Outtake

Solar panels and hydrant roping.  Gotta love progressive Texas.

Save Texas Schools Rally for the Dallas Morning News

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

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

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

Shearwater for the Statesman

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

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

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

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

Catching up on some recent portrait assignments.

Isabel, 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

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.