Plan B

Orville Neeley for XL

2012-01-11T12:36:00.000-06:00

As Joe Gross put it in his write up of OBNIIIs, "Orville Neeley is a @!#$*% rock star." This guy puts on an intense and physical show. Catch him at Beerland one of these nights.

Eleanor Kitzman for the Dallas Morning News

2012-01-05T12:46:00.000-06:00

Took a trip to the Hobby building to photograph the new Texas Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman. My father worked for TDI back in the 80's and I recall watching the Fourth of July fireworks over Town Lake from one of the balconies. The skyline has radically changed since those days and even the lake has been renamed. Still fun to reminisce.

Almost tall enough

2011-12-06T14:04:00.000-06:00

Winter has finally hit Texas with a big chill. Just posting an outtake today from those beloved warmer days when a light breeze and a river view are perfect for daydreaming.

The Last UT Hex Rally for Reuters American Service

2011-11-28T12:50:00.000-06:00

The annual Thanksgiving game between the University of Texas and Texas A&M has come to an end. The rivalry that started in 1894 has grown to be one of the most revered match-ups in the NCAA. With A&M's move to the SEC next year, and Texas' non-conference schedule full through 2018, it will be a long while before these two teams meet again.

The University of Texas holds a hex rally the week before the big game, a tradition started in 1941 to break a curse and string of losses to the Aggies. Burning red candles during the rally has (arguably) led Texas to win 75 of 118 games.

This last rally was bittersweet for Horns fans and students. They added another W to the record last Thursday, but everyone wants to know when the rivalry will be born again.

Sophia

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

Sophia Villarreal is the talented, funny, sweet niece of a good friend. She's applying to colleges and doing tryouts for dance departments. We spent a few hours playing with light and her amazing moves. Hopefully the photos will help separate her from the pack.

We met at the tail-end of a long day, but this shoot made my week. I caught the energy of an amazing young woman with the world before her. Good luck Sophia! Can't wait to see where you fly next.

Holly Bolt Removal

2011-11-07T12:59:00.000-06:00

After fifty years of infighting between residents of East Austin and the city, Austin's Holly Power Plant is finally coming down. The turbulent history of the facility, erected in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the 1960's still feels fresh for many residents who turned out to remove the first bolts.

I live a few blocks from the power plant now and used the see the steam rising over the water on my way to high school back in the 1990's. As this transition takes place - the demolition, the clean-up, and the development of new parkland - I wander around my neighborhood documenting the change, getting to know my neighbors and the history that's simmered here for decades.

Mark Simmons for the Statesman

2011-10-21T11:58:00.000-05:00

Many yards look just as depressing as the lakes during this record breaking drought. Mark Simmons, ecologist and director of the Ecosystem Design Group at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, has shown that combination native grasses outperform Bermuda grass in surviving tough conditions. There may be a small silver lining to the current extreme conditions as more people make a jump to native species and invest in water catchment. We've got nothing to lose but dead yards.

Dog Kayaking for the Statesman

2011-10-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

I love dogs and all things on the water, so this was an assignment made in heaven. Spent a few hours with a canine paddling class at the Texas Rowing Center. The class was impressed I jumped into a boat with my camera gear, but who can say no to kayaking with dogs?

Cash Robinson for the Statesman

2011-10-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

Nine-year-old Cash Robinson has been to every Austin City Limits Festival. He attended his first when he was just 10-months old. Cash recently got an electric guitar and is already banging out AC/DC's 'Back in Black.'

Janell Smith for the Statesman

2011-10-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

Janell Smith, a black belt martial arts instructor, teaches women and teens the techniques of self-defense. FitCity reporter Pam LeBlac and I sat in on a class at the School for Performing and Visual Arts in downtown Austin.

Lucy Morrison, 13, center, raises her fists for a punching exercise during a self-defense class taught by Janell Smith.

Aleta Neill, 13, center, raises her fists for a punching exercise.

(Left to right) Aleta Neill, 13, Cady Boyd, 15, Lucy Morrison, 13, and Katie Knight, 14, practice an escape technique during a self-defense class taught by Janell Smith, a black belt martial arts instructor, at the School for Performing and Visual Arts in downtown Austin.

Janell Smith, right, demonstrates an escape technique with Statesman Fit City reporter Pam LeBlanc, left, during a self-defense class at the School for Performing and Visual Arts in downtown Austin.

FitCity for the Statesman

2011-10-21T11:23:00.000-05:00

Nothing like a few FitCity assignments to make me feel like a lazy slug! For a series on trainer/client duos I photographed Stephanie Flores and Erin Griffin at o'dark-thirty in the morning at J. Nettles Gym. Griffin has dropped 90 pounds, completed three half-marathons, and returned to competitive soccer in the three years she's worked with Flores. You can read more about Stephanie and Erin and other trainer/client teams here.

Drinking on the Comal for the Wall Street Journal

2011-10-18T13:50:00.000-05:00

Playing a little posting catch up from the end of the summer.

The city of New Braunfels passed an ordinance that will ban disposable containers such as beer cans on the Comal and Guadalupe rivers within the city limits. More than 10,000 visitors a weekend come to float on the water or cookout in local parks. The costs of clean-up amount to $155,000 annually, but local business owners claim the influx of money from visitors to the area more than makes up for the litter problem.

The ordinance doesn't take effect until 2012, but this Labor Day Weekend saw a marked decrease in traffic on the rivers and with local businesses. Opponents are gathering signatures to put the issue on the ballot in November. Their motto, Can the Ban. You can read the story here.

SUP Pilates for the Statesman

2011-08-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

I love to play (and work) outdoors. Pam LeBlanc's Fit City columns give me an excuse to do both while on the job. The downside? Getting exposed to fun things I end up spending money on later. It's a first-world problem. I'll live.

A few weeks ago I met Liana Mauro, a pilates instructor with a new delivery platform - all the difficulty of pilates on a Stand-Up paddle board. Being on the water is a blessing and a curse, but you can't beat the view. One of her clients nominated her as one of the best trainers in Austin.

I spent an afternoon chasing Liana and her class around Townlake and came back with only a mild case of poison ivy. Next time I'll borrow a housing and get on the water with them.

Mud Volleyball in Terrebonne

2011-08-26T10:19:00.000-05:00

On my recent family visit to Bend, OR I met up with one of my favorite friends and photographers Sol Neelman for a little weird sports therapy. Sol has made a career of shooting events like the Outhouse Races, Urban Golf, Redneck Fishing, and ChessBoxing among many, many others including run-of-the-mill sporting events - you know, like the Olympics.

Sol's personal passion has culminated in a new book which is easily my new favorite photo volume. It's inspiring to see that come to fruition. In our new freelance paradigm we alone are in charge of our path. As Penny reminds us - "self-assign the dream assignment." Sol's done that and man it looks fun.

Thanks for the good times, Sol. See you in Denver!

MudVB - Images by Julia Robinson

Goodnight's Legacy for Texas Highways Magazine

2011-08-23T15:12:00.000-05:00

Part 2 of the Goodnight-Loving legacy appears in the September issue of Texas Highways Magazine. Editor Griff Smith did a great job culling the take from the 2,000+ miles across Texas it took to shoot the story. Outtakes and the lede are below.

My Obsession with Charles Goodnight began with a nudge from my father, a one-time history major who, as a retired state employee astride a motorcycle, explored historical sites all over Texas and reported his observations back to me. When his father, my grandfather, became seriously ill, those exploratory trips became therapeutic. My dad latched on to Goodnight’s story, and as he lost his own father, he sought out a tale that wove manliness, mortality, and legacy into the mythic story of a man who became legend.

