Category Archives: Photo Blog

New Content!

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I have finally gotten my lazy rear-end moving and uploaded some new content to my website. Three new galleries are now online (links below).

I am also making moves to reorganizing my website. Step one has been to implement a new gallery format. The galleries were created using SimpleViewer Pro. Unfortunately, my long-lasting resistance to using Flash has lost. However, if you do not have flash, the galleries should default to a simple thumbnail view that should still link to the full-res images. (this is important for folks viewing on mobile devices)

Step two is to update the portfolio part of the website. You’ll notice a new link to a “gallery”. It’s under development right now, so there is no content yet. But I will be working on this soon!

Anyway, on to the new images….

This gallery contains random images that I’ve taken this year. It isn’t a big gallery, but I will add to it as time goes on.



MISC Gallery – click to enter

In late February, I went on a fishing trip to Toledo Bend Reservoir on the border between Texas and Louisiana. The lake is enormous, and we only explored a small part of it. It is a man-made reservoir that was created by flooding a heavily wooded valley. You’ll notice this by the numerous bare stumps sticking out of the water.



Toledo Bend Gallery – click to enter

This last gallery presents my recent efforts to shoot the local wildflowers. I have been exploring Barker and Addicks reservoirs (particularly George Bush Park and also Bear Creek Pioneers Park) in west Houston.



Wildflowers Gallery – click to enter

Local Wildflowers

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Lately I have been exploring the “wild” areas nearby in search of flowers. I’ve been exploring Barker and Addicks reservoirs on foot and on 2 wheels.

I’ve also been using a new camera – a mirrorless system. More about all this later.



This is also just a test post. I’m still figuring out how to keep my blogs updated from my mobile devices :-)

Site Update & News

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I’m sorry for the long absence from posting here. I am still taking photos :-) and enjoying photography.

I’m planning to overhaul my website and update all galleries. This has been a painful process, but I think I have a clear direction now on what I want to do. I just have to execute it. All I need is time! (don’t we all)

I have just uploaded a bunch of photos to my photos-only blog. Check it out:
www.thomasjavery.com/photoblog

Also, I have been using Instagram quite a bit lately. If you’d like to see my photos (and follow me, please!) click this link:
http://www.instagram.com/thomasjavery

Exhibition & Print Sales Update

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I’m very happy and pleased to announce that over a dozen framed prints of mine are now showing at the Starlight Theatre in the Terlingua Ghost Town (info on the Starlight: link 1, link 2). These prints are all of the Big Bend area, and they will be showing through the months of October and November, 2011.

The small prints (8×10 matted and framed to 11×14) are $145, and the large prints (12×18 matted and framed to 18×24) are $245. The prints are inkjet on Premium Luster Epson paper. Matting and backing materials are acid free. The frames are black anodized aluminum.



framed prints

There will also be matted prints for sale (no frames). These were the prints that had been for sale at the Leapin’ Lizard Gallery, however the gallery is temporarily closed and may be relocating.



matted prints

And that is my second bit of information in this update. The Leapin’ Lizard Gallery may possibly open again in a new location early in 2012.

So I’ve Been Busy

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Real busy. Life, work, home, LEGOs, pets, kids, you-name-it.

I’d hate for you to think that my lack of commitment to my blog relates to my lack of commitment to my photography… oh wait… :-)

Seriously, I have been photographing, among other things. I’ve had so many plates spinning at once that I’ve selectively decided to (temporarily) ignore certain commitments. And unfortunately, that has meant this blog.

There’s is a lot that I want to share with you photographically. Really, there is :-) I’ve just posted six new photos on my photos-only blog.



click to see more

My family and I have taken a few trips this summer. These photos are from some of those outings. As always, photography has been with me as a serious interest, even during the times that I’ve not had much opportunity to escape with camera in hand.



click to see more

And about those other things, stay tuned… :-)

The Yellow Flowers Are Back

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I’ve been exploring the equestrian trails in Bear Creek Pioneers Park in the past 10 days. Currently there is a massive bloom of yellow wildflowers, and it is almost as good as the bloom that happened last year (see this post).



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The blooms are mainly two types, just like last year: prairie buttercups and golden ragwort (also called golden groundsel or butterweed).



Shake & blur
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The prairie buttercups are small, yellow flowers on plants that reach about a foot tall or less. There are multiple blooms per plant, but the blooms do not occur in clusters.



Prairie Buttercup
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The golden ragwort also have small, yellow flowers, but the plants are generally taller and can reach heights of two feet or more. There are multiple blooms per plant, and the blooms are usually in clusters.



Golden Ragwort
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Snakes are common to the reservoir area, and it’s about this time of year when they frequently turn up on the trails. This western cottonmouth hissed and showed me its white mouth as I approached.



Cottonmouth
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I get frequent reminders from family and friends about watching out for snakes. Yes, of course, I’m watchful and careful. Snakes are everywhere and you cannot avoid them. I go slow and make so much noise, that I rarely see them (they’re probably scared off long before I get there).

The flowers have just peaked out, I believe. Some of the buttercups have just started going to seed as of my last outing (Mar. 28). I’ve been out to shoot four times now; my first visit was Mar. 20.



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It’s great to be out shooting again. And it’s just a great that this place is so close to home.

The wildflower season, in general, is not good this year. However, this little area in Bear Creek Park seems to be doing really well. The blooms are not quite as thick as last year, but they are still pretty good.



Click for larger image

I’ll have more to post from this area. I’ve made four trips out there, and I might go a couple more times while the blooms are still going.

The Field Lab

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Last Friday some friends and I paid a visit to the Southwest Texas Alternative Energy And Sustainable Living Field Laboratory, otherwise known as The Field Lab. It is owned by John Wells, and he maintains a daily blog here: thefieldlab.blogspot.com.



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We caught up with John at the Grub Shack on Terlingua Ranch Road and visited over lunch. He then led us out to his place and gave us the grand tour.

You can read all about his work on his website and blog. Basically, he’s living off the grid and working towards a 100% self-sustainable life on his property located on Terlingua Ranch.



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His massive greenhouse project was most impressive. He has many other projects going, including a self-powered washing machine dubbed the Bike-O-Worsher. We also got to meet Benita, a longhorn cow that is a Field Lab regular and a companion, pet, and guard to John. Who needs a dog with teeth when you have a 1000 lb.-plus animal with horns like that? :-)

Many thanks to John for his hospitality and giving us the tour!

Back from Big Bend

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My life is returning to normal after a period of traveling. Most of October was spent traveling for work and also work (photography work :-) ).



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I spent 10 days away from home to be involved in a photography workshop in Big Bend. I assisted Craig Tanner and Marti Jeffers in a TME (The Mindful Eye) workshop.



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More images will come although slowly. I have a lot of work ahead to catch up on things!

New and Updated Website

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I would like to announce two major changes to my photography website.

1 The website address now has its own domain name: http://www.thomasjavery.com

The old Texbrick address still works, but will point to the new domain name if you visit it.

2 Major update in content and structure.

I have decided to focus my website on my major photography projects. I think they contain my best work, and I want to feature them rather