Historical Preservation Commission for his work in creating a photographic survey of architecture in the city. As his parents, John and Janna Valenzuela, watched, J. R. received a certificate from the commission commending his effort.

A student at Anacapa Middle School, J. R. had been given a $50 grant for his project from a parent support group for Ventura Unified’s Gifted and Talented Education program. He did the photography project as extracurricular work for the program, which includes 828 students.

Some of J. R.’s favorite buildings are Ventura’s City Hall on Poli Street and the old Foster Library behind the new one on East Main Street.

Although the book consists of photocopies bound by a plastic comb, J. R. has written the Library of Congress for a copyright number. He hopes to get the book published with a glossy cover and sell it to history buffs and tourists.

“It would be nice to let others see the book,” he said. “I want people to look at Ventura in a completely different way.”