Corey Ann Leamon Photography

Nursing Simulation

2011-12-29T13:48:00.000-08:00

Back in March, I had the opportunity to step into a nursing simulation at UT Austin and experience the training that young men and women go through to earn the title. There were two situations present. The first was a 5-year-old diabetic with a blood sugar level eight times the normal. The second was an unresponsive adult with congestive heart failure. Teams are asked to apply their personal nursing theory and learned skills through collaboration and communication. Just as I had learned to develop my own design process and methodology, I was shocked to see myself relating so easily to nursing students!

They are asked to make quick decisions in a constantly changing environment and context. These simulations, with realistic and specific dummies responding to their actions (controlled by a behind-the-scenes teacher controlling its functions - speech, vitals, etc), provided a way for the students to understand the phenomenon of what teacher Jay Ross called "theories-efficacy maternal role-modeling". In other words, how can a nurse use their technique to give a patient better well-being in terms of their cultural, ethical, and historical backgrounds? Simulations allow them to understand what might or might not work... a situational harm versus good... the complexity of dealing with people's lives and feelings versus straight-forward technical skills.

It was very fascinating to watch, and being able to relate their work back to mine has given me a great deal of respect for the ethical dilemma behind nursing.

Marfa, TX in December

2011-12-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

The first weekend of December, I was able to take a trip with friends out to West Texas to visit the infamous Marfa. I found that everything I had heard only scratched the surface. The artist community has become a significant aspect of the town, but there's a great deal more going on. There's an interesting tension between the locals and the art-based tourism, but it's invisible without speaking to people. The long-time residents seemed to frequent their particular shops and restaurants just as the tourists/artists did the same. But together they blend into the quirky town that is Marfa.

Naturally, as a designer, I couldn't help but be impressed with much of the resourcefulness and craft. I was thrilled to find some of my old Austin products that I can't find in San Antonio. We stayed in a trailer and "adventure tent" at El Cosmico, a unique hotel experience created by Liz Lambert, and were welcomed warmly by a very friendly staff. In total, we spent about 2.5 days in Marfa (the other 1.5 driving) and it was great to experience the town on a relaxed schedule. One day was spent exploring the town by foot, the other was spent largely at Chinati (my least favorite aspect due to their attitude of taking your money then booting you out). I also feel the need to mention Marfa's amazing public radio station. It was an awesome mix of NPR, local interviews, music, and old DJ's with incredible wit (my kind of radio host). Our last night in Marfa, we spent a good three hours hanging out in Borundas, which one google reviewer accurately described as "an oasis of normalcy in a town that has become somewhat strange." We chatted with the owners the whole time, learning about the town, their family history, and their business philosophy (no kids inside, use the drive-thru!). His family had been in Marfa 100 years, and his grandmother owned the only restaurant for years. I was blessed with getting to eat one of her recipes: chicken tacos! They kept a photo of her (with a letter) on the wall.

I hope this set depicts Marfa well... its beautiful color palette, its quiet splendor... I can't wait to revisit!

(click for larger view)

Nancy's 80th Birthday

2011-12-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I was asked to photograph a woman's 80th birthday party. It was a lovely event and you could see the love in the room for Nancy. It was a little different than what I'm used to shooting, as it was essentially a large dinner get-together, but I'm hoping that my style blended nicely and that the result is enjoyable. Cheers to Nancy on a prosperous life so far!

Johnson Family

2011-12-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

I am in love with this family. I work with Betsy at Lake|Flato Architects and was privileged enough to spend a couple hours one Sunday morning with the whole Johnson crew. I can't even begin to express how awesome and adorable their whole home is, down to the matching Norwegian outfits they sported for Christmas photos. Betsy and Luke's little gnome, Molly, is the most precious little chubs I've ever seen. Her eyes are beautiful and wide open all the time - I wonder what she's thinking! Her smiling face brings a smile to mine.

2011 Texas State Fair, Part Two

2011-11-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

2011 Texas State Fair, Part One

2011-11-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

Occupy Austin, 10/06/11

2011-11-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

2011 Red River Rivalry

2011-11-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

Halloween Portraits

2011-11-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

On Halloween, our firm held a costume contest. I documented most of the attire, and thought it'd be fun to share some Halloween portraiture. The last image is of my own costume (photo by Thomas Johnston), a 60's typist inspired by Mad Men. The typewriter and pin were both legitimate objects from my grandfather and grandmother!