Retracing the Goodnight-Loving Trail, Pt 2 - Images by Julia Robinson

East Austin Parking for the Statesman

2011-08-03T13:52:00.000-05:00

Jesse Flores suffered stroke in March of 2010. His neighborhood just east of downtown on 8th street, was jammed with traffic - visitors to SXSW looking for free parking. The ambulance ride to the hospital, less than a mile away, took over 20 minutes.

Traffic congestion and parking problems in neighborhoods bordering downtown have become all to common in the last three years. Thursday through Sunday nights are filled with constant traffic and loud bar and club patrons return for their vehicles in the early morning hours. With the city extension of parking meters into the evening hours, the problem will only get worse. Flores and other neighbors are petitioning the city for residential parking permits to ease the problem.

Retracing the Goodnight Loving Trail for Texas Highways Magazine

2011-08-01T12:19:00.000-05:00

The August issue of Texas Highways Magazine has part one of a two part series on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, a historic Texas cattle trail, the story of which inspired the Pulitzer Prize winning epic Lonesome Dove. You can link to the article here, or grab a copy at your favorite local bookstore. Intakes and outtakes appear in the slideshow below.

In 1866, a young cattleman named Charles Goodnight forged a partnership with Oliver Loving, an established rancher 25 years his senior, and they blazed a new cattle trail across Texas to Fort Sumner, New Mexico. By 1868, the trail spanned some 2,000 miles, extending into Colorado and Wyoming. And the partnership that started with a handshake in an unassuming hamlet in North Texas became one of the most celebrated legends of the West.

The story of the Goodnight-Loving Trail represents the defining story of the last frontier, before fences and railroads changed the West forever. As a Texan born 100 years after the close of the frontier, I’ve always wanted to see the state as it was then—wide open to anyone courageous enough to take it on. Believing in the power of place to connect us to history, I decided to retrace the steps of Goodnight and Loving to call forth that sense of possibility and purpose.

Retracing the Goodnight-Loving Trail - Images by Julia Robinson

Scott MacPherson for the Dallas Morning News

2011-07-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

Two-time All-American Scott MacPherson has joined Austin's Rogue Running team and is training for the Olympic marathon trials in January of 2012. The Dallas Morning News profiled MacPherson's eating habits for a series dubbed 'Eat Like a Pro'.

Scott was a great sport (pun intended) allowing me to drape him in linguine for a more fun take on the 'athlete with food' photo.

Kids Outdoors Zone for the Statesman

2011-06-20T14:13:00.001-05:00

My relationship with my dad is one of the most important in my life. He's always seemed to 'get' me, always able to pinpoint the exact thing that bothers me or brings me joy. We share the same sweet tooth, an appreciation for small cute critters, and an irreverent, dry wit. I'm immune to most appeals to Hallmark sentimentality, but when it comes to depictions of Dads and Daughters I cry every time.

The Statesman called me last month to spend a morning with a group of girls who recently lost their dads. A faith-based organization called the Kids Outdoor Zone brings them together for a group discussion about their loss and then leads them into the great outdoors. I fell instantly in love with the cause of KOZ.

It was a gray, drizzly morning but the girls were bright spots of love for each other. You can read Joshunda Sanders' story here.

(Left to right) Nicole Basey, Kendal Rhodes, and Amy McInnes say a prayer during a KOZ group meeting on Saturday May 21, 2011. Kids Outdoor Zone is a youth ministry devoted to helping girls who have lost a father.

Destiny Richter, 12, (left) and Salem Severance, 9, right, look for a passage about faith the size of a mustard seed in the New Testament.

CC Vantrease, right, gives a reassuring hug to Salem Severance, second from right, as they lead KOZ group members to an open field for a lesson in tent construction at Mary Moore Searight Park in South Austin.

Salem Severance, left, and CC Vantrease, right, fold up tent poles while singing a song about team work.

Barley Swine for the Statesman

2011-05-19T16:19:00.001-05:00

I've had a series of delicious assignments recently for the Statesman. Thanks, Nell! I shot Bryce Gilmore last year for the Dallas Morning News for his awesome Odd Duck trailer in South Austin. This January Bryce opened a brick and mortar location called Barley Swine, combining his love of all things pork with microbrews from around the country. Brilliant combination. Maybe that's why Bryce was recently named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs of 2011.

There's more than pork on the menu, my favorites, the crab stuffed crepe and barley crumble dessert, are below. You can read the long form review here, but my opinion, two pints up!

Budget Rally for the Dallas Morning News

2011-05-19T15:24:00.001-05:00

This legislative session has been a non-stop series of protests at the capitol over projected budget cuts and shortfalls. Some days crowds swell into the tens of thousands, other days only a handful show up to fight for their cause. Whatever the size, their passion and sense of urgency is the same.

Ron Cranston, center, of Austin, listens to speakers during a Don't Wreck Texas rally at the capitol on April 1, 2011. Several organizations including the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities participated in an all-day rally and vigil while the Texas House debates HB1 the budget bill that many expect will cut funding to state programs and services.

A mock funeral was held on the south steps of the capitol with coffins representing programs affected by projected budget cuts.

Dwight Harris, of Victoria, holds a coffin representing funding for nursing homes during a mock funeral on the steps of the capitol.

Morgan Spurlock for the Dallas Morning News

2011-05-19T15:03:00.002-05:00

Morgan Spurlock, the man who enlightened us and totally grossed us out with 'Super-Size Me,' came through Austin promoting his new documentary 'The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.' Spurlock once again takes us on his personal journey, this time into the land of advertising and product placement.

Thus ends the "5-minutes with famous people" posts.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost for the Dallas Morning News

2011-05-18T18:45:00.002-05:00

The comedic film duo that brought the world 'Shaun of the Dead,' Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, came through Austin promoting their new film 'Paul' about two English comic-book nerds who take an All-American RV roadtrip from Comic-Con to the fabled alien sites in the US. We had five minutes with these guys, but they were the funniest five minutes I've had in awhile.

Susanne Bier for the Dallas Morning News

2011-04-22T11:07:00.001-05:00

Susanne Bier won this year's Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film for In a Better World. I had just heard a great interview with her on Fresh Air when I got a call to make the most of our ten minutes with Bier at the W Hotel in downtown Austin. You can read Chris Vognar's interview with Bier here.

In a Better World explores the themes of bullying, justice, and the cycle of violence in both small-town Denmark and war-torn Sudan, linking the mundane punishments of school children to the cruelty of warlords.

Cascarones at FIESTA for the Wall Street Journal

2011-04-19T13:44:00.000-05:00

Ah, Fiesta time in San Antonio. It's our version of Mardi Gras - 11 days of parades, crowds, adult beverages, delish food, music, revelry, and afterward, mountains of trash.

This year San Antonio's Mayor Julián Castro is appealing to the better nature of the estimated 3.5 million Fiesta-goers asking them to clean up after themselves with a new recycling initiative and more plentiful trash cans. The recycling program has taken off, but does nothing for the millions of confetti pieces left behind from the traditional cascarones. There is an app for that, but so far the analog smashing of egg shells remains the most popular. I'm still finding confetti in my camera bag.

Streets are clean an hour before the gates open on Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) in downtown San Antonio.

Edna Jimenez arranges cascarones for sale in a basket on Villita street. Jimenez has been working the event for 28 years and estimates she sells over 2,000 of the confetti filled eggs each night of Fiesta.

Kieran Mason, 20, left, holds Tyler Knight, 7, center, as Cameron Toomey, 19, right, cracks a cascarone over his head. Cascarones are empty egg shells filled with confetti and are cracked over the head of friends and loved ones for good luck and the fun of it.

