Director of Photography

Michele Cardon

Orange County Register Director of Photography Michele Cardon has worked at The Register for more than 25 years. Her editing skills have been honored by the National Press Photographer Association, Society of News Design and Pictures of the Year. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Journalism. As a Register photo editor, Michele has covered events such as the World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Championship, Oscars, Emmys, Los Angeles riots, and the Laguna Beach firestorm.

Location: Orange County, California, USA

Trestles Pro winner Yago Dora of Brazil gets some air as he surfs his way to a win at San Onofre State Beach south of San Clemente on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Photo highlights from the Trestles Pro Finals

June 16, 2025 at 5:01 p.m.

Brazilian Yago Dora and Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson triumph at Trestles Pro

Graduates prepare to walk before Villa Park High School’s graduation ceremony at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, OUSD)

Villa Park High Graduation 2025: Our best photos of the ceremony

June 13, 2025 at 10:29 a.m.

Villa Park High handed diplomas to its graduating class on Wednesday, June 11.

Anti-ICE Protesters hold up signs and wave a Mexican flag while standing on an electrical box at the intersection of State College Blvd. and Gene Autry Way, in front of Angel Stadium, in Anaheim on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Protesters rally outside Angel Stadium against ICE sweeps in Anaheim

June 13, 2025 at 9:35 a.m.

The peaceful protest drew about 200 people, and later turned festive, with music and dancing in the street.

Protester run from police as they use tear gas and flash-bangs at the Federal Building in Santa Ana, CA, on Monday, June 9, 2025. About 400 anti-ICE protesters spent the afternoon carrying signs as they chanted and yelled at police. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Photos: Santa Ana Police declare riot as immigration raids spark day-long protest

June 9, 2025 at 10:25 p.m.

Protesters said officers initially used pepper bullets, later switching to rubber bullets.

Marinelli Brothers performed on the Wheel of Death earlier this year in Arcadia. Circus Vargas is back with a “Hollywood Dreams!” theme for its 2025 show, which pays tribute to Hollywood’s Golden Age. The two-hour performance features artists, aerialists, acrobats, comedians and daredevils. Circus Vargas is hosting shows at Buena Park Downtown, 8308 On the Mall, from May 16 through June 9. For more information and tickets. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Circus Vargas comes to Buena Park

May 22, 2025 at 4:40 p.m.

This is the final OC location of 2025.

Lulu and her owner, Cynthia “the dog lady,” Lopez, perform a duet during the Silverado Days Mutt Show in Buena Park on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

SCNG wins three National Headliner Awards

May 14, 2025 at 7:03 a.m.

Photographers Mindy Schauer and Mark Rightmire and reporter Scott M. Reid are honored.

Pope Francis makes his way into the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as 25,000 people cheer him on in 2015. He held a canonized mass for Father Junipero Serra on his first U.S. visit. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County/SCNG)

Photos: Pope Francis dies at 88

April 21, 2025 at 5:37 p.m.

Pope Francis last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square.

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels high fives teammates wearing a fire helmet after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning of a baseball game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Photos: Angels’ 2025 home opener

April 4, 2025 at 10:55 p.m.

Take a look at highlights from the team’s home opener against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday at Angel Stadium.

Katy Perry performs during the FireAid benefit concert on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

FireAid Photos: From Nirvana’s reunion to Billie Eilish to Stevie Nicks

January 31, 2025 at 4:11 p.m.

Pop stars, rock legends, first-responders and wildfire survivors came together for FireAid, a star-studded, two-venue benefit concert that stretched into the early-morning hours today to raise money for those affected...

Firefighters battle winds and flames as multiple beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Photos: Palisades fire erupts as thousands flee their homes

January 8, 2025 at 10:04 a.m.

Air tankers and water-dropping helicopters could be seen making drops as firefighters from the across the region rushed to the scene.