Photo for Monday, March 30: Spring is here!

Verbenias on the Brush Creek Hike and Bike Trail, Austin, TX: Not only did I discover a new suburban bike trail (paved, not off road unfortunately), but I spied these lovely blossoms by the creek.

Photo for Sunday, March 29: The incredible, inedible egg

Easter egg factory, a friend's dining room table; Austin, TX. These friends got on the Easter Bunny's list way early! They've received their painted egg order and are ready for the big day. Chickens must hate this time of year.

Photo for Saturday, March 28: Old truck

Old truck, Austin, TX: I saw this cool old truck while riding by on my bike.

Photo for Friday, March 27: Water, water everywhere...

A cascade of waterbottles at my local HEB. Remember when water came from a tap, or a hose? Remember being indignant at the thought of paying for a bottle of water?

Photo for Thursday, March 26: King Henry VIII & Pooch

Marilyn & Patches, portrait clients: A medieval pet's checklist; doggie-sized castle, check. Flea resistant chain-mail, check. Human dressed as old English king with more marriages than Elizabeth Taylor, check.

Photo for Wednesday, March 25: Reflection study

Reflection in water collected on a tarp, my backyard. Amazing that I found something interesting and beautiful in the disaster that is our backyard (we have black and blue tarps all over the ground to kill off a tenacious vine - our yard looks like a big bruise!).
For samples of my other photography work, click here

Photo for Wednesday, March 24: A bird in the bush...

A peacock from Mayfield Park, Austin, TX. The peacocks at Mayfield were in full regalia and ramping up to court the peahens. I was lucky to spy this one in the ground foliage. Lucky in that he wasn't up in the trees overhead (they are very large birds and walking below them provides them an easy target!).

Photo for March 23: Dinner veggies

Veggies for roasting. Yummy!

Photo for March 22: Flower power

Flowering amaryllis, my backyard. Actually, this plant lives inside the house but I took it outside for the purposes of this photo. Don't worry, it was safely back inside during the hail storm we just had.

Photo for March 21: SXSW fruit art

Orange peel art left on downtown fountain during SXSW Festival week, Austin, TX. I noticed people stopping to look intently at what I thought was just a regular ole' orange peel. After the third person, I had to investigate. Someone created something not for notoriety or money but for the sheer joy of creating and sharing. I love this town!

Photo for March 20: High school senior portrait

High school senior portrait. No big styrofoam grad year in my senior portraits!

For more samples of this type of work click here

No photos for last week!

Well, it's a photographer's worst nightmare; in the midst of my three 12 hour days last week I erased the media card that had my daily photos for Monday through Thursday! I have never done that before (at least not with any client work - thank goodness!).

Anyway, I have photos from Friday (3/20) through today and should get those posted up by tomorrow (Tuesday 3/24).

It's really disappointing about last weeks photos; I'll add those days onto the end so I still end up with 365 days worth of shots.

Note to self: "Self, be sure to always download photos EACH day regardless of how late it might be!".

Delay in posting photos this week

Hi ya'll - I'm working three 12 - 14 hour days this week so although I'll be taking my shots I probably won't be able to post until late Friday or possibly even the weekend.

Stay posted (so to speak)!

M

Photo for March 15: Snake, rattle & roll!

Unwanted guest in your bathtub? Actually, this was the set of photo shoot being photographed by a friend of mine for his portfolio. This guy was hanging out making sure no one added too much cold water.

Photo for March 14: Inside graffitti

Empty (?) building on Lavaca Street, just south of 15th Street, Austin, TX. It's not often you see graffitti INSIDE of closed building. Perhaps it was a statement by the landlord.

Photo for March 13: Actor's headshot

Actor's headshot. Wouldn't you buy toothpaste from this person? Or shampoo? Or life insurance? You might be soon.

Photo for March 12: Rainwater off the roof

A small waterfall off my cluttered rain gutter.

Photo for March 11: Casual business headshot

Client headshot: Another sample of a casual business headshot.

Photo for March 10: Eye popping peppers

Peppers on display at my grocery store: A rainbow of plentiful peppers in the produce section of my neighborhood HEB.

Photo for March 9: Crackers on the trail

Goldfish crackers on the neighborhood trail. I thought this was a curious site while I was out for a walk. No, I am not guilty of littering to get this shot!

Photo for March 8: Bird in the bath

A grackle enjoying a much needed bath, Chuy's Restaurant on Hwy 183, Austin, TX. Luckily I didn't have a close encounter with any of the birds there as did my friend. Oh well, I guess that's what Shout is for.

Photo for March 7: Individual portrait

Client portrait session: A sample of an individual's portrait; taken at by the Deer Creek Ranch neighborhood pool on Anderson Mill

A short delay in posting photos

Dear Snapmatt Diaries followers: I'm a few days behind in my postings. I have the photos but I've been a little swamped with actual client work. I'm hoping to get caught up by Wednesday or Thursday of this week - sorry! Don't give up on me!

Photo for March 6: Failed "miniature diorama" shot

Okay, this one takes some explaining: I was trying to create a "miniature diorama" shot, where you take a real life scene and by blurring and other techniques you make it look like it's all actually in miniature. Anyway, I don't think it worked well, but I needed a shot for that day. Sometimes my ideas don't work. : (
Now that I've totally sold you on my abilities, check out my other work by clicking here.

Photo for March 5: Creek through neighborhood park

The creek running through our neighborhood park. Last hour of light, best time for this type of photograph. I also stylized it some in the computer.

Photo for March 4: Shadow rider

Shadow play on a school wall. Getting exercise AND taking photos, what more could you ask for on a Wednesday afternoon. My couch potato legs sure were screaming!

Photo for March 3: bulbous eyed dog

Wiley of the big bulbous eyes. Yes, it's Wiley again. Thank god (dog?) for him when it's 9:30pm and I realize I don't have my shot for the day! He so abused isn't he?

Photo for March 2: Parking garage intrigue

Arboretum parking garage, Austin, TX: Was I walking to my car in an empty parking garage and suddenly heard a suspicious noise? Am I waiting for my connection? Was it 9:00pm and I needed to take my photo for the day? You decide...art is supposed to make you think, right?

Photo for March 1; Austin kite festival

Austin kite festival; We got out there later in the afternoon so we must have missed the bulk of the kite flying. In years past the kites get as thick as mosquitos at a summer BBQ. Probably the fact that the soccer field area at Zilker was closed and therefore split the festival into two areas didn't help. Anyway, as always it's always fun to be outside and amongst the people of Austin.

Photo for February 28: A French lunch in Texas

A brie "tartine" at the Blue Dahlia Bistro on East 11th Street, Austin, TX. BTW, "tartine" is French for a pseudo-sandwich. Actually, it's slices of bread, with stuff on it served open faced. The food was quite good and the atmosphere enjoyable, as long as you can get past the youthful hipsters that relish how contintental they are eating in a place that serves tartines instead of sandwiches.

(For of my work go to my website)