1// The Royal Tenenbaums
2// The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
3// Angler Fish
4// Jersey Shore kid
5// The Bride from Kill Bill
6// Door-Matt
7// Waldo
8// Snoopy and Charlie Brown

Labor Day in Austin

2011-09-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

I had always wanted to shoot the Austin skyline at night (somehow I didn't in four years), although this opportunity caught me a little unaware. I didn't have an appropriate lens or my tripod, but I shot anyway to sketch an idea of what I might shoot next time.

Summertime

2011-09-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd upload a few photos sitting on my drive from the summer. They are mostly from casual hangouts with friends - and you might notice they are mostly indoors, since it's been unbearably hot here in Central Texas. I've been upset that with my new(ish) job, I couldn't go on any trips this year. But none the less, I love the people here and they make a dull summer worthy again.

In order:
1 // HW360 bridge at 3am, thanks Patrick Meredith for the SWEET FX. :p
2// Zilker Park Botanical Garden
3// Hank smells some tasty fajita at Julia's place, and I smell some tasty mojito
4// Jonathan and Victoria looking through some extreme NatGeo
5// Ryan at The Friendly Spot after another workday at Lake|Flato
6// Nicky at the Design Ice Cream Social, an annual get-together for UT Design students and alumni
7// Hank waiting for his best friend to get home.. awww
8// Lola is camera shy, which is too bad because Merci loves photos of her

Amy & Rob Wedding [Day Three, Reception]

2011-08-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

Amy and Rob held their reception at the Downtown Sheraton and I'm hoping these photos can speak for themselves; the love and laughter in this family is so apparent! This night was the perfect range of fun and emotional. From plots to steal Rob's shoes to bartering for his entrance into the ballroom, the kids knew how to make a little extra dough on the side! And I simply love the father/daughter mother/son shots... they are incredibly descriptive and touching. There's no other way to describe these newlyweds and their families than beautiful. I'm incredibly grateful that they entrusted me with such a big milestone in their lives, and I hope that my photos were able to achieve even the slightest justice in documenting this lovely wedding weekend that was akin to a fairy tale (seriously.. don't they look like a royal couple?!). Cheers to both of you, I wish only the best. :)

Amy & Rob Wedding [Day Two, Gai Holud]

2011-08-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

Amy and Rob's Gai Holud was so much fun! It was non-stop entertainment with dancing, singing, instruments, food, and beautiful decor. The team effort that made this wedding so great was very apparent in each of these elements. Friends and family even performed themselves. And WOW, what beautiful attire!! I've never seen roses and pearls look so incredible on someone as they did on Amy! She and Rob seemed to have perfectly matching outfits each night, fit for royalty. While this room was a bit of a mess as far as lighting goes, and I ended up on a two week escapade to get my water canteen back from the Girl Scout center (it had been used to hold open the door), this night was a great one. Look forward to the reception photos from day three.

Amy & Rob Wedding [Day One, Shuvo Bibah]

2011-07-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

These two had a lovely wedding full of thoughtful meaning, steeped in Bengali tradition. With differing religions, you could see how much both these families had learned from each other through this beautiful couple. The wedding lasted three days beginning with the Shuvo Bibah at the home of the bride's parents. The ceremony was intimate and touching. As someone who takes a great deal of notice to religious presentation, I found even small instances like a moment for silent prayer to be full of the utmost respect for the great variety of people that were present.

After the ceremony, the women departed for Henna. Even late into the night, I was able to explore some lovely personalities through the lens. Enjoy day one here, with two more days to come! :)

Ana

2011-07-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

I owe Ana a great deal of apologies for it taking me nearly a month to edit her photos. I went through a lot of transitions, weddings, and unexpected emergencies during June. She was very patient with me and I thank her for that. Ana had come into town for one weekend from Panama to do the first leg of the bicycle ride with Texas 4000 for cancer research. She had participated the previous summer after graduating from UT and before starting a big job in Panama. And let me tell you, she was a trooper during this shoot, too. It was in the 90's and we were both sweating by the end of the hour. Congratulations to this beautiful woman for all her accomplishments!

