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.

Bike Fashion for the Statesman

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

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

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

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.