Hank

I cut my teeth as a photographer as the photo editor/sports photographer of my college’s newspaper (a MONTHLY newspaper!!!)  using a camera that took floppy disks and a version of photoshop that didn’t have a BACK function.  I guess a lot hasn’t changed in the last 5 years…I still have that Sony Mavica somewhere in a closet and my current version of photoshop isn’t much newer, but I’m having more fun than ever shooting in Austin, Texas.

Since my last update, I’ve been fortunate enough to make some new photographer friends, put several hundred miles on the road bike,  mentor two photographers who are new to the ever shrinking world of (paid) photography, eat lots of Tex-Mex and shot some photos of my best head tilting pal, Hank (above).

May is a pretty crazy month for freelance photographers in Austin, as the spring UIL championship season is in full swing.  I spent an entire week shooting Texas UIL State Golf, Tennis and Track for various outlets, big and small, across Texas.

Daniel Brown, of Montgomery, celebrates his state championship win over Brady Bohrnstedt.

Like I say in just about every update, shooting sports is a blast and photographing the top high school athletes in Texas makes it that much better.  I spent 4 days waiting out rain showers, running between 12 courts while shooting the Texas UIL Tennis Championships in Lakeway.

Nate Lammons, of Conroe The Woodlands College Park, returns a short ball.

For a really good reason, the UIL also schedules the golf state championships on the exact same day as the tennis championships…Meaning the poor media folks (like myself) get to drive 50 minutes across Austin trying to catch the winning player making the winning shot while not missing the any other shots at either venue.  Pretty fun and a little stressful…

Portland Rosen, of Clements, attempts to talk her ball onto the green after teeing off during the 2010 UIL Golf State Championships in Austin on Thursday.

The Texas UIL Golf State Championships weren’t as exciting as they were last year (no one threw their clubs into the lake this year!), it was nice to relax under cloudy skies and not get too bad of a sunburn.  On the last day of the tournament, the skies opened up and a 4 hour and 50 minute rain delay nearly cancelled the tournament.  It was choas as everyone tried to stay dry under what little cover there was and we all just waited….and waited for the storm to pass.

Claire Thompson, second from left, checks her cell phone as other members of the Katy Seven Lakes golf team take a quick nap during a 4 hour and 50 minute rain delay during the 2010 UIL Golf State Championships in Austin on Friday. Surrounding Thompson are, from left, Evelina Keifer, Cecilie Nordahl and Maren Platou.

After the rain delay, an emergency trip to Rudy’s BBQ, and following our golf cart disaster (think the biggest splash ride at Six Flags…Water went OVER the top of the cart..Sorry Jenny!), I got on my way to shooting a few kids before running over the the Texas UIL State Track and Field Championships.

Christina Stringham, of Pasadena Memorial, shoots out of the bunker during the 2010 UIL Golf State Championships in Austin.

Taking a break from high school sports for a few days, I shot the Austin Aztex, Austin’s professional soccer team, like I do every home game.

Austin Aztex

Last night’s game was absolutely amazing, with over 6,000 people in attendance.  While a 3-3 draw wasn’t the score the Aztex were looking for, it provided the fans, many of them new to Austin’s soccer team, a lot to look at.

Austin Aztex

Goals went back and forth all night, until Tampa tied the match late in the final minutes of play.

Austin Aztex

You can always see more galleries at www.austinaztex.com and a few photos here and there at USLSOCCER.

I’ve also been shooting a little bit of music here and there.  I got the call to shoot the supergroup The Dead Weather, but I was more interested in the band that opened for them, The Ettes.

The Ettes lead singer Lindsay "Coco" Hames performs at Stubb's in downtown Austin on Friday.

Apart from sounding better, they actually had lights on them!  I haven’t shot a lot live music, but The Dead Weather was one of the darkest, most backlit bands I have ever shot….Except for these sporadic bursts of a bright strobe light which I set my camera settings for.  I don’t understand it, but I only had to sit through three songs so I can’t complain too much!

The Dead Weather's Dean Fertita, from left, Alison Mosshart and Jack White perform at Stubb's in downtown Austin on Friday.

I’m still waiting on the call to cover Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen myself.  (Although I did shoot and get to meet Lyle at a private event a while ago!)

I’ve also been shooting a lot of University of Texas softball recently.  I’ve had a blast doing it because the access is great, the girls are hilarious, it isn’t crowded with other photographers and the backgrounds are clean!

The University of Texas softball team celebrates on home plate as they wait for Amy Hooks to round third after hitting a solo home run.

Georgia's Laura Trout rounds third base after hitting a solo home run off of Blaire Luna.

Blaire Luna delivers a pitch during the Longhorns game against OSU in Austin.

Apart from all the usual events I cover, I try to spend as much time with friends, my dog, and now that it is summer, swimming!  I love taking my dog, Hank, out to the local dog parks and everywhere else I can.  He loves soccer balls!

Hank at Zilker Park.

Hanson Little at Barton Springs.

As usual, I’ve got many more photos that I want to show, but work is calling and I’m off to shoot the NCAA Regional Championships here in Austin.  Look for another post soon!  -PM

(all photos by Austin photographer Patrick Meredith)

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