NCAA Super Regionals, Texas vs Arizona State

2011-06-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

Art City Austin

2011-06-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Dragon Boat Festival (part two)

2011-06-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Rally for Egypt's Freedom

2011-06-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

Men's Basketball vs OSU

2011-06-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Dragon Boat Festival (part one)

2011-06-01T10:10:00.001-07:00

From The Daily Texan:

The Asian American Cultural Center of Austin held its 13th annual Dragon Boat Festival on Lady Bird Lake on Saturday afternoon.

Twenty teams of 20 people each participated in the races, including groups from the Austin Police Department, H-E-B, 3M and UT’s Chinese Student Association. Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed Asian culture through food, dancing, drama and competition.

The Dragon Boat Festival is believed to have originated during the Warring States period of ancient China. Qu Yuan, a beloved Chinese poet, drowned himself to bring awareness to widespread government corruption. Fisherman raced the waters in their boats to find his body but were unable to find it.

Dragon Boat races commemorate Qu Yan through the spirit of teamwork.

Amy Wong Mok, the CEO of the center, looks to celebrate this ancient tradition of teamwork by sharing it with the Central Texas community as a family-oriented event.

“It is a way to get back to humanity as a global citizen,” Mok said. “If people start looking at each other’s humanity rather than their roles in the workplace, the world will be a better place.”

by Corey Leamon

Softball vs Baylor

2011-05-31T15:10:00.000-07:00

Baseball vs Texas Southern

2011-05-31T08:29:00.000-07:00

Baseball vs Texas Tech

2011-05-31T08:27:00.001-07:00

Texas Relays, Saturday

2011-05-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy shooting track, particularly Texas Relays, because it's a challenge. Usually three or four events can go going on at once, and depending on the event, they might take 20 seconds or 20 minutes. You receive a massive heat list each day with about 60 events on it (each broken down into lanes/athletes/schools/etc). Being the organizational freak as I am, I would sit down and mark off each UT event, and then further break it down into which events I could reasonably get to and photograph. Even once you've figured it out, you're out there all day. Between Texas Relays and SafePlace Field Day that weekend, I spent around 18 hours busting my butt in the blazing sun. I put on sun screen constantly and I still looked like a lobster by the end of Saturday. But that's all okay, because I enjoy the work; there's such a thrill in getting a good image that it's all worth it. Half the time you only have ONE shutter release to get it right, especially in running events. Some of those athletes are world champions... incredibly famous in the track world. It was hard for me to feel the gravity of them there because they were just some other person to me. I know nothing about track stars! But as I was informed by another photographer, the event coordinators actually pay these stars to show up representing their brands, because it brings more people/schools to the event. Now that's fine marketing... and how nice it would be to get paid to show up!

I'd say the lesson I've learned from track is to say "screw it" to high continuous release (taking many pictures at once) and instead to be patient, develop great timing and work for those one or two images you really want. Of course there are still places where high continuous is appropriate (such as for the foggy shot of Mack Brown I took, where I couldn't look through the lens because of how far away I had to hold it from my body). But I think I've been more satisfied with my work since I abandoned constant use of CH. :)

Texas Relays, Friday

2011-05-29T21:24:00.001-07:00

Softball vs OU

2011-05-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Softball vs Kansas

2011-05-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

SafePlace Field Day

2011-05-29T19:01:00.001-07:00

SafePlace is a non-profit here in Austin that helps end domestic violence and sexual assault, giving victims and their children a place to be at peace. They are very passionate about making a difference in people's lives, and I can tell you that with the families I met, they assuredly have.
http://www.safeplace.org/

Swimming and Diving vs SMU, ASU

2011-05-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Opening of the New UT Student Activity Center

2011-05-25T11:46:00.001-07:00

Or as UT students have eloquently deemed it, "The NUTSAC".

Men's Swimming & Diving vs Arkansas

2011-05-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Muneezah

2011-05-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Muneezah on graduating, woohoo!!! We had a rather threatening-looking storm sneak up on us, but luckily we grabbed some nice shots before it started pouring. :)

Tarina

2011-05-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

This beautiful lady is a very good friend of mine! Taking photos with her doesn't even seem like work. ;) She is also an incredibly talented athlete and artist, specializing in painting and metals. Her personality really comes through in these photos.. I love it!

