Seaweed: its for more than throwing!

So when I went to the beach for an (awesome!) on-the-beach wedding, what did I do? Naturally, I took more pictures, thus adding to my already long to-do list. But this is work that doesn't feel like work, so I'm cool with it.

I dare you to tell me this isn't the most attractive mound of washed up seaweed you've ever seen. What's that? You don't really notice that kind of thing when you're soaking up the sun on a clear, summer day with nothing but endless water and sand sprinkled with scantily clad eye candy? How awkward of me.

I usually make it a point to avoid shots of tree branches. Its usually just really amateur-looking, but in my defense, this was really more of a shot of the sky (and proof that I was an HOUR early for a 7:30 A.M. final last fall). The leaves were slightly damp and picking up some of the orange from the sky. Any whooo, I just ran across it and thought I would post something pretty, just because.

Unicorn: The Other White Meat

I wish this had happened while I was taking my mass communications law class. I'm sure my professor, an ex DA with a great sense of humor, could have used this as an example multiple times.

It's tough to pick out my favorite quote from this article, but I'm going to have to go with "an excellent source of sparkles."

Check out the story, which I found on the Lubbock Avalanche Journal's site, by clicking here.

Also, I googled "fat unicorn" for images a few days ago (don't ask) and it's amazing how many relevant image results I found. Try it if you wish.

...Did that building just move?

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE awesome guerilla marketing? Samsung got it right with this one! Imagine walking down the street and seeing this. (If the video seems a bit slow at first, just wait until about half a minute into it, it gets way better from there.)

Tiffany's Senior Portraits

Just a few of many senior portrait shots I took for my friend Tiffany. She graduates in August... congrats, Tiff!

Wandering mind: keep off grass!

This has by far been the most absurdly busy semester I've ever had. I worked myself to the point that, as what I believe is a Texan saying puts it, "Every time I stand up my mind sits down." The obvious solution to this was to stay standing up so my mind could sit down. So I went for a walk to to take some photos of this beautiful spring day. My mind did roam around a bit after I had walked around for a while... (see last photo).

Lone Safety Cone implores you to stay away from this wide, rolling field! (I suppose " Please Keep Off Grass" wasn't urgent enough?)

No Dead Pigeons, No Problem

I don’t know what it is, but I seem to have an uncanny ability to gain access to the bell tower, the only limited-access area on campus, through amicable meetings with strangers. Technically, the underground steam tunnels that run from one side of campus to the other are restriced-access too, but I have no desire to walk from one side of campus to the other in a steam tunnel. I prefer the view from above, which is why I’m so psyched that I somehow managed my way up into the bell tower again, thanks to the graciousness of several High Riders, a the female answer to the guy’s spirit group which let me into the tower the first time, the Saddle Tramps.

So here’s how my climbing up the bell tower came about:

I’m on campus over the weekend scouting locations for some senior portraits I’m taking this weekend (future blog post? Heck yes...) when I hear a girl from behind say something about “calling the po-po.” Now, imagine yourself in my situation: enjoying the first clear day of spring in over a week, minding your own business, camera up to your face when you suddenly hear mention of the cops being on their way. This is when you 1) awkwardly hesitate to remove the camera hiding your face and 2) quickly survey the situation to decide if you should listen to your wholesome, tiny portrait photographer sitting on one shoulder or the tiny, slightly deviant photojournalist on your other shoulder. After surveying the situation and finding no sign of excitement, my deviant shoulder buddy was sorely disappointed but consoled when the High Rider who had called the “po-po” invited me to join them. Deviant shoulder buddy then got her hopes up again, but they were quickly let down again when one of the High Riders explained the police have to open the restricted-access bell tower in order for them to ring the victory bells.

Meanwhile, tiny portrait photographer jumped for joy at the unexpected and innocent turn of events. As for myself, I’ve never felt so lucky to have a spur-of-the moment trip up 170 stairs to a confined space surrounded by dead pigeons. (This has happened twice, mind you). The view was great, and in the face of defeat my deviant side did not pursue photos of the dead pigeons (you’re welcome).

So, here they are: photos from the best view on the Texas Tech University campus, taken as the victory bells rang.