Architecture in Austin (2)

Architecture in Austin (1)

A few days ago Harlock and I made a day of walking around downtown Austin. Austin is a beautiful city with some spectacular buildings; a nice mix of classic and modern.

I look forward to heading back downtown with my camera to take some more shots of Austin's wonderful architecture. I'm planning to hit up some parking garages and seeing if I can't find any really great local secrets for taking amazing shots of the city as a whole.

A Walk Through Mabel Davis Park in Austin, TX

While walking Ghost one of the few days we arrived in Austin I stumbled upon a large field that looked, at first, overgrown and neglected. Until I realized that it was a park of some sort and thanks to a few signs I learned that it was a wild flower area.

Never before have I encountered such a sight. A place in a developed neighborhood set aside and unspoiled. Nature was allowed to grow and flourish with only a few paths for us humans and dogs. I love this park with it's long meandering red clay paths that lead into a small forest where, as I learned yesterday, deer like to play.

While I didn't manage to get a photo of the deer (believe me I have plans to go back just for this purpose) the fact that I did see one is, in itself amazing. Austin, so far, seems to be a nice blend of nature and man which is a refreshing change of pace from what I have been accustomed to during my time in Florida.

Bridge over the Mississippi

A shot of this bridge we crossed over on our way to Austin. 

We Moved to Austin!

That's right, Harlock and I moved from Sarasota, Fl all the way to Austin, Tx. It was a helluva move involving packing about a million books and storing the majority of our goods and wares at his mom's house along with one of our cats, Hanzou. We took Ghost and Mister Santiago (due to an injury) along with us. 

Austin, so far, is pretty rad. We're staying with some great people and already got to do some pretty swell things. Including....seeing William Gibson speak.

We got to meet some awesome people and hang out at a coffee shop like real artist are prone to do. We haven't yet seen the majority of Austin, which is huge as I understand it but in time I'm confident that we'll come to know the in's and out's, the nooks and the crannies just like the locals. What I find nice is the lack of humidity; while hot Austin isn't nearly as miserable as Florida this time of year. 

So far, I enjoy it here. I'm going to try to trek down to the downtown area soon with my camera to see what the city has to offer. 

Black Cat

Dinosaur Hunting

To illustrate how incredibly awesome I am I plan to photograph dinosaurs in the wild. It's dangerous and risky but the rewards will far out-weigh any danger or harm I may put myself in. 

((I need more toy dinosaurs. I have an idea but I need more dinosaurs! BRING ME MORE

 DINOSAURS! ))

Bird and Wires

Some quick highlights since the last I posted.

-I got a job.

-My grandma died. It was time.

-Harlock and I are thinking about moving to Austin.

The above photo is the result of Tropical Storm Debby which stirred up the Gulf of Mexico for a bit. There were some truly wonderful storms during that time. I've been neglecting my camera for too long and I think it's time to redirect some of my attention and time back to art. I need to find some kind of focal point; something to rally behind and work towards so I'll be brainstorming about possible projects and such. Something challenging and fun to exercise my creativity. We'll see how that works. 

I've been posting photos on my Tumblr and Flickr so I'll just concentrate of posting things I have yet to post on this blog for now. 

I have been neglecting this blog.

Sorry.

I'll post something soon.

Week 10: Ringling Bridge

Week 9: Bee

My posting may be erratic but I have yet to miss a week!

Mockingbird

Week 8: Fly Away, Fly Away

Week 7: Ghost of House Stark on Patrol

Ghost is going on her first public outing today; the Sarasota Farmer's Market! I'm trying not to be nervous about it. Really, we should've done this much much earlier with her but I'm sure it'll be ok. Well, not too sure or I wouldn't be nervous.

Week 6: Lights

I was late on posting this! I have a new job that promises to be neat so I'm kind of been busy with that.

Three Photographs of a Dead Tree Trunk

Trashline

A Green House on Green Lawn

Brown Sugar Sugar Cookies!

I've been on a snickerdoodle kick lately and felt like making some more today....but I didn't really have a lot of sugar left. Instead, I made Brown Sugar Sugar Cookies! I'm glad I did they are delicious!

I found the recipe here: http://bakingbites.com/2011/03/brown-sugar-cookies/ and increased the amount of vanilla to a tablespoon instead of 2 teaspoons.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar 
2 large eggs
1 tbs vanilla extract

You're going to preheat the oven to 325 and cream the butter and sugar together. When you have a nice creamy mixture you'll add the eggs. 

Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda along with the salt next and then add that mixture to the sugar/butter.

Don't worry about making a mess...I never do.

Taste the dough! It'll be yummy.

\

Now, the key to a good sugar cookie is the pattern on the cookie itself. You MUST do this to ensure a proper tasting treat. I mean it, this is important. I cannot stress this enough. Take the time, get a fork and make a grid on every single cookie. 

Throw the pan in the oven and bake it for a few minutes until they are done. I'm not sure how long; I don't really time it when I make cookies. I guess I should start doing that....well just bake them until they're done.

TA-DA!

Enjoy the cookies!

Week 5: In the Ferns

I had posted this photo earlier and then decided to use it as part of my 52 week project. For the sake of consistency I'm going to post it again.

'A Moment, a Breath, a Glimpse of Time Since Gone.'

I wish I could've taken the shot with the water visible. But I just liked the moment so much I took the photo without much thought or planning. I didn't want to miss it. I think that's one of my major problems in my photography; I rush. 

I could stage another photo, making sure that the light was just right reflecting off the water or find a different angle. But it wouldn't be the same. 

Out of Order

Taken at the Greyhound bus station in Bradenton.

I love scenes like this. Just everyday scenes that are made a little unusual; a little weird.

Candid Shot of a Man in McDonalds

Peacocks!

There are 3 peacocks that have taken up residence in my neighborhood. According to a nice gal that lives nearby they even have some chicks. It is thought that these birds escaped from the Sarasota Jungle Gardens which is just a few blocks from where I live.

My boyfriend and I first spotted the birds a few evenings ago while we took Ghost out for a walk. The next evening I grabbed my trusty camera and headed out to see if I could find them again. Sure enough I did.

I stalked them through the neighborhood, often kneeling in dirt and crawling in grass. I love doing stuff like this and always serves to revitalize my passion for wildlife photography. The birds let me get pretty close which was a thrill.

Shooting these birds also made me realize that it's time to upgrade my telephoto lens. 

Week 4: A Leaf

Study of a Leaf in Black and White

The leaf is in the process of decomposing.

Only the veins are left now. It doesn't even feel like a leaf anymore.

There are bits of itself still left. Here and there clinging on.

The leaf is surprisingly resilient; flexible even. It's not brittle or delicate. 

Death has given it a strength it did not know in life. 

Lightbox Bonanza!

I made a little light box tonite. I've only shot a few things in it but so far this is my favorite:

Here's a link to an older blog post of mine when I made my first lightbox: http://shootingannabellee.blogspot.com/2010/10/homemade-lightbox.html

This time I have the benefit of a SB-400 speedlight to help with lighting. 

Week 3: Arbor Gold

I just realized that I didn't post my Week 3 photo on here yet. I did on Flickr and Google + but not here.

Waiting

My loyal direwolf pup Ghost guards my bike as I wade into Sarasota Bay for pictures.

Life Lesson

In the last post I put up a picture; House in Shadow that is right down the street from me. Today, the house is covered with a huge tarp. I guess it shows that things can change just like that so always carry your camera.

House in Shadow