Bluebonnets

I've been trying to get down to the Texas Hill Country for the last few weekends, but to no avail. I finally planned to go early this morning, only to find out that the area was experiencing a 70% chance of thunderstorms and steady rain throughout the day.

Instead, Rose (my assistant and Rat Terrier Extraordinaire) and I opted to drive down to Ennis. Ennis is a small Texas town, only about thirty miles south of Dallas.

This town is well known for typically having a bumper crop of bluebonnets dotting its surrounding countryside. Today was also the Bluebonnet Festival. Rose was happy to scarf down two sausage kolaches, and to ignore the other dogs who were enjoying the sights and sounds.




Afterwards, we followed the "Bluebonnet Trails" for an hour or so, stopping when we felt like it to snap a few photos.


I got a chance to also try out my micro lens, which although relatively new, hasn't been used all that much since I purchased it a few months back.


These are taken along the Bristol Trail, where the views from Sugar Ridge Road were spectacular.


I'm always intrigued by the other people who are out and about, enjoying the scenery, as well. Three caught my eye on this trip. First, a hugely pregnant Indian woman, whose brightly-colored sari was fluttering in the breeze. She looked very peaceful among the blooms.

Next, a little girl named Holly, who was adorable beyond words. I'm thinking it would be next to impossible to get a bad photograph of this child!



Finally, a girl caught running through the fields of flowers. Her mother was trying to take her picture, but she wouldn't keep still. Can't say as I blame her!

I may still try to get to the Hill Country in the morning, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy these photographs. Spring has most definitely come to Texas!

Farmers Market

On Sunday, I made a trip to downtown Dallas to visit the Farmers Market. It's a bit early in the season, but the locals had a good variety of fruits and vegetables.

I was disappointed to see that the first building, which previously housed furniture, art, garden items, all sorts of things, has changed. After speaking with one of the few vendors there, I found out that the City wanted those vendors out, and kept only a few who were "grandfathered in," as well as food vendors. Too bad, because the original vendors had a lot of charm. Oh well, nothing stays the same.

The nurseries surrounding the market had some great flowers and plants, and the weather was perfect for walking around and looking.

Some lucky person even had a surprise left on their windshield!

I'll hopefully have some bluebonnet photographs on here in the next week , so stay tuned!

An Afternoon at the Park

Today I had the pleasure of photographing two very stylish sisters: Kennedy and Kendall. They even brought along their Mom, who acted as their stylist!







The weather was perfect, and we shot at the Prairie Creek Park in Richardson, Texas.



This was the first time I'd been to this park, and it was gorgeous. Lots of greenery, a great waterfall area, and a good trail. I'll definitely be going back here for more photo shoots

The girls were excellent subjects, and we wandered throughout the park. Before I knew it, almost two hours had gone by.





Thanks, girls, for making this shoot so much fun!

A Wedding

I photographed a wedding yesterday. A friend's brother got married, and they needed an extra photographer to work with one they were already using (the bride-to-be's niece). The ceremony was at a beautiful cathedral in uptown Dallas.

I first met the "wedding men" at the groom-to-be's house at noon, and photographed them getting ready. They were having such a good time.

The GTB wasn't even nervous; he couldn't wait to get to the church and get married! He's shown here with a photograph of his mother and father at their wedding. Although his father passed away several years ago, you could tell that he was still very much with him during this important day of his life.

The first glimpse I had of the bride was through a beveled diamond-shaped piece of glass in the door of the cathedral's "getting ready" room. She looked like a fairy tale princess.

Her attendants were glowing, as well, and the entire room seemed filled with light.

The ceremony went on without a hitch, and in no time at all, they were man and wife.

There was a reception afterwards at the Museum of Biblical Art, which was a very cool venue.

Friends and family celebrated the event; the groom's sister sang "At Last," and the groom sang "The Way You Look Tonight" to his bride. I'm a sucker for that last song...it's my favorite.

Cheers to the bride and groom!

Palo Pinto, Texas

Yesterday, I journeyed to Palo Pinto, which is about two hours east of Dallas. The purpose of the trip was to attend an aunt's memorial service. Her husband passed away many years ago, and was laid to rest in this little country cemetery in the town where he grew up. Aunt Alyce joined him yesterday. It was a windy, crisp March day, and a small crowd of family and friends celebrated her life, as her ashes were buried next to her husband. Afterwards, in true Texas fashion, the ladies of the First Baptist Church of Palo Pinto hosted a lunch for all of us.

I also drove through nearby Mineral Wells, and took a few photographs of the old Baker Hotel. The hotel was built in the 1920's, and drew quite the Hollywood crowd, who came for the "healing" waters and the spas. It's been empty a long time, but you can still see the fine bones and elegant lady that she once was. I read where the hotel was the first "skyscraper" to be built outside a major metropolitan area in the United States. It's hard to believe that this building had 450 guest rooms, a bowling alley, and a beauty shop way back when!









Texas has such an amazing history. I enjoy taking the opportunity to check out as much as I can. Thanks for following along!

Santa Fe

I've just returned from a four-day trip to Santa Fe, the city that is every photographer's dream. Each time I go there, I feel as though I'm returning home. I love the Southwest, having lived in Arizona for many years, and will probably move back one of these days.

I went to Santa Fe to see Annie Leibovitz accept an award from the Georgia O'Keeffe musuem. Her lecture, complete with photographs from her most recent book, "Annie Leibovitz at Work," was incredible.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a few photographs I took while there. The weather was perfect for walking around, and it seemed as though around every corner there was a new photo opportunity!

What I Do

I capture moments in time. My photography business is growing, and I'm so happy you stopped by to check out my brand new website and this blog. It's my intent to post weekly here, perhaps share a few comments and photographs from a recent shoot, or something from one of my trips.

I appreciate all the support my friends and family has given me, and I'm looking forward to putting the focus on what I love the most. Please feel free to leave comments; I look forward to hearing from y'all.