Spirit of Community for the Statesman

2011-04-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

Most of my assignments these days boil down to portraits. As a freelancer, most of my calls come after some big news event has happened and editors need the photos yesterday. Whenever I can, I broaden the scope to include documentary shooting. If the deadline is flexible and some meaningful interaction close at hand, I'm happy to put in the extra time. These are the photos that are the most revealing to me, the ones I love to make.

At a recent portrait assignment, I sat in on an interview with Gilbert Ramirez and his wife Jane. Like many east Austin residents, they're worried about rising property taxes and the loss of community as older families move out and new neighbors settle in. Gilbert told me about his neighborhood's communal tool shed and a commitment to help elderly residents with their yard work. There's community spirit in action.

With a long lead-time on publication, I went back a few days later when a group of neighbors came together to help Maddie Collins get her yard into shape for spring. The paper might still run the portrait, but I'm more fulfilled as a photographer, story-teller, and neighbor by making the extra effort.

The Blanton After Dark

2011-04-12T10:22:00.000-05:00

UT Men's Tennis

2011-04-07T11:15:00.001-05:00

I do love good jube. No.2 Virginia swept No.6 Texas 5-2 on the match, but UT senior Kellen Damico had quite a day against UVA.

Senior Kellen Damico, left, and freshman David Holiner, right, celebrate a match point over UVA's Jarmere Jenkins and Sanam Singh during doubles play.

UT Senior Kellen Damico defeated UVA's Jarmere Jenkins in a hard fought three-set singles match. Damico prevailed 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Outtake

2011-03-29T12:52:00.000-05:00

Solar panels and hydrant roping. Gotta love progressive Texas.

Save Texas Schools Rally for the Dallas Morning News

2011-03-29T12:41:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month thousands of teachers, parents, administrators and students marched to the capitol to protest cuts to education spending in the state. Texas faces a budget shortfall estimated at between $15 billion and $27 billion.

The Forbidden Gardens for the Wall Street Journal

2011-02-23T14:01:00.000-06:00

Texas certainly has its share of weirdness. 15 years ago, Seattle businessman Ira Poon invested $20 million to create a miniature replica of China's Forbidden City in a Houston suburb. The 40-acre site also included a miniature terracotta army, like the one that guarded the tomb of China's first emperor.

The Forbidden Gardens museum was certainly quirky and largely ignored by its neighbors in Katy, Texas. Ignored, that is, until the highway department planned a freeway expansion right through the site. Without an alternative location for the exhibits, the museum opened its doors to an all out fire-sale. Droves of visitors came to claim a piece of the display that many had never visited before.

It was a strange day. Elated bargain hunters toted off wheelbarrows full of terracotta while museum employees grieved for their lost jobs and the end of an era. You can read the poignant article by Angel Gonzalez here.

Forbidden Gardens - Images by Julia Robinson

Capitol Rally for the Texas Charter Schools Association

2011-02-16T14:12:00.000-06:00

Had a fun time covering a rally for the TCSA. Parents from all over the state descended on the capitol in support of charter schools. They made their voices heard on the south steps then tracked down their legislators for some tough talk on the looming budget cuts.

TCSA - Images by Julia Robinson

Anne Moore for the Statesman

2011-02-07T12:45:00.000-06:00

New York based designer and milliner Anne Moore has relocated to Austin with a new shop on west 2nd Street. Moore's designs have been worn by Madonna, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts, Isabella Rossellini, Oprah Winfrey, Aretha Franklin and the late Princess Diana. Her hats have appeared in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, New York Magazine, and Cosmopolitan. Her leopard cowboy hats are sure to please the nuveau-Austin fashionistas.

Shearwater for the Statesman

2011-01-31T13:01:00.000-06:00

Once in a while an assignment can be a complete joy. I'd heard the buzz about Shearwater, but hadn't had a chance to listen to their music. I got the call to cover a performance of three of their most recent albums at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin. The albums are thematically linked and together form The Island Arc. Fans came in from all over the nation to hear this (possibly) once-in-a-lifetime performance of all three albums in order. I was enchanted. There's a trip to the record store in my future.

Texas Tea Party for the Dallas Morning News

2011-01-31T12:42:00.000-06:00

On the eve of the 82nd Texas Legislature, the Tea Party was in town to lobby for a Speaker of the House more to their liking.

Ronald Taylor, from Sherman, Texas holds Tea Party flags during a rally on the north steps of the Capitol on Monday January 10 , 2011. Tea Party members from around the state gathered to show their support for Ken Paxton as the next Texas House Speaker.

Tea Party members, including Dallas Tea Party Coordinator Ken Emanuelson (center, in black), observe a moment of silence to remember victims of the Tucson shootings.

Maggie Wright, left, and Ruth Zschiesche, right, members of the Texas Patriots in Burleson, hold signs protesting the election of Joe Straus as Speaker of the Texas House in the Reagan building on Monday January 10 , 2011.

Capitol security guards react to a rush of Tea Party members in the Reagan building as the Republican caucus conducts a vote for Speaker.

Members of the Republican caucus return to the capitol after a 70-30 vote in favor of re-electing Joe Straus as Speaker of the Texas House.

Dallas Tea Party members Lorie Medina, left, and Tori Fabry, right, coordinate with other protesters at the capitol on Monday January 10 , 2011. Medina came from Dallas to support Ken Paxton as the next Speaker of the Texas House. "We deserve someone much more conservative than (current Speaker of the House Joe) Straus," said Medina. "This is not the Tea Party standing alone. This is all of Texas."

Christiane Benson for the Statesman

2011-01-21T13:04:00.000-06:00

Christiane has Batten disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to blindness, mental deterioration, a loss of motor skills and death, typically in the teens or early 20s. It's hard to tell that anything is wrong with this vivacious 8-year-old. Though legally blind, Christiane runs around the house playing hide and seek with her brother Garland, 6, and is learning how to tap dance.

Her parents helped develop a single test that will screen parents and children for 448 rare genetic disorders, like Batten, and will cost under $500, the current price for screening just one disorder. The test can't save their daughter, but they hope it can help other families and researchers looking for a cure.

Christiane, 8, peeks out from behind a chair while hiding from brother Garland, 6.

Christiane Benson, 8, plays with her mom, Charlotte, and brother Garland, 6, in their backyard in central Austin. Christiane has Batten disease, a neurodegenerative disorder.

Best of 2010

2010-12-31T12:30:00.000-06:00

It's that most wonderful time of the year. The time when photojournalists everywhere look back at the year with a mix of disappointment and pride. Plowing through our archives for hours on end assembling a retrospective of things we've witnessed, preparing for the contest season yet to come, and taking stock of just where we are - as journalists, photographers, and human beings.

This was my first full year of freelancing. There's still plenty I miss about being a staff photographer, but as the anxieties of running a business become simple routine, I'm more excited by the endless horizon, the choose-your-own-adventure, the pure exercise of free-will. Last year's motto was Hustle & Flow (minus the cocaine). This year's motto is still kicking around the old brain pan.

These photos represent the stories and people that meant the most to me this year. A huge thanks go out to my editors. They introduce me to the most fascinating people and keep me among the lucky human beings who can make a living at what they love. I'm looking forward to a 2011 with heart, and moment, and light.

Best of 2010 - Images by Julia Robinson

Recent Portraits for the Statesman

2010-12-16T16:59:00.000-06:00

Catching up on some recent portrait assignments.

Isabel Legate, a 17-year-old senior at Austin's LASA, has written a style and arts blog since she was 14. What started as a fashion blog evolved with her over the years and now highlights the intersection between high fashion, the art world, and pop culture.