Schweninger Wedding at Austin Inn on Pearl

2011-04-22T22:14:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful day this was!! Luckily that Texas heat subsided for a couple days just in time for John and Lolly's big day. I really enjoyed shooting this wedding because it had so much character; everywhere you turned there were hand-made touches with tradition intertwined. They certainly put a lot of thought into every detail, and it showed. It's always wonderful to see meaning behind every motion, and it's particularly impressive when you consider this couple just did a complete cross-country move and currently resides in North Carolina! But they are both music lovers... so why not hold a wedding in the music capitol (helps to have family and friends living here, too)? I think we made some beautiful images from this wedding. This was quite challenging for me because of how dark and large the space was, but I did the best I could running around with my one light source and I think things turned out well! These are some of my favorites out of the approximately 1500 that I took. Included are a few from the rehearsal dinner at Lambert's. I hope you all enjoy. :)

Holi 2011

2011-04-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

I was worried at this year's UT Holi that I wouldn't be able to top my take from last year. The one thing I had been disappointed with was my lack of close-up action. So this time around, I geared up with a 50mm (and hauling a 70-200 from the previous assignment, nearly worthless in this situation), protected it the best I could, and got down and dirty. I pushed my way through the crowds, tried more "hail mary"s than I'd ever like to admit (not looking through the lens when shooting), and sweat a great deal to get these shots. I'm proud of them, and as a team we had an amazing take. I managed to survive without injury until the end, when a less-than-sharp girl decided to throw a handful of rang directly into my eyes, nose, and the lens I was holding right below my chin. I'm glad the event was over at that point! Enjoy!

The aftermath, with Mary and Lawrence:

Scott's BBQ

2011-04-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

I ran into Scott's Barbecue back on March 4th while wandering downtown after an early Friday assignment. At first I hesitated, often feeling like a bother to those whose days I intrude on with the lens. I couldn't resist the well-crafted food trailer, altered and painted by Wayne, the cook. His wife, Nicole, a second-grade teacher, made me feel immediately welcome as I continued to press the shutter. They'd been serving a good southern taste for six years in Houston, and this was their fifth year traveling to Austin during high school state basketball at Frank Erwin. Over that time, they slowly built up the business, recently acquiring a hefty new pit the year before. It was a pleasure talking with Nicole and Roy, one of their local help, as they served some of their 100 regular customers who came immediately from their offices at the familiar smell. Sammy quietly assisted in the emptying of ashes that filled the street corner. Listening to their business philosophy gave me great joy; take care of others and they will take care of you. I could see that in their interactions with customers and friends. Any leftover food went to feed the nearby homeless. Might I add that the barbecue was tasty, and the messiest for me to date - it's authentic.

Austin, make sure you go pay them a visit next year during the high school state basketball tournament at 18th and Trinity, and stay for a good conversation!

December Swimming Invitational

2011-03-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

This was my first time to shoot swimming - I loved it.

December Diving Invitational

2011-03-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

Not TOO much variety here - this was my first time photographing diving, so I was trying to understand the lay of the land and where I could get shots without scoreboards and banners crowding the frame.

Football vs A&M

2011-03-03T16:36:00.001-08:00

A disappointing end to a disappointing season. No one can really say it was a surprise. I hope that my images are able to convey the mood that night. The Aggies brought a lot of spirit, and our seniors pushed through until the end. This was my last football game as a photographer; it was incredibly bittersweet and I was reluctant to leave the field after. I very well may never be in that amazing stadium ever again. One of the things I'll remember most is the sound of 110,000 voices colliding on the field. It's quite indescribable, and helps you appreciate what it's like to be an athlete in that position. And as per my goal for the night, I got a shot of Mack Brown being angry (he is notoriously difficult to photograph as a coach due to how collected he is, and the few spots in which you can access a shot of him). I want to point out the last photo... despite my huge rush to get over there, the bad white-balance, and the difficult editing... it's a breath-taking moment for me. A small kid putting his hands out to console players and cheer them on after the biggest loss of the season. Wow.

2011 Superbowl

2011-02-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

Pluckers and Bikini Sports Bar (a Steeler bar)!

