While covering car and vintage plane shows is fun, Saturday’s coverage of the 8th Annual Stephanie Nichols Vintage Car and Plane Show at the Georgetown Airport was even more of a blast when I met Austin’s Matthew Magruder as he toted his 1930s-era Kodak Master View camera around to create tintype photos using a wet plate collodion process very much like famed Civil War photographer Matthew Brady used in the 1860s. Even more interesting, photography is a serious hobby for Magruder, but during his regular work days, he’s a licensed psychologist. For a look at his work, and to learn about his psychology practice, visit his website here.

It was never my intention to document the last years of my area of the Blackland Prairie. Not at all. After living in crowded metro-Atlanta for many years, the land, water and skies, the grain elevators, churches, barns, old houses, windmills, etc. were just there. They inspired a fellow who was happy to be able to see sunrises and sunsets without interference. And clean, unpolluted skies. Now, after almost ten years back in God’s country, development is encroaching. While I understand the the need to move to places more affordable, there’s a yearning for things to stay as they are, like these scenes taken tonight near Beyersville.

A few years ago, I saw New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church for the first time. It was on a drive from Taylor to Austin, along F.M. 973. To my left, in the far distance, a few miles north of Manor, an incredibly-beautiful steeple stood out against the Texas sky. Since then, I’ve returned there for photos several times. This set was taken at the beginning of this week, when the moon, in a Waxing Gibbous phase, was close to full. After spending quality time photographing the church, I headed west, back to the main road. Attracting my attention, however, was the burial ground for the church. Although I’ve driven past it a number of times, this was the first time I noticed the flag. Is the light on the flag something new? I can only guess that it is, but the sight was inspiring. I do love photographing flags. Two photos from that stop are included at the end of this post. By the time the last image was made, the ambient light in the western sky had begun to diminish. It was a nice end to a pretty evening.

Not long after moving home almost ten years ago, I taking an evening drive through Norman’s Crossing when I saw kids in uniforms playing baseball under the lights. Behind them were fields ready for planting. And some beautiful grain elevators. It was an incredible sight, but I chose not to bother the players and coaches. Then, a couple of years ago, Dr. Dana Boehm became our family veterinarian. Her clinic is adjacent to the field. After a while, I decided to do a story on Dr. Dana’s brother, Troy, a longtime farmer here. Troy’s two sons, like their dad, were serious baseball players. The problem was there weren’t enough places to play. So in 2007 and 2009, Troy built this field, adding lights and all. Last night, as I wandered, the field’s lights in the far distance caught my eye. This time I stopped and made a few photos. The boys are in a 13-14 year-old league. This was a practice night. Baseball has always been a wonderful, truly American sport. As a kid growing up in Northeast Texas, I was always too small for football. Baseball, however, was welcoming. Physical limitations didn’t count. The field in this post speaks volumes about a wonderful pastime, made more wonderful played in a place like this. Troy built a field. And the players came.

This is one of those wandering posts where I just offer up some recent photos I sort of like. The opening photo was taken a few days ago in East Williamson County, as was the second image. The last photo was made tonight, as a Waxing Gibbous moon, almost full at 98% visibility, shined a little light on a sweet old barn in Travis County, Texas, a wee bit north of Manor. This and that, friends.

Georgetown’s Bark Park is just a wonderful place to spend some time with your favorite pooch. Each visit there I find folks who come all the way from Austin to enjoy its beauty. These photos were taken Saturday as a way to let area residents know the park will be closed February 18-22 while Georgetown Parks & Recreation take care of some needed renovations. One fellow who will miss going is a tree-climbing fellow called Stevie Ray Dog. That guy is amazing! Others included here are an English Bulldog, Stella, her little friend Chico, a 6-month-old French Bulldog, Dutchess, a beautiful Rottweiler and Gus, a Husky/Shepherd mix with some fantastic blue eyes. These were taken for my friends at the Williamson County Sun.

Not long after coming home to Texas in Summer 2009, I got to know the area around Taylor, taking both long drives and bicycle treks around East Williamson County. One afternoon that stays firmly encased in my memory is arriving in Coupland, a ten-minute drive from Taylor. Taking a left off Texas Highway 95, I crested a hill. On the right was something magnificent. I felt as if I’d arrived in the small-town Texas version of Stonehenge. There before my eyes were these massive granite creations, some combining metal, firmly rooted in the Blackland Prairie soil. I’d arrived at the Huntington Sculpture Garden, created by Coupland’s Jim Huntington. A couple of years later, I briefly met the artist, but didn’t spend much time photographing him. Since I like to catch the action as it happens, it became a waiting game to catch Mr. Huntington at work. That happened recently, resulting in these photos taken for the Williamson County Sun. Jim lives in a sturdy metal building onsite. Since the sculptures weigh anywhere from 5,000 to over 10,000 pounds, he doesn’t have to worry much about someone running off with one. When a piece is done, he has a forklift handy to get that job done. And a young assistant helper nearby. Born in Elkhart, Indiana, Huntington recently turned 78. He’s lived a few places along the way, including Los Angeles, Boston, New York and San Francisco. While living in New York in the early-90s, he considered relocating south. Austin was ruled out when, even in 1994, he found the cost of living there prohibitive. Then he found Coupland, where he’s been since then. A few years ago, the inevitable advance of maturity presented him with arthritis. He’s still working, but hopes to scale back after finishing work on another 88,000 pounds of granite. Then, he says, he will probably continue the smaller pieces, but also try sketching and painting again. That’s how he started so long ago. He’s got a good website, which can be seen here. Years ago, he added the Huntington Sculpture Foundation, a non-profit that will assure his work will continue to be appreciated well beyond his time on the planet. My photos don’t even come close to representing his talent. You have to see it up close. Coupland’s easy to find. And you don’t have to fight traffic.

At first, Thursday evening rambling didn’t provide any inspirations. Then, driving east of Granger, a tractor caught my eye, a farmer’s field being readied for Spring planting. The sun’s rays were still harsh, but what I saw through my viewfinder looked pretty good. Not long after I began to take photos, the tractor came to a stop. I stayed for a few minutes, then moseyed north in search of other things. That setting, however, stayed with me. Before darkness set in, I turned back, taking a few more photos there after sunset. Here’s the thing, folks. A person with a camera can be intimidating. Did he stop because of me? Who knows? If you’re local, and you see me out there, the intentions are good. I’m glad I returned for the second image.