Brian Stevens, the owner of Crazy Cakes, will appear on TLC's new reality cake competition show "Next Great Baker," a spinoff of "Cake Boss." He spent years as a digital illustrator for video games companies such as Electronic Arts and Sony.

Uchiko Executive Chef Paul Qui.

Daven Mehta, is CEO of RRE Austin Solar. The company is breaking ground on a solar power farm in Travis County on December 15, 2010 which will be the largest photovoltaic farm in the US when it is completed.

Lopez Island, WA

2010-12-13T15:33:00.001-06:00

Earlier this year I packed light and took the long series of flights to get to the San Juan Islands in Washington state. I was completely charmed by the remoteness of Lopez Island, travel by seaplane, verdant green everything, bushes of wild rose hips, wrecks of fishing boats in every field, a rocky beach tree fort, curious seals roaming the sound, the wood burning hot tub, and the sunset view from our cliff side abode. Still three more islands to explore. Can't wait to get back.

Bike Fashion for the Statesman

2010-11-22T11:06:00.000-06:00

Last month's bike fashion shoot with Mellow Johnny's put way too many things on the wish list. Clothing fit for fashionistas, but built for cyclists. Epic. I also got to take a spin on a bike that cost about as much as my cameras. Big thanks to models Gayla Corporon and Allan Sieja for looking like total bad asses so early in the morning.

Bjarne Stroustrup for Wired

2010-11-18T11:44:00.001-06:00

Last month I drove up to Aggie country to photograph a legend in computer programming. Bjarne Stroustrup invented C++ in 1985. On the silver anniversary of its launch, Wired looked back at one of the most popular programming languages ever created.

Professor Stroustrup (fun lesson in pronunciation here) was generous with his time between classes at Texas A&M University. We talked about his native Denmark, where my brother currently lives, and shared some programming-grade espresso. Thankfully there was no pop-quiz about programming.

Austin Eats for the Dallas Morning News

2010-11-01T13:35:00.001-05:00

As a native Austinite, I get stuck in routines around town. The same running trails, coffee shops, and traffic shortcuts rotate through my week without a second glance. I forget there's so much new to love in this town. Last month's food assignment from the DMN gave me a big dose of new and hip. You can read the reviews here.

Odd Duck

PubCrawler

Uchiko

24 Diner

Foreign & Domestic

Children's Business Fair for the Statesman

2010-11-01T12:51:00.000-05:00

I had a fun daily last month at the Children's Business Fair hosted by the Acton Foundation. Jeff Sandefer, a benefactor of the foundation, opened his front lawn to over 80 young entrepreneurs and their wares. It was so much more than your traditional lemonade stands. You can see the slideshow here.

Saskia Solotko, 6, plays the violin to attract customers to her booth, the Violin Café at the 4th annual Children's Business Fair at the Pease Mansion in old west Austin on October 9, 2010. Solotko and business partner Ellie Carpenter, 10, (not pictured) are two of seven original students at the Acton Academy, founded by Jeff Sandefer.

Reese Youngblood sits in front of her booth where she takes commissions on oil and pastel paintings.

Jules Gilbreath, 9, greets customers at his booth Jules' Vintage Comics. "Collecting comics is just one of my hobbies," said Gilbreath. "Reading them is another one."

As the day wound down, I spotted Sam Battle making a portrait of twins at his booth. He took great care with the drawing and was gentle with the kids in a way that few 10-year-old boys are. In short, I fell in love with this artist.

Samuel Battle, 10, right, makes a portrait of three-year-old twins, Scarlett and Luke Gromquist.

After the fair ended I couldn't help myself and bought a portrait from Sam. The best $5 I've spent in 2010. Thanks, Sam. It's perfect.

DC Block Party

2010-10-12T12:19:00.000-05:00

Earlier this summer I wandered around the streets of DC with Jenna Isaacson. We heard music, smelled the grilling meats, and gravitated towards a good old fashioned neighborhood block party. The kids were having a dance competition, though there was just one entrant in the "Michael Jackson" category. Billie Jean was blaring for his performance.

Shakespeare at Winedale for UT Life & Letters

2010-09-22T11:31:00.000-05:00

This year marked the 40th anniversary of Shakespeare at Winedale. What started in 1970 as a UT English class in Shakespearean performance has blossomed into a rich theater tradition in Round Top, Texas. Each summer, students descend on the tiny town halfway between Houston and Austin, population 88, to perfect and perform three plays at the 19th century barn turned Elizabethan stage. In celebration of the 40th milestone, alumni of the program gathered at Round Top for a week long theater immersion and encore performance.

I spent an afternoon shooting verticals for UT's Life & Letters magazine, an interesting exercise when the vast majority of photography is horizontal. Oh, the hardships we endure for magazine covers. Ha.

I'd love to go back for the entire week next year. The alumni are tightly knit, even though many haven't seen each other since their college days. There's a bond with their former professors James Ayres and James Loehlin, the barn itself, even the brutal summer heat. Something life changing happens every summer at Winedale and it's still as palpable to the class of 1971 as it is to the class of 2011.


Kristin Johnson, alumni of the 1987 and '88 seasons, awaits her cue from the side-door of the Winedale stage during a 40th reunion performance.


At left, all hands are on stage for the induction of the Taming of the Shrew. At right, Tara Kirkland leans over an air conditioning unit backstage.

At left, a sign on the dressing room reminds actors to stay silent during a performance with a quote from Henry the Sixth "Sweet Aunt, be quiet...". At right, Terry Galloway goes through her lines backstage before the start of the 40th anniversary performance of Shakespeare at Winedale.

Cast members gather before the curtain.

Earlene Moore for the Statesman

2010-09-22T10:29:00.000-05:00

I spent a few hours with Earlene Moore, a 90-year-old bra fitter at Saks Fifth Avenue, for part of Ricardo Gándara's Austin at Work series. Moore got into the business in 1939 when the downtown stretch of Congress Avenue was full of department stores.

She opened her own lingerie shop in 1971 and fit Texas' political and social elite for over 20 years. I can only imagine the stories and laughter that came out of that shop when Ann Richards came in for a fitting. Earlene closed her shop on Jefferson Square in 1995 and went into semi-retirement. She was bored though, and when Saks offered her a job in 1997 she was back in business.

These days she greets everyone that wanders into her realm. Earlene can fit a woman on sight and has a vast understanding of manufacturers and brands. She always gets a hug after the sale is complete and is an adopted grandmother to the younger sales girls on the Saks floor. And just look at that hair...

Robin De Haven for the Statesman

2010-09-15T15:43:00.000-05:00

When Joe Stack flew his plane into the Echelon I in north Austin last February, Robin De Haven was on the freeway heading to another glass installation job. The 28-year-old Iraq war veteran used the ladder on his company truck to rescue six people from the second floor of the burning building and then quietly left the scene. Not so quietly, the media descended on his story. De Haven became an instant celebrity and was hounded for interviews for months. His relationship with the word "hero" is a complicated one.

The Statesman's Andrea Ball wrote about De Haven in an interesting piece on heroism and the media which you can read here.

Singing Water Vineyards

2010-09-15T15:02:00.000-05:00

Spent an early morning at the Singing Water Vineyards last month as the owners and some loyal fans brought in their first ever harvest of pinot grapes. I love wandering the back rounds around Comfort, Texas but had never moseyed down Mill Dam to the vineyard before. It's a beautiful stretch of road - tight turns and sharp hills leading to a small valley spread where the Holmberg's and Matula's nestled their vines. A little slice of Tuscany in the hillcounty.

I'm looking forward to tasting the fruits of their labor in a few years.