No Place for Hate Summit

2011-02-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

Back in the Fall, middle school students from all over Central Texas gathered at the capitol for the annual No Place for Hate Summit that aims to eradicate bullying from schools. It was quite interesting to try and shoot, because I wasn't permitted to enter into any of the classrooms where workshops were held.

Snow Day in Austin

2011-02-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Snow days are incredibly rare in Austin. Between 1997 and 2007, it snowed a total of six times... the substance sticking to the ground is even rarer. Recently we had an Arctic storm blow through, bringing two days of 18 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3AM snow early Friday morning. Everyone (and their dog) came out to play in it. We even proceeded to take our cat, Suzie Q, out onto the garage roof - her reactions were priceless (and she did not like it).

Men's Basketball vs OU

2011-01-30T15:54:00.000-08:00

W 66-46

Texas Volleyball vs A&M

2011-01-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

I got yelled at a lot in this game (by the media coordinator, no less... at least the volunteers were nice about telling me to move)... I managed to get that nice passing shot of Julianne Faucett before being threatened by the coordinator. I went up to hide in the stands afterward, sitting in a [luckily] empty seat behind the man in the fourth photo. It was a good game though - a win for the Horns on senior night.

Texas Volleyball vs Nebraska

2011-01-16T21:06:00.001-08:00

I'd always loved watching Texas volleyball, and once I took photos from the crowd, but at last I officially photographed a game. Let me say... volleyball is incredibly difficult to shoot. You very restricted to where you can position yourself. Eventually I got shoved into one space in the stands, only because of a friendly volunteer staff member - the not-so-lovely media coordinator rudely told me off after threatening to throw me out as I tried to explain that where he wanted me to stand... in a corner behind our team.. would only produce awful photos of the player's backs. He did not care. These photos are all from me snooping around, but I didn't get away with it in the next game. Anyway, volleyball is very quick and full of lateral movement. In other words, you have to be as quick in moving the lens and focusing. It took most of the game for me to get used to reading the ball again in coordination with the camera, but luckily I produced some decent images.

New Years

2011-01-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

For New Year's, my boyfriend and I went camping on Lake Travis. We did a little back-woods exploring. :)

Imagery for "Regular" News

2011-01-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

On a regular day, a lot of what we're asked to do at DT is photograph lectures, speakers, meet-ups, etc... basically, photos of people talking. You can imagine how dreary and restricting that might be to photograph so commonly. Sometimes, you can't get anything more... the first two photos, for instance, are of a panel with famous Indian actress Shabana Azmi. When we're not given access behind the curtain, you do your best out front to get interesting gestures and avoid pesty water bottles. In the following two, we see the annual Texas Obesity Awareness week, where the room was large and quite dim. Along with capturing speakers, you look for important figures in the crowd and work with whatever lighting sources you have. Next is Meet the Deans for the College of Communications. More than anything, I tried to find angles in which the random students passing through the event (which was in front of the elevators that all students use) were removed, so as to concentrate on the subject at hand. I think my most successful adjustment of the semester was during a hearing on the Todd Willingham case (accusation against the state of Texas for wrongful execution). After waiting 90 minutes for the trial to begin, and then twenty minutes in session, the best shots came from directly after the event when Navarro County prosecutor R. Lowell Thompson was bombarded with press. The trial concluded early with Thompson's request that Judge Charlie Baird recuse himself from the case.

Football vs OSU

2011-01-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Loss, 16-33

Visual Arts Center

2010-12-21T20:10:00.001-08:00

This September, the new Visual Arts Center at the College of Fine Arts opened after two years of construction. The space had been dormant since 2005 after the Blanton Museum's exit into its own building on MLK. The center is directed by Jade Walker, who, with plenty of curating experience, will help students get a real, hands on experience with exhibitions by going no further than their own building (and I can personally attest to her passion for that).

You can find information on the VAC, events, and upcoming exhibitions on its website.

Fall Portraits

2010-12-20T18:34:00.000-08:00

Doing portraits for the paper was quite different than I'm used to. I can adapt to an environment pretty easily and use what's given to me (every one of these was shot at the worse time of day, but that's what happens when you've got to work on their schedules). However, the curve ball was only getting 10-15 minutes to take photos. I'd like to think that photographer's have to warm up, too. There's no time to do that with popular athletes and professors. Next semester, I want to practice on getting closer!

