40th Anniversary Surprise Party

It's going to be something when I get married, let alone for 40 years; a love changed by many seasons.

I had the opportunity to record an anniversary surprise party for a family friend at Fleming's Steack House in the Quarry.

Click the photo for a slideshow:

Custom Interior

Henry have spent many hours on customizing my interior:











Lego Civic


Yes! Seven paint cans later. Up next: custom seat/door panel covers.

21st Birthday List

I'm turning 21 soon (Oct. 10), so I thought I would make a birthday list, not for the sake of material desire, but to reflect on recent experiences that, in a way, acknowledge an increasing understanding of self, of who I am and what I hope to be for the future.

#1

A succulent (for the home).

Both succulent and cactus, they are a vivid images of a Texas landscape I've grown up on. The often painful life that also flowers protection and empathy. The harsh reality of existence made beautiful by its impermanence. ;-)


Henry jams out at Paul's ranch in Yancey, Texas.

#2

A watch

Childhood memories of an orange silicon-banded watch, probably themed by some Disney character like Aladin or Buzz Lightyear. The watch is also my refusal of existing by constant I-phone or cellular referral. Turn them off for a second. Enjoy uninterrupted silence that relies on listening, not transmitting; finding truth without googling it.



Fossil Chronograph Watch - $99. I believe it's been purchased already ;-)

#3

Glass jars (cork or clamp)

I imagine myself storing various juices in these bottles, like a medicine man providing natural health for his children or loved ones. I like that idea. ;-)


$5-7 at Hobby Lobby

#4

A second Super Nintendo controller and Super Mario Kart.

Dug up from the grave of garage storage, my Super Nintendo is running again! Thanks to Henry providing lost cords, I can finally enjoy games like F-Zero, Zelda: A link to the past and Pilot Wings. However, a second controller is needed for some awesome two-player gaming like Super Mario Kart!


Game is $10 and a controller is $1.50

#5

Texas birds book.

Every time Megan and I see a bird we can't recognize, we want to know what it is. National Geographic makes a great Texas Birds book (available through Amazon).



#6

iTunes giftcard.

Since hearing segments on NPR about Stewart Copeland and his writings for The Police, I've been itching for some of their best hits. Henry plays songs I've never heard before in his car which provides relief ;-)

#7

Glass clip frames.

Any number or combination of 16x20, 8x10, 4x6 and 5x7 frames to be filled with memories and placed on my wall. They are relatively inexpensive and can be found at Michael's with coupons available (it's a non-sale, regular priced item)

ZOO

Click the photo to view a recent trip to the zoo with Megan and her family:

ESPN

The Ranger got a request from ESPN for a photographer and writer to cover the Madison-Steele football game, featuring Madison's Malcolm Brown and Steele's Aaron Green, the No. 1 and No. 5 prospective running backs respectively. I actually enjoyed talking to and watching professionals from the Express and wire services more than I did making my own pictures!

ESPN chose two action shots from the slideshow I submitted to them.

Henry's Car

I've been trying out a few car shots lately.



Running around the car (left) popping the external flash. Fun stuff.

Yancey Ranch II

Paul, Henry and I took our second trip to Paul's ranch in Yancey, Texas, between Hondo and Devine. We had a percussion jam:

El Natural

A baby tree (not sure which kind) at sunset


Asps invade!




Crickets invade!


extermination...


a wasp flies. note: shot with an 800mm film lens attached to my Nikon D80 (becomes 1200mm).


A spider hides

New Beginnings

Visiting my family in Bryan (A&M College Station) is something I always look forward to. It's a time when I can leave things in San Antonio behind for a few days, and enter a home where I often find new ideas and purpose, returning home with a new beginning. Lately, there have been new beginnings for my family, too:


Celebrating my Dad's 60th birthday.


Laurie plans for a baby boy while Eva, 18 months, runs at me.


Taking a ride in the van.


Coincidental matching dresses.


A tree hundreds of years old outside the historic new home of my cousin Susan and Dave Fox.




Sister Lisa with Kathryn.


Dad teaches Sophie how to play the guitar.

Comparisons and Contrasts

This man, a restaurant manager at Zio's, wears a personality of Spongebob and West Coast Choppers:



Father and Son. Hair bright with age, dark with youth. They share a life of laughter.



He looked at the camera and she at him, and you could see that they were like the dancers, celebrating their love for each other. The one semi-decent photo I was able to snap at the
rehearsal dinner of my cousins Micah and Sarah Sagebiel:



Perhaps this connection was made out my feeling ill at the time, but this is what photography is all about: seeing more and feeling something more because of it. The caption is a great place to express that :-)

Kelley & Aaron Miller's Wedding

I'm no wedding photographer, but being one for a day gave me a new level of admiration for the work they do. Making pictures during the ceremony was intense but thrilling, and my efforts to add a story-teller's touch to the happiest day of Kelley and Aaron Miller's life together were not unrewarded!

All of the photos can be viewed/purchased through snapfish (flickr)

Click the picture to view a slideshow of my favorites:

The Blue Baker

It was a few months ago that I received the opportunity to photograph some menu items at The Blue Baker, the deli/bakery of my cousin's husband, Dave. Click the photo to view a slideshow.

Tyler K. Cleveland/The Blue Baker