Austin Gurdwara for the Wall Street Journal

2010-08-15T11:03:00.000-05:00

Austin's Sikh community is facing the demolition of their new temple after a dispute with a neighbor over subdivision covenants. The congregation began worshiping in 2003 in a mobile home on property they purchased in far west Austin. In 2005, the congregation obtained the necessary permits to begin construction of a new temple and faced no opposition until John and Leslie Bollier moved into the neighborhood in 2008 and filed suit claiming the temple violated the subdivision's restrictions on commercial building.

A trial judge sided with Austin Gurdwara in March 2009 and construction of the temple was completed in April 2010. In July, a Texas appellate court overturned the 2009 decision and ruled that the new temple must be razed or moved. The Sikh community is appealing that decision to the Texas Supreme Court.

I spent a Sunday afternoon with the Austin Gurdwara community during their devotional service and communal meal. Dr. Harnek Bains and the members of his congregation were thoughtful and patient explaining their religious philosophy and practice as well as the details of their legal battle.

Satpal Singh, left, and brother Gursagardeep Singh, right, stand in Austin Gurdwara's old sanctuary, a cramped trailer on Avispa Way in far west Austin on Sunday August 8, 2010. The group began using the 1,200 square-foot trailer in 2003 and quickly outgrew the space. Ground breaking on the new sanctuary began in 2007 but met with a lawsuit by neighbors John and Leslie Bollier. A trial judge sided with the Sikh group and construction was completed in April 2010. In July, the Texas Third Court of Appeals overturned the lower court's ruling and the new temple might be torn down.


Dr. Yadvindera Bains waves a whisk, or chaur, over the book of Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, in Austin Gurdwara's new 3,600 square foot temple.

The Sikh organization has said it spent $350,000 to build the new facility on land that cost an additional $100,000. Neighbors John and Leslie Bollier say the building could bring down property values. Dr. Yadvindera Bains, right, prays before the start of services on Sunday August 8, 2010.

Sikhism, a monotheistic religion that began 500 years ago, stresses the importance of leading a moral life.

Sikhism is the world's fifth largest religion. An estimated 500,000 Sikhs live in the U.S.

Sukhchain Singh, center, blesses the book of Sikh scripture after Sunday worship.

Dr. Harnek Bains is the leader of Austin Gurdwara.

Dr. Harnek Bains in the 1,200 square foot trailer that his congregation used for worship services beginning in 2003.

The congregation of Austin Gurdwara shares a communal meal called Langar in the trailer that once housed their sanctuary.

If the Texas Supreme Court upholds the Bollier's appeal ruling, the Sikh community would still be able to worship in the mobile home on the property. The new temple, however would have to be razed or moved.

AJ Castillo for the Statesman

2010-08-06T12:14:00.000-05:00

AJ Castillo is a rising star in the Tejano music scene. He was named the Tejano Academy’s best Accordion Player and Best Emerging Artist, and the Tejano Music Awards' Best New Artist of 2010. The native Austinite recently graduated from the University of Texas San Antonio and released his second CD "On My Way" in June. Not bad for a 25-year-old. Castillo is bringing an urban style to traditional Tejano music. I dug his Kayne stylings and I definitely want to bling out my next camera body.

Metamorphoses for the Statesman

2010-08-06T11:45:00.000-05:00

I had a blast with the cast of Zach Scott's production of Metamorphoses last month. Shooting previews can be tricky - the Director wants certain scenes photographed, I want quirky rehearsal moments, and climbing around in the rafters is usually off-limits - not so with this group.

Director Dave Steakley ran through visually stunning scenes and let me wander all over the set and his lighting rig. These photos really took themselves. With a pool at center stage and actors descending from silk ropes how could anyone not find something to love?

Paul Flint, Director of Production, cleans the pool at center stage before a rehearsal of Metamorphoses, a play by Mary Zimmerman, at the Zach Scott Theater.

Andy Agne suspends from a hoop above Frederic Winkler during a rehearsal for Metamorphoses. Actors suspend from silk ropes throughout the play where the audience sits around a circular pool.

Aaron Alexander, left, and Smaranda Ciceu, right, as Ceyx and Alcyone, and Stefania Tafuro, above as Alcyone transformed into a bird.

Stefania Tafuro, center, performs aerials on a silk rope above a circular pool at center stage.

Margaret Carter, center, practices a descent on a silk rope.

under the bridge downtown...

2010-07-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

I could not get enough...

Summer in the city.

road trip reprise

2010-07-09T10:33:00.001-05:00

It seems I always hit the road on some kind of deadline. There's never enough time between destinations to wander into uncharted territory. I get my kicks where I can.

I spent some time on my favorite jogging trails from when I lived in SF. Point Lobos and Crissy Field still reveal themselves anew.

The new Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles.

El Monte, CA

Mt. Lemmon - Tucson, AZ

the most important pictures

2010-07-06T13:09:00.000-05:00

The Robinson clan lost our patriarch earlier this year. In preparation for his memorial service in California last month, I poured through my archives - digital and negative - for images of my grandfather.

In any given year, the ratio of assignment work to personal/familial images is staggering. Among the millions of files, I came up with a few dozen of his face. Those meant more to me than the soccer matches, holiday parades, dance recitals, portraits - the litany of daily work that I had so dutifully archived.

My favorite is a photo I took of him when I was just out of high school. I was visiting California from Texas and we took a day trip to Half Moon Bay. My grandfather, the progenitor of my sweet-tooth, ordered a root-beer float that wasn't on the menu. "You have root-beer and ice cream, don't you?" he asked the waiter with his sly smile. After haggling over the price of the new item, we settled in a window seat, victorious.

I knew it on some level before, but these are the most precious images to me. The ones that pull love and memory from me at a glance.

We gathered in California to say one last 'aloha' to my grandfather - fleeting moments of togetherness for our far-flung family.

My father plays with his oldest granddaughter.

My brother and his youngest daughter en route to the

memorial service on San Francisco Bay.

My brother tries on my grandfather's hat.

My niece plays with her great-grandmother.

Bowie Softball for the Statesman

2010-06-09T17:17:00.000-05:00

The Bowie Bulldogs had a great season in 2010, finishing second in state. I had the pleasure (and stress!) of covering their amazing come-from-behind victory against San Antonio Taft.

Filing for the Saturday morning deadline can be a harrowing experience when it comes to prep sports - late start times and the ability of any team to rise from the dead means the story can change on a dime. I turned in pictures of what looked to be the 3-0 rout by Taft at deadline. The reporter and I joked that our jobs were done for the night unless a miracle happened.

In the bottom of the sixth, the miracle happened.

Bowie put up five runs and held Taft scoreless in the seventh, advancing them to the state tournament. I hustled to get the sports desk images of the story's 180 in time for the print edition. We just squeeked by.

Bowie's Sarah Cardona, left, and Katy Akins, right, play an agility game of Ninja before the start of Friday's playoff against San Antonio Taft.

Bowie star pitcher Amy Sundahl gave up a double and a home run for three runs in the third inning against the Taft Raiders during the 5A Region 4 playoffs at the Texas State Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos, Texas on Friday May 28, 2010.

(Left) Bowie catcher Jaime Edwards gets focused before the start of Friday's game against Taft. (Right)Bowie's Sarah Cardona (4), right, keeps the team pumped up during five scoreless innings against Taft.

(Left) Bowie's Maddie Lionberger (12), ties the score at 3-3 in the sixth inning during a five run rally by the Bulldogs. (Right) Bowie third baseman Alli Akina, left, is hugged by teammate Maddie Lionberger, center, after making the final out during the 5A Region 4 playoffs. The Bulldogs, down by three runs, scored five in the 6th inning and held on to defeat the Raiders and advance to the 5A State Championship Playoffs.

