ƒ/3.5 at 1/800 sec ISO 200

Saturday afternoons without anything planned usually lead to excursions. I went driving into the hill country looking for a new perspective on my backyard scenery. It was enjoyable to have some freedom… no itinerary, no company, no air conditioning… My truck’s a/c has been on the fritz, which lead to an interesting 100+ degree afternoon. Nevertheless, the heat didn’t stop me, I had new roads to find.

I have been reluctant to stop when I see something that interests me. As an introvert I tend to stray away from events that might cause me to interact with people, however I desire to interact. So, in light of this fact, I stopped when I was drawn to, inspired or intrigued by whatever or whomever.

Above is from the Arnosky Farm and Market. This was off a road that I had traveled before but I never noticed it and its allure. Was it the weather that day? or perhaps they did something different? I mean it was a big blue barn for goodness sake. But more likely, now that I ponder about it, it was my sense of adventure that day. I was taking whatever road that I found esthetic and going where it lead me. That attitude allowed me, when I was on familiar roads, to see a world differently.

ƒ/3.5 at 1/320 sec ISO 100

Garage sales or outdoor miscellaneous shops in the hill country can be fun. Its nothing spectacular to see, the photos aren’t the most intriguing at first glance but with this photo above I get a sense of place. Which for me this element is very important. It places me in the world of the image. However, I cannot tell you why this picture gives me a sense of place. It isn’t a strong feeling, not like the feeling of love or disgust. Perhaps it has the degree of feeling as mild comfort or a end of the day headache. Nonetheless, it has feeling for me, which is biased. I wish there was a tractor of something in the top left corner to give it more balance.

ƒ/5 at 1/25 sec ISO 100

When in Johnson City, I walked about the downtown District. I came across a commonly photographed part of town. There where 4, maybe 5, photographers shooting when I was present. I focused on not shooting what they were shooting. Something that was not the big structure that everyone shot. Everything else was so glamorously staged there that most people overlook this sign that was waiting to be placed somewhere. I found common ground with the subject, took my image and went on.

ƒ/4 at 1/80 sec ISO 100

ƒ/4 at 1/60 sec ISO 100

The message that I communicated to myself that day was an adventurous spirit is needed for all excursions. That I can find something interesting in my own backyard, no matter how many times I have been in it or how many shots that I have taken. I know there is more for me out there, waiting for me to find it, as well as old things that are wanting to be renewed.

Underworkings of the Capital of Texas.

I spent some time in downtown Austin spread over a few days. I stayed with friends on South Congress, slept on a small but comfy couch and walked a lot.

This amounted to a new experience. I’ve never spent more than a day in Austin at a time. I have certainly never wandered downtown Austin aimlessly. I usually have an itinerary, going somewhere, doing something and shooting in between. This time I was staying longer, being immersed without any agenda.  What a difference this made.

I started with panning. This was my first panning attempt.

South Congress Ave panning attempt on a cyclist.

I was pivoting while the shutter was open, which was not well thought out but gave me a unique feel on the image. It tends to have a more blown out, coming at you, perception.

For me, the major downfall of this image was that I did not freeze the cyclist in time. The composition is a bit flat and there are several contrasting lines of light that can be a bit distracting.

However, I enjoy this image. I like the movement. The unfrozen blurred cyclist does give it a deeper sense of being out of control. A closer look at the cycle shows an interesting pattern going on with the spokes which give it some punctuation perhaps, but not enough. If I was closer maybe the spokes would prevail.

Trolley Car

Cyclist at 6th and S. Congress.

Austin has many homeless, street performers and peculiar characters that don’t get enough limelight. When photographing, it’s easy for me to become shut off. Especially if I am running here and there, I don’t give these wonderful personalities enough attention. I made myself available to them, engaged in conversation, learned about who they were and where and how they developed into themselves. The more rugged I looked, the more they were inclined to speak to me.

I met a painter, underneath the Lamar Street Bridge. Talented and welcoming to discussion. We spoke for an hour, and during the conversation he unloaded a great weight of information regarding stories that I could pursue in Austin.

I engaged in conversation with a homeless street evangelist, a lovely woman who gave much of her life away for this street life. When I took her portrait I felt like it didn’t represent the way I was interacting with her. A bit too posed. I do regret not getting a more natural shot of her. However, the next time I might try moving her in a different position to work with her posed look, to make it a bit more natural.

Rick through bars

A homeless fellow that goes by the name of Julio stopped my at the bus stop, asked me what I was trying to capture. I told him about panning and briefly explained the purpose of it. I shared with him my vision of collective faces of people that inspire me. He gladly allowed me to photograph him.

Julio

What is important in the picture for me is that he has such a natural expression on his face that allows us to see his world a bit. I like how his head is outlined with light and that his ear left ear has a glow around it caused by the taxi. The punctuation of this image for me is the ATM tattoo on his neck. My other frame did not have this tattoo exposed and it didn’t have the right feel to it.