Little Tracks...

I covered one of the many Model Train shows that takes place in Temple ever few months. This was the CentraMOD Inc. 's annual show at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center. The show had over 100 vendors as well as workshops for those interested in Model Rail Roading. What really caught my interest was the age range interested in model trains older folks, kids and everyone one in between.  I never really considered model trains as way for people to  create community, always pictured a lone dude sitting in his basement lit by a single light bulb, but now I can see that I was completely wrong about that. Its a pretty weird vibrant community.

From the Archive...

Pulling from my archive I found this landscape I snapped  after my interview in Temple at the Telegram from a rest stop off of I-10. Since this month marks a year since I took the gig here, I figured I would mark the occasion with a photo.

East Temple

I really enjoyed working on a series with our former city reporter, Jessica Priest, about East Temple. And while the series ran in the Telegram about a week ago, I still feel like there are more stories to tell in this very forgotten part of the city. I desire to delve deeper into the narrative of this part of town through its people and history. You will definitely see more of this project here in future posts. 

Hiding from the camera...

I always get a kick out of people hiding from the camera when I'm out on assignment. While I was covering a Juneteenth Parade this morning I ran into these two kids on a street corner James (right) called me over to take his photo laughing and dancing while his friend Jakayla pulled her blanket over her face. I'm pretty sure I heard a few words being mumbled to James  as I hung out snapping frames about how he was going to get it later.

Battle of Temple Junction

Saturday afternoon I drove my little fuel efficient car into a cut-down corn field and step back in time. My assignment: cover a Civil War reenactment that never actually happened here in Temple. "The Battle of Temple Junction" part of a three-day event showcasing the tactics of the war, the medical treatment of the time and living conditions.

I spent some time weaving between Confederate and Union lines before joining the crowd gathered to watch the Battle begin. As the smoke filled the field of battle, some bystanders started joking that with all that gun fire no one was hit. All I kept thinking was, "Wow, the Union forces here are few and far between." No surprise. The Confederate forces won this demonstration. As the smoke cleared, some of the reenactors stumbled off the field to a field hospital set up to show the 100 or so event spectators how the wounded and dying were treated.

During the battle and following medical demonstrations, you would hear onlookers discussing the Civil War (mostly bashing the Union army and Lincoln). I know I shouldn't be, but I found myself surprised at the resentment so many years after the end of the conflict. I guess that's how it is after any war.

It was a weird way to spend an afternoon, however it was fun to cover!

State Track

 Spent Friday and Saturday covering the state track meet. As of 3:30 Friday afternoon, I was getting cozy under the photographer tent at Mike Martinez Stadium. I love covering track and field. Besides the long history, the sport contains some of the most dramatically emotional moments in sports as the athletes concentrate, wince in pain, cry in sorrow and celebrate in victory. These are just a few of the many images I took over the weekend. I hope you enjoy them.

Film...

Two snaps off a roll shot back in October at a Halloween street festival, one of those "safer to bring your kids here rather than have them trick or treat in the neighborhood" deals. These were my two favorites off the roll.

Random Images from the week

The China House, Temple, TX

Horses, Little River Academy, TX

Its funny how a roll of film can make my day...

Holga

Lubitel

Holga

Holga

Lubitel

Ok so it was actually two rolls of film. One from a Holga and one is a test roll from my Russian Lubitel.

Portrait: Marcus

Snapped this frame Wednesday morning of Marcus Hood A.K.A. M HOOD! one of the Sports guys at the paper.

January so far...

As a new year begins, Temple Parks and Leisure Services employee John Young hands wreaths down to Marcus Wagner from the top of one of the light poles in the Municipal Building parking lot.

Several firefighting units were called in to battle a travel trailer fire Thursday morning on Fort Road near Stillhouse Hollow lake.

Felix C. Martinez watches as the travel trailer he and Elizabeth Mysinger shared burned to the ground, Thursday near Stillhouse Hollow Lake. The fire was started when Martinez was burning trash in a short burn barrel while cleaning the yard outside the trailer. Thinking the fire had subsided he went inside, but when he returned to the yard the trash can next to the barrel had caught fire from the ashes drifting into it. Martinez then rushed back into the trailer to get Mysinger out, both received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Sri Sreeram Hariharan prays outside the Hindu Temple of Central Texas. Hariharan is the chief priest of the only Hindu temple between Dallas and Austin, which has a membership of about 1,000 people.