Reporting (Stranded) from/on South Padre Island

Mike a reporter and I are here on South Padre Island covering Hurricane Alex. The Causeway was s closed at 1:30pm Wednesday, so we are stuck here for the storm.

Indy League...

GO Skate Day...

According to goskateboardingday.org, "Every year on June 21, skateboarders around the globe celebrate the pure exhilaration, creativity, and spirit of one of the most infuential activities in the world by blowing off all other obligations to go skateboarding."

The Vinyls in the Backroom...

I had a random Thursday off and I ended up at a Record shop in the back of an antiques store. After looking through the stacks I ended up hanging out with the owner of the shop a dude named Tony, we had a beer and talked about music along with all kinds of crazy things. Not only does this guy own the shop but the entire building. Him and his wife live over the shop. The building was a hotel at one time and the living space still looks like a hotel. It was really amazing to tour that joint.

Tony the owner of the shop, this guy has done everything from teaching to running his shop.

Random update

Taking a break from editing portrait work to post some photos from the past couple weeks. JROTC training, a mini vacation to Corpus Christi and some shots of my little cousins.

Memorial Day

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Joe Reynolds, a Korean War veteran, fought and was wounded in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, one of the most important and intense battles of the Korean war.

Read the story here: Memories of the Korean War

The Set up...

One for the Road...

As I head out to cover two more softball teams I figured I would break all that softball coverage with this photo. As I was driving around on my daily wild art hunt I came across a crew of men from SRS Farms clearing an embankment over looking a field of sorghum near Santa Rosa.

The crew had been working for five hours before I ever found them which was at 10:30am. When I shoot photos of workers in fields or anywhere doing backbreaking labour it really makes me realize how easy my gig is.

A Team with Attitude...

I'm in Corpus Christi tonight and tomorrow afternoon to cover the Lyford Lady Bulldogs as they push to get to state.

The Beach...

Shot this last weekend on SPI.

UIL Track & Field day 2

UIL Track & Field day 1

Sportrait outtake...

I had to head over to Harlingen South today to shoot a sportrait of five of the softball teams players. while I was getting my meter reading right, lights the way I wanted them I was shooting test shots. This was actually my favorite photo from the session. It would never run in the paper, but that's what a blogs for.

Blog Revisited

I received a phone call this morning for a copy of this photo. The person calling wants to give it as a gift to a Vietnam Vet. Both the person that is giving the photo and the person getting the gift served in the Army and I was touched when the person calling said it was a beautiful photo.

Nuevo Progreso, Pairs...

Spent a few hours roaming Nuevo Progreso Sunday.

Bugs Eye View...

After I was leaving a softball game I put my gear in my truck and wandered over to a field shot this with my phone. One of my friends calls it a bugs eye view of the world I guess I would have to agree.

CENTENNIAL

Yesterday started Harlingen's Centennial celebrations. The Union Pacific rolled in a 1944-model steam Engine to help the city celebrate its 100 years in existence.

Showing off...

As I was driving through Rio Hondo on my way back to the Star I saw a man riding a horse along Sam Houston Blvd toward San Benito. Now this is pretty common down here, but I figured I would stop, talk to him and shoot some photos since I was looking to get some wild art.

Turns out the rider Rudy Ortega and his horse Clown were headed to the Wal Mart in San Benito where Ortega works as a cart pusher. His friends at work had been wanting to see his horse so he decided to leave his home in Rio Hondo and ride into San Benito to show Clown off. Driving this road every other day makes one forget that nine miles is a short distance in a vehicle but on horseback it could take a more than the 15 minutes by car.

Makes you think at one time a trip to another town was an all day deal not a short hop.

Ortega also told me about his family ranch and his roping team. I gave him my contact info, maybe this could lead to a cool photo essay or something. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Holga work

So a Photographer walks into a bar...

Good Friday

Rudy Cantu a parishioner from Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church walks down West Taylor Avenue Friday Morning during Stations of the Cross part of Easter celebrations in the Valley.

A Gaggle of Kids plus a few...