TexasGirl Photography

Confidence bolstered by my relative success with the trees, I decided it was time to take my camera to town.  I used to think that my Hasselblad was heavy, but it is nothing compared to hauling around the Crown Graphic and its long legs. (I can’t imagine what 8×10 or larger would be like; I might need a caddy.  Volunteers are welcome.)  

Austin, Texas is changing.  I have written about the demise of Old Austin more than once, and lamented it in my heart almost daily since returning nearly 6 years ago.  The only constant in life is change, but it is still painful to see sometimes.  With the good – formerly “dangerous” areas of town are full of trendy bars and restaurants – comes the bad – funky, fun, character-filled areas are being mowed down for high rise condos, plus everything is more expensive and crowded.  I have made a small effort over the past couple of years to photograph some of the older areas that are targeted for new growth; Burnet Road is one of them.  I blocked the sidewalk for a solid five minutes making this shot, and I was thrilled with how it came out. When I told my dad that I didn’t know what to photograph with a large format camera, one of his answers was “shoot things where you want a lot of detail.”  This was definitely one of those moments.  

Next, as in directly after I made this photograph, I set off for the water.  Texas has had a LOT of rain this spring – too much, all at once, in true Texas fashion.  I have photographed the greenbelt with sorrow for a few years now, exploring the various stages of drought.  I could hardly wait to see Twin Falls; last fall it was dry as a bone, but I expected a lot of joyful rapids on this visit.

I was not disappointed.  The hike in was a humid, slippery, treacherous mess, with me in flip flops navigating a narrow trail; I had the camera on my back and carried the tripod under my arm.  If people wondered what I was doing, they concealed it well.  Austinites love the water – I feel like we have a special relationship with it, since usually we are despairing over the lack thereof  – so I treated many, many swimmers to my photographic tribulations.  Setting up in an area crowded with trees, rocks, and mud was a fun challenge. I put my face to the ground glass, breathed deep, and looked.  These two are a sample of what I made. 

Now, sadly, the Arista EDU film is all used up; this was the last of it.  I am on a new path with Tri-X 320, and so far it is taking me places that I love!  More to come. . . . .