2013 Chuckwagon Races

Spent the Labor Day weekend with the delightfully weird Sol Neelman at the National Chuckwagon Races in Clinton, Arkansas. This event was a blast to shoot if also incredibly hot and light challenged. All the races happened from 1-4pm; hard on the horses and the photographers. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

We ran into the local Democrat-Gazette shooter Benjamin Krain, an APADer from back in the day. His remote camera was annihilated by chuckwagons while hustling his own (impressive) set of images from the weekend. I love how prevalent the photo family is, even in the middle of nowhere Arkansas. We're always one beer away from friends in this industry.

Looking forward to the next one!



2013 Chuckwagon Races - Images by Julia Robinson

UIL Baseball for the Dallas Morning News

I followed the Rockwall-Heath team for two games leading to their 10-1 4A state championship win, aka slug-fest. It's the first state championship for the school. Much deserved guys.

Rockwell-Heath's Jake Beldsoe (#34), left, and Grayson Lewis (#10) right, both slide safely into home as Montgomery's Cody Conn, center, bobbles the ball in the third inning during the UIL 4A semi-final at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock Texas on Thursday, June 7, 2012. Heath defeated Montgomery 6-3 and advances to the UIL 4A state finals on Friday.

Rockwell-Heath's Clayton Rasbeary sports a red mohawk during the semi-final game against Montgomery.

Rockwell-Heath pitcher Jake Thompson finished the game with a limp in his right leg.

Luke Fisher, 13, left, and Jacob Williams, 13, right, cheer on the Rockwall-Heath Hawks in their championship game against Cleburne at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas on Friday, June 8, 2012.

Rockwall-Heath pitcher Jovan Hernandez was the MVP.at the UIL 4A State Championship game at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas on Friday, June 8, 2012.

Rockwall-Heath's RJ Williams, left, avoids the tag at home by Cleburne's Max Reynolds, left, in the second inning.

Jovan Hernandez rounds the bases after a two-run homer.

Rockwall-Heath's Grayson Lewis, center, slides safely into home after Cade Flory, right, on a double by Russell Hughes in the fourth innin.

Rockwall-Heath pitcher Jovan Hernandez, right, celebrates after throwing for a double-play that ended their 10-1 victory over Cleburne during the UIL 4A State Championship game at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas on Friday, June 8, 2012.

Rockwall-Heath pitcher Jovan Hernandez, right, hugs teammate Clayton Rasbeary, left, after receiving the MVP award.

UIL Softball for the Dallas Morning News

Plano East fell short in their 5A semi-final against Klein Collins. Third place never feels good.



 

 

 

 

 

 

UIL State Track for the Dallas Morning News

That most wonderful time of year when I get a list of a dozen high schools and traipse all over the field to photograph them during simultaneous events. It's a multitaskers dream, but doesn't leave much wiggle room for making photos for me. I'm often trapped at the finish line waiting for the next heat to blast through, so might as well photograph the jube/deject where I see it, regardless of which school it is. I would love to see next year's assignment read - UIL Track: Emotion. Go.

Chuckwagon Races

Chuckwagon races just sound awesome, don't they? I came across their existence working on my story on Charles Goodnight, who was widely credited for inventing the chuckwagon in the late 1800's. After my stay-cation with the Ultimate Weird Sports Photographer, Sol Neelman, (see previous post) I drove out to Bandera for an event that's been on my radar for over a year.

Sunday's races at the Twin Elm Guest Ranch did not disappoint. There were only a few heats that day, but it whet my appetite for the National Chuckwagon Races in Arkansas later this year.


Chuckwagon Races - Images by Julia Robinson

Unicycle Football

This month I was visited by one of my favorite people, Sol Neelman. Our friendship dates back to the first (third) Aphotoaday Geekfest that I helped organize in Austin in 2005. A few dozen photographers invaded the Days Inn and Star Seeds for a long weekend of photo shenanigans. Friendships were forged and paths forever changed. Sol left the world of newspaper photography, embraced the freelance world, and his love of weird sports.

Lo, these 7 years later (dang we're getting old), he's published his first book with a second on the way. Whenever he comes to visit, weird sports is on the agenda. That's how we found ourselves in San Marcos, Texas for the 2012 semi-finals of the Unicycle Football League. Cooper Neill joined us for some quintessential Texas weirdness.



Unicycle Football - Images by Julia Robinson

FitCity for the Statesman

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.

SUP Pilates for the Statesman

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

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

Scott MacPherson for the Dallas Morning News

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.

UT Men's Tennis

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.

Bowie Softball for the Statesman

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.