-President Bill Powers (not a portrait per say, giving State of the University address)
-Karen Engle, law professor
-Junior Nicole Vandermade and Freshman Rebecca Lee-Bentham, golfers from Canada
-Freshman cross country runner, Ryan Dohner
-Localiter.com co-founder Kristina Garza

Jeremy & Brittany

2010-12-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

This wedding was a lot of fun to shoot! The wedding party was full of such personality and good looks. ;) Jeremy and Brittany are both so laid back, it makes my job easier. That ended up being good because of some technical difficulties. With that said, I want to take a moment to thank Kelly Webeck for lending me her sb-900 from time to time during the reception! I'll be putting in for a new flash very soon, that's for sure!

In any case, it's a photographer's job to go with the flow, and I think things turned out well. My best wishes to this pair of rowers in their future. :)

Alpha Phi Omega Flag Prep

2010-12-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

Alpha Phi Omega, a service organization at UT, boasts care over the largest Texas flag in the world. The group is best known for running said flag before home football games, and therefore subject to thousands of photographs and cheers from the stands. Here, APO prepares the Texas flag on President Power's balcony at the Tower for the Torchlight Parade and Rally. Sporting an elaborate harness mechanism for safety, they brave the balcony heights (often leaning over the edge) to bring us a big piece of Longhorn Pride at each rally.

Shout out to Alex Goad, my hookup for this sweet opportunity!

DREAM Act

2010-12-05T20:50:00.001-08:00

On November 10th, Republican supporters from throughout Central Texas gathered to pressure Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson to back the DREAM Act's passage. The federal legislation would allow thousands of illegal resident students a path to citizenship if they fall within good moral character, have at least a high school diploma, and lived in the country for at least five years as a minor. Many thousands of such students attend Texas universities beside us and hope to gain a right to work for the United States and pay taxes as citizens after living in the country most or all of their lives. DREAM would also allow service in the military. Undocumented UT graduate Alina Cortes spoke of her inability to find a job and of a desire to support a country that has given her so much, reasserting that DREAM was not a declaration of amnesty. Fellow Republican Julieta Garibay followed up by saying that the topic allows for those who have been living in the States to "have the opportunity to share stories and desires." Hers is to be a nurse for U.S. soldiers.

Red River Rivalry 2010

2010-12-05T20:09:00.001-08:00

This year's Red River Rivalry was sadly not a surprise. The Longhorns had missed opportunities compounded by one mistake after the other. Such a trend was prevalent in the fourth quarter after the team had a chance to return the ball with one minute down, losing by eight points. After an unbelievable fumble by receiver Aaron Williams, the game was over with a 28-20 loss this year to OU. A conversation between the Texas Silver Spurs and RUF/NEKS after the game summed up the rivalry all too well as Robby Reeb had the OU acronym shaved into his head: "That's just how it goes; you win some years and lose the others. This wasn't the year." (click to enlarge photos)

Texas vs UCLA, Sept 25

2010-11-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

The entire 2010 season was a roller coaster for the Longhorn Football team. On September 25, they faced UCLA at home and ended up with the first in a long string of losses, 12-34. Despite top performance from Gilbert with passing yards, they were outscored in all but the first quarter in part thanks to multiple turnovers. (click for enlarged photos)

(and a bonus photo... the Powers that be)

Port Aransas Revisited

2010-11-20T08:23:00.001-08:00

Back in October, my design class visited Port Aransas for a second time (first was sophomore year to prepare for our ocean sampling simulation project in SL) to conduct research and interviews for a re-branding of the Marine Science Institute. I shot these in between our working times. I was relieved to get away from the city for a while (even if I was still doing school work), since I've been recently been aching big time to get back into nature. The lifestyle here is just so incredibly different than mine... slow, calm, and practically routine. Sounds of water lapping up against the dock and seagulls chirping in the distance come clearly to my mind.

Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

2010-11-14T12:12:00.001-08:00

On October 30th, political satirists Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert held coinciding rallies on the Mall in Washington D.C. to debate the values of sanity and fear in political discussion. It was an address to the state of constant hyperbole and polarity present in media and government, making the point that average Americans work together every day (and don't make the news for it). These photos are from a satellite rally in Austin, Texas, where an estimated 5,800 attended at the state capitol building from 11am-2pm.

Bridal Portraits with Brittany

2010-11-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Not quite her actual wedding dress, but that's okay. She didn't want her gown to get dirty from play time with the horses in Manor, Texas. :)

Rob Roy Kelly American Type Collection

2010-11-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

In the design division here at the University of Texas, we store, care for, and learn from the Rob Roy Kelly wood type collection in a small type lab tucked away in the studio. The set includes 150 faces used throughout the 19th century during a transition in print from hand-crafted to machine-developed type blocks. Previously cared for by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, this historic collection was purchased by the HRC in 1966 and then transferred to the design division in 1993 where a few dedicated patrons organized and documented each specimen. Now, students are able to learn from this uniquely American tool through use in the lab. The following images are from a workshop that seniors conducted with Rick Griffith, a visiting graphic designer and typographer out of Denver.

Click here to view the collection online.

ACL 2010, Saturday

2010-11-12T20:44:00.001-08:00

This was my first time at ACL. My boyfriend and I had one-day tickets for Saturday, mainly because we wanted to see Muse at the top of their game (because The Resistance is one of the best albums made in this decade). I took my camera because I knew I'd regret it if I didn't (I can now safely say that would have been true). At the same time, though, I didn't want to get too caught up in photos because I wanted to experience this hipster mega-show. Ironically, ended up taking photos the most during the two groups I wanted to see most: Dan Black and Muse. I guess I was inspired; not only that, but I was obviously more willing to battle closer to the stage. I may not look that close to Muse, but I was relatively close, and there were probably 20,000 crammed in behind me. Both were amazing shows. My expectations for Muse were really high after listening to them *outside* of Stubb's during SXSW.. and they still blew my mind (and Dan Black almost blew my eardrums)!

Torchlight Parade 2010

2010-10-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

The first Torchlight Parade at UT occurred in 1916 before the Thanksgiving game versus A&M. It wasn't until 1941 that they became a weekly event for all football games, and it's unknown when the tradition became associated with the Red River Rivalry. Currently, the spirited event is put on by the Texas Exes Student Chapter, who carry torches along with other organizations down The Drag, past The Castillian dorm that sports "Beat OU", and then into the Main Mall under our iconic tower.

This was my last time to photograph the annual Torchlight Parade as a student... so I hope you enjoy them. :)

UT Shooting Aftermath

2010-10-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

Where was I during lock down at 8:30am on Tuesday the 28th? Already in class... locked down! I wish I could have gone out to photograph, but getting to the DT office is a good 15 minute walk across a campus covered in SWAT, police, and another potential shooter. We were asked to continue with our workshop, but many of us found it difficult to concentrate... naturally!

UT seemed to have a different air on Wednesday the 29th of September. The air seemed still with an exception of the many phone conversations students were having about the previous day. Copies of The Daily Texan were being looked at and saved all over campus while media vans and crime scene tape lingered. Prayer vigils were held throughout the day to help students and staff come to terms with what had happened. This last Wednesday, I could hear the UT siren test faintly from downtown while on assignment; considering that this was the first moment hearing it since the previous week's tragic event, I couldn't help but feel as if time stood still for a split second. I wonder what that moment was like on campus, because if there's one thing I remember from Wednesday the 28th, beyond the lines of SWAT and county-wide police, it's the constant sound of those sirens with helicopters.

Around Austin, September 6th

2010-09-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Mobility Bond Campaign, Austin's Children Museum, 2nd Street District, City Hall

Downtown Construction

2010-09-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

Construction on the new W Hotel and Residencies

Scenes from Bourbon Street

2010-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

During our one day/night in New Orleans, we took a stroll down Bourbon from it's loud, touristy side to the more quiet and residential area with lone trumpets and many homes up for sale.

St. Louis Cemetary, New Orleans

2010-09-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

The largest above-ground cemetery in New Orleans, St. Louis #1, is the resting place of the "Voodoo Queen" Marie Laveau (and future resting place of Nicolas Cage). Most of the tombs there are generational, and bodies are allowed to naturally decay before a new body is placed into the tomb.