Jared Muston for the Dallas Morning News

2010-06-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

"Ride for 8/15" is the message plastered to Jared Muston's bike. On that date in 2007, he received a devastating diagnosis. What he thought was mono turned out to be Hodgkin's lymphoma - blood cancer. Just a few days from beginning his college career at the University of Texas, Muston instead had to endure 12 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. He was in remission by January of 2008 and began cycling soon after, following the example of fellow cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

This summer, Muston and over 50 other UT students and cancer survivors will journey 4,687 miles from Austin to Anchorage in the 7th Texas 4000 to raise money for awareness and research. You can follow his journey, twice as long as the Tour de France, here and read more about the ride here.

Andrea Bearce for the Wall Street Journal

2010-06-07T12:41:00.001-05:00

Spent a few hours with Andrea Bearce in central Austin for a story on young adults and their financial connections to their parents. Bearce is a freelance food writer and pastry chef and was generous with her time and banana/chocolate-chip cookies. You can read Karen Blumenthal's story here.

The editors over at the journal were great in communicating their vision for a graphic grid.

Drowning in Debt for the Wall Street Journal

2010-05-21T10:53:00.001-05:00

Cynthia Mason of Volente, Texas, reduced her mortgage payments through the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) but is still underwater with debt payments. The 49-year-old former school secretary is battling cancer and has legal expenses, credit card debt, and a car loan in addition to the mortgage. "This was supposed to be our dream home, but it's turned into a nightmare," said Mason.

You can read more of Mason's story here.

UIL State Golf for the Dallas Morning News

2010-05-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

Frisco Wakeland's Megan Pasternick reacts to a missed putt on the 18th hole during the Girls' 4A State finals at Jimmy Clay golf course on Austin on May 11, 2010, in Austin, Texas.

Medina Valley's Curtis Reed expresses frustration after missing a putt on hole #18 during the UIL 4A State Championships in Austin on May 11, 2010, in Austin, Texas. Reed thought the stroke might cost him the championship, but he prevailed with +1 for the day and a two day score of 143. At right, Reed is embraced by mother Laura Reed. "It was the last hole of his high school career. I've been on every green in every tournament," said Laura Reed.

Frisco Wakeland's Taylor Newlan smiles after officially being declared the Girls' UIL 4A State Champion. Newlan won the title with a two day total score of 144.

around the neighborhood

2010-05-21T10:11:00.000-05:00

twilight

2010-05-21T10:07:00.000-05:00

VFW Wedding in Leander, Texas.

Soccer State Semi-Finals for the Dallas Morning News

2010-04-19T16:39:00.000-05:00

It was a rough night for Westlake goalie Dylan Shoemaker (1). The Dallas Jesuit Rangers steamrolled the Chaparrals 4-0 in the 5A semi-finals on their way to becoming the first private school in history to win a Texas state championship.

Westlake goalie Dylan Shoemaker (1), right, and defender David Lukert (12), left, watch as a kick from Jesuit midfielder Oscar Martinez (17), center, rolls toward an open goal during the first half of the Boys 5A semi-finals in Georgetown, Texas.

Westlake Steven Duever (13), left, collides with his goalie Dylan Shoemaker (1), center, during the second half as Jesuit forward David Reilly (19), right, looks on during the Class 5A boys soccer semifinal in Georgetown, Texas on April 8, 2010.

The Jesuit Ranger student section embraces senior midfielder Mark Daus (24), left, as Matthew Fredericks (3), center, congratulates Daniel Givonetti (5), right, after their 4-0 Class 5A boys semifinal win over the Westlake Chaparrals.

Buddhist Inquiry for the Statesman

2010-04-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

Wrapping up my religion coverage (for now) -

The Appamada center in central Austin hosts weekly inquiry sessions during the Tuesday lunch hour. Flint Sparks, a psychologist and ordained Zen Buddhist priest, leads a short meditation followed by dilemmas or issues presented by the members. Sparks then addresses the problems using a combination of Buddhist teachings, psychology practice and other influences.

A camera sounds more like a machine gun when photographing meditation. The Inquiry group graciously allowed me to challenge their powers of concentration. The space was calm, centered, and filled with light. You can read more about Austin's Buddhist temples and practitioners here.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple for the Statesman

2010-03-28T13:16:00.001-05:00

Continuing in my un-official faith beat, I was sent to the opening of the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Cedar Park, Texas. The temple began in 2008 with a few hundred people and services were held in a temporary building in a shopping center. Their new facility is a beautiful addition to the skyline. You can read Joshunda Sanders account here.

Nalini Rao, left, watches a blessing ritual in front of the new Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Cedar Park, Texas on Friday March, 19, 2010. Ramish Uppala holds his son Viswaved, 5, during a blessing ceremony. Several hundred devotees came to Friday's events with up to five thousand expected on Sunday.

Pots, called Kalishes, left, will hold holy water for purification rituals. A statue of Sai Baba of Shiridi, right, is blindfolded before the opening of the new temple in Cedar Park, Texas. The Indian guru was regarded by both Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint.

Raj Gadde, center, a Sai devotee, puts the finishing touches on a ceremonial tent outside the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin in Cedar Park, Texas.

A devotee in the new meditation room.

Shriya Raghunadth, 2, peers out from her mother's sari at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin in Cedar Park, Texas.

Camp Grace for the Statesman

2010-03-26T14:58:00.000-05:00

I've worked with Statesman faith reporter Joshunda Sanders a lot in the past few weeks - from Evangelical to Buddhist to Hindu - I've been getting around in Austin.

Camp Grace is a day camp for children with special needs at the First Evangelical Free Church in south Austin. A few times a year the church opens it's doors, allowing parents and caregivers an afternoon of worry free downtime as their kids are entertained by church volunteers. The church also runs the Pathway's ministry which pairs special needs children with a buddy to encourage families to attend services. I had a great time following a group of 4-6 year-olds through the camp one afternoon. You can read Joshunda's article here.

Neil Siedschlag, right, and Jenny Tynes, left, get a laugh from Pearce Smithson, a 4-year-old with cerebral palsy, center, during an activity at Camp Grace. The new program hosted close to 40 children with special needs and their siblings for an afternoon of games, songs, crafts, and playtime giving their parents and caregivers an afternoon off.

Pearce Smithson, center, laughs as Tammy Argumedo, hand at left, tickles him with a feather while he is embraced by Jenny Tynes, top, during an activity at Camp Grace.

Judah Siedschlag, 5, sits underneath a parachute in the sensory room at Camp Grace hosted by the First Evangelical Free Church in south Austin. Siedschlag and his brother Noah, 6, have regressive autism. Parents Rebecca and Neil Siedschlag moved the family from Iowa to Texas where services for children with autism were more abundant. Though the family lives in Round Rock, they make the 50-mile drive every weekend for the special needs Pathways ministry that the church offers. "For us we feel supported," says mother Rebecca Siedschlag. "We're not excluded because our family is different."

Jack Stratton, 2, is encircled by a hula hoop from Luke Penner, right, during playtime at Camp Grace. Stratton spent the day at play with volunteers with his older sister Maddie who is recovering from multiple heart and brain surgeries.

Maddie Stratton, 4, right, plays with Tessa Clabby, 15, center, during Camp Grace at the First Evangelical Free Church in south Austin on Saturday, February 28, 2010. Stratton was born with a hole in her heart and is a camp favorite. "She's always laughing," says Clabby.

House of Songs for KUT

2010-03-25T14:14:00.000-05:00

There's a neat musical exchange going on between Austin and Denmark. Musicians from Copenhagen fly in for total immersion in the live music capitol, spending a week or two collaborating with locals, playing gigs, and soaking up the atmosphere in the 78704.

The program is funded by the Songwriter Guild of Denmark and operates other houses in New York and Los Angeles, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Back in January, I worked on a story with KUT's David Brown. I met some amazing musicians and made a list of people to see the next time I visit my brother in Copenhagen.

Stanley Samuelson, center, a songwriter from the Faroe Islands, plays with Austin artists Danny Schmidt, left, and Carrie Elkin, right, on the back porch of the House of Songs in the Travis Heights neighborhood.

Peter Smith stopped by several south Austin shops, hoping to find a new guitar.

Peter Smith and Austin musician Nathan Felix collaborate on a song in north Austin.

ZAR outside Austin's Broken Spoke.

The House of Songs has weekly showcases of Austin and Denmark musicians at Flipnotics, Momo's, and Threadgill's. Check 'em out. You won't be disappointed.

Charreada for Texas Highways

2010-02-23T10:35:00.001-06:00

An edit of my charreada project with photos and text appears in the March issue of Texas Highways. Warmer weather and a new year for charrería in central Texas is right around the corner.

Austin Plane Crash for USA Today

2010-02-19T12:22:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning Joseph Stack flew his Piper Dakota plane into the Echelon I office building in north Austin. It appears that Stack wrote a 3,000 word anti-government manifesto and set his own house on fire before driving to a Georgetown airport where he flew less than 30 miles to the building that housed offices of the IRS. Read the story here.

Monroe Shooting for the NYT

2010-02-15T17:37:00.001-06:00

Drove to Homer, Louisiana last week for an NYT story about a police shooting. Two white officers were cleared by a grand jury in the death of 73-year-old African-American Bernard Monroe, Sr. Reporter Campbell Robertson did a nice story summarizing the legal case as well as the mood in Homer. You can read it here.

POYi Sports Action

2010-02-15T15:26:00.000-06:00

One of the singles from my charreada story took third place in Sports Action at the 67th Pictures of the Year International competition.

Last year, I was sitting in the audience watching the judging live. I had just been laid-off and wondered if I would ever make it outside of newspapers.

One year later, I watched the commentary from Austin via webcast, biting my nails to the stub. The road ahead is still a long one, but it's great to know that competing at this level doesn't end with the staff job.

Seantrel Henderson for the NYT

2010-02-04T17:47:00.000-06:00

Seantrel Henderson, a 6-foot-8, 340-pound left tackle from St. Paul, Minnesota, is considered by most analysts the nation's top high-school football recruit this year. Henderson has verbally committed to USC, but will not sign a letter of intent until USC appears before an NCAA infractions committee at the end of this month.

Read the story by Thayer Evans about his last week of recruitment which involved a limousine, a Miami club, pro-football players, and a hair appointment.

Spoon for KUT

2010-01-28T21:10:00.001-06:00

Shot Spoon for Texas Music Matters on Tuesday. It was fun to run around the set of Austin City Limits and not be hostage to the usual two song limit. This band also rocks my socks off. Bonus. See the slideshow below.

'Under the Hood' for KUT

2010-01-18T11:50:00.000-06:00

I found myself back in Killeen with KUT reporter Nathan Bernier last week. Under the Hood is an anti-war coffee house where soldiers can vent their feelings about the military without fear of reprisal. Army Spc. Eric Jasinski and Pfc. Mike Kern recounted their struggles to receive mental health care after returning from their deployments to Iraq. Cynthia Thomas, the proprietor of the coffee house organized a protest last week to bring attention to the lack of services soldiers and their families receive.

NYT - Cole Marcoux

2010-01-11T11:27:00.000-06:00

Cole Marcoux was a relatively unknown quarterback from the Fieldston School in New York before the football reality series "The Ride" threw him into the spotlight. Marcoux beat out seven other promising high school quarterbacks after six months of training and testing by a panel of professional coaches. He earned a spot in the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Read his Cinderella story by Kevin Armstrong here.

Central Texas Charrería for Slideluck Potshow Austin II

2010-01-04T15:12:00.002-06:00

I put together a short edit of my charreada project for Slideluck Potshow Austin this past winter. I was excited to be accepted into the show but was stunned when they chose my piece to lead off the night. But really, who can resist Los Fabulosos Cadillacs?

Favs from 2009

2010-01-04T10:58:00.001-06:00

It's contest season for photojournalists everywhere - that magical time of year when we unearth files from hard drives and DVDs to create our year in review. There's the thrill of discovery (the frame you forgot to file) and the groan of defeat (yep, the composition is still off).

Whatever your attitude is about contests, the process is what's important. It's a reckoning, really. A pause in the endless 'next' to feel both satisfied and dissatisfied - to set goals and dream big. After a few days of hemming and hawing over photos I'm sick of them all and can't wait to get back out into the thick of things. Here's to a 2010 full of stories.

Marion Jones for AOL

2009-12-05T11:18:00.007-06:00

Got a call to photograph former track star Marion Jones as she works towards a WNBA tryout next year. After a six-month prison sentence for lying to federal investigators about her steroid use and the birth of her third child, Jones started training in September for her comeback as a professional athlete.

I was impressed by her candor with reporters and how articulate she was about her fall and potential rise. You can read Kevin Blackistone's column for AOL FanHouse here.

Center for American Progress

2009-11-17T11:28:00.004-06:00

The Center for American Progress used some photos from my Raising Emilie story in their recent report 'A Woman's Nation' which included several chapters on the changing roles that men face at work and at home.

I was impressed by their use of documentary images throughout the 450 page document. In an age when generic iStock imagery is slapped on just about everything, it was refreshing (and, dare I say, encouraging) to see someone taking the time to seek out real moments and stories.

Ft. Hood

2009-11-12T13:01:00.005-06:00

I spent five days this last week covering the shootings at Ft. Hood for the NYTimes. My role was a supporting one for the Times staffers that were already on the scene. I covered the daily pressers and enterprised what I could on the side, running down leads with reporters and revisiting important sites. It was a great learning experience to see how a large publication covers an evolving news story of this magnitude.

I was on the visual peripheral of the story, but did my best to contribute to the team effort. Times photogs Nicole Bengiveno and Michael Stravato and the writing staffers were amazing to work with, all focused on the story and working around the clock to make sense of everything.

Here are some outtakes and pictures that made the various NYT slideshows.

enchanted

2009-10-27T18:32:00.002-05:00

took a hike at e-rock last week. i thank the parent who took their girls hiking in pioneer dresses.

quiet

2009-10-27T17:43:00.003-05:00

a few quiet frames from last weekend's wedding with brett buchanan at H12.

family

2009-10-27T16:59:00.002-05:00

my brother with his youngest.

casting in bend

2009-10-27T15:42:00.007-05:00

catching up on posts from travels earlier in the fall...

while visiting family in bend, oregon i felt the need for a photo walkabout and wandered to the old mill, a shopping district on the banks of the deschutes river. i stumbled upon the orvis national casting competition and spent the day photographing a sport that i didn't know existed.

i grew up fishing with my dad. i snarled lines in trees and, more often than not, tried to keep the rainbow trout we caught as pets. fond memories. fly fishing isn't foreign to me, but competition casting was a whole new world. i was surrounded by casting royalty with 13 time world champion steve rajeff, floyd dean and henry mittel. who knew?

the course is a permanent installation, the only one of its kind in north america. think frisbee-golf, but with hoops instead of baskets.

after the scores were tallied there was a cast-off for 6th place. matt paluch hit the target in two tries and made a bet with chase jablonski. hit it in one, and he'd take a swim.

chase hit it in one try,

and matt took a swim.

NPPA's Visual Student

2009-10-21T09:42:00.002-05:00

Some of my adventures at MPW are highlighted on the NPPA's Visual Student blog today.

mpw outtakes, part deux

2009-10-07T14:38:00.007-05:00

the first few hours (days) of the workshop are spent wandering around looking for story ideas and getting a lay of the land. here are some singles and stories that didn't make the cut.

some bonus footage. halfway through day 3 i got stuck knee-deep in mississippi river mud. jennifer (looking out over the river, above) was kind enough to take a shot of me in this ridiculous position.

mpw outtakes

2009-10-07T14:16:00.004-05:00

part of the difficulty of editing work at MPW is honoring the discipline of a photo story. this is what the missouri photo workshop does better than any other workshop out there. they don't dabble in multimedia. they won't teach you final cut. they simply demand hard work and thoughtful photographs that service the story.

inevitably, part of telling a good story is letting go of some single images you love to move the narrative forward. here are some i had to sacrifice.

mpw 61

2009-10-05T12:46:00.002-05:00

At three months, Kade Bauman couldn't hold his head up on his own. The doctors said to wait. He just might need a little more time. Then the seizures started. At one and a half years old, Kade has been hospitalized six times in the last year.

Diagnosed with epilepsy, cortical vision impairment and hypotonia, Kade's parents and grandparents, therapists and friends work together to give him the care he needs. "I knew we were strong, but I didn't know how strong," says Kade's mother, Annette Bauman.

i had an incredible time at the 61st missouri photo workshop in festus/crystal city. i owe everything to the bauman family who opened themselves up to me. thanks for letting me tell kade's story.

more photos and thoughts from the week coming up. but first, a good night's sleep.

geek-ed

2009-09-24T16:22:00.005-05:00

my latest travels kicked off earlier this month with geekfest09 in st. pete. this first photo might sum it up nicely: cameras, photographers, & beer. what i can't put into a single frame is the huge dose of inspiration from the speakers and the 'group hug' atmosphere from all my peers and mentors (read: friends). can't wait 'til next year.

luckenbach - pickin' for the record

2009-08-26T11:54:00.003-05:00

made the short drive up to luckenbach to cover their attempt at breaking the guinness world record for largest guitar ensemble. the previous record was held by 1803 germans, who gathered to play 'smoke on the water' in 2007.

the unofficial count on sunday was 1859 guitarists, enough to set a new world record with the song 'luckenbach.' it was a sight and sound to behold. i haven't had a chance to sort through all the audio i recorded that day. i met some nice folks from all over the state. i hope they do it again next year.

geekfest

2009-08-22T13:30:00.002-05:00

there's probably not many of my readers who are unfamiliar with the awesomeness of APAD. this community is the reason i am the photographer i am today.

i joined the listserv just before the first big geekfest in Austin. i helped coordinate that event and met a ton of APAD'ers for the first time that june in 2005. after an exhausting weekend of photos, laughter, inspiration, and geeking out, a friend of mine asked if i had found 'my people.' without hesitation i replied with a smile, 'yes.'

almost five years after joining APAD, i am a photojournalist in transition. with so much changing in the industry, it's a small miracle to have a steady group of friends and mentors who stay focused on telling stories, refining the craft, taking risks, and supporting each other. thanks, gang.

this year's geekfest line-up is the best yet with 2009 pulitzer winners damon winter & patrick farrell, nat geo legend sam abell, photo wise man bryan moss - writer of the awesome book PhotoSynthesis and the man behind Life in Corydon, portrait & lighting genius bob croslin, multimedia superstar dai sugano, fellow texan allison v. smith, and one of my favorite community journalists out there nicole frugé.

i almost ran out of epithets for this cast of great photographers. stop sitting on the fence and come join us in st. pete.

VJ Workshop

2009-08-20T10:41:00.005-05:00

weekend workshops are lessons in flexibility.

we look forward to them as a relief from daily routine, a chance to break out and breathe, and a time to soak in inspiration from amazing storytellers. when assignments are involved, you also hope serendipity befalls your camera and microphone. when luck fails, hard work and flexibility can always find a story, however small. the inaugural VJ Workshop in ventura was my reminder that i'm not always in control.

i came to ventura with a pent up wave of enthusiasm. i was ready to dig deep and push personal boundaries. there's nothing like a 24-hour deadline to spark a creative challenge. daryl peveto did an amazing job tracking down 50 stories in the ventura area - a labor of love that will bring many karmic returns. even the best laid plans, however, are open to detours.

my first story was a non-starter. the second was shaping up nicely until the family decided to leave town for the weekend. as my team leader pauline lubens said - we tell people to ignore us and go about their normal routine and then they leave us in the dust.

with my 24-hour window closing and just one real interaction with the family, i decided to embrace it. embrace the narrow slice i was given and try to tell a story, however small, about that slice. i could pounds my fists against a closed door of opportunity, or go with it. in these days of moving onward and upward, there was only one real choice.

i headed back to the gym after sebastian and his family left town. i hung out with some other boxers finishing off their training session. i loved the color of the place, but decided to produce the multimedia in black & white to avoid many hours of color correcting for the *awesome* mixed lighting and florescent flicker. the yellow walls worked better as unrelated singles.

many thanks to adam flores, benjamin, cesar and servando mendez, as well as junior garate at world crown sports for helping me out on deadline.

you can see other stories that came out of the VJ Workshop here. others overcame a lot more obstacles than i and produced some great work.

some of my favorites -

adam lau who said, "got no audio, crap stills. but learned something in the process of failing." his piece on the mayor of the pier had some hilarious audio and used every animated video wipe in the book to great effect.

ariel zambelich who knocked on doors to find a story of enduring love. your persistence and grace-under-fire always impress the hell outta me.

kat nyberg spent her day with shirley meyer, a homeless woman living in her RV who drives from spot to spot trying to avoid getting fined by the ventura police.

take a gander and remember you're only 24-hours from another story.

road trip

2009-08-15T15:39:00.014-05:00

3971.5 miles - door to door

getting back in the swing of things after a long trip to cali for the VJ Workshop in ventura, ca. i decided to drive out to see friends and family along the way and get a little road-therapy.

it's been a slow summer in texas. i've worked on personal projects and had assignments here and there, but it's hard not to feel like i should be doing more, making more progress. putting a few thousand miles between me and that mind-set does wonders for motivation. so does QT with old friends and new ones. viva road trips.

en route to cali, i spent a night in tuscon with james gregg. besides being a total photo stud (2009 POY), james gives a great critique and is the consummate host. we stumbled on a local pool league in south tuscon that might turn into a cool little feature story. one of the first of many reminders that stories are everywhere.

the next morning out in the middle of nowhere I-10, i had my first blowout of the trip (emphasis on 'first'). as these things go, i can't complain. i anticipated a few unplanned detours of this kind. i limped to salome, az where i met sean, an iraq war veteran trying to regain a sense of normalcy out in the desert. we chatted while he put on a new tire for me. stories are everywhere.

onto california.

i hadn't been to see david in a long while. his studio space in LA was a little slice of mexico.

insert workshop madness here - four days of little sleep and deadlines, how refreshing. as soon as i rework my project i'll throw it up here. if you can't wait, you can see my group's projects including a piece by the talented ariel zambelich, who tore-up the pavement in ventura when her stories fell through and found a story of lasting love. yet another reminder, stories are everywhere.

stopped in shell beach, ca to see one of my bros, and his wife, and their first little 'un, sila. she's a character.

then up to SF for more friends and fam.

the northern most spot on the trip, twin peaks, SF.

back through west texas at dawn.

there's a lot more trippage to come in september with geekfest, a run to oregon to see more nieces, and MPW to finish off the month. should be a great butt-kick to fuel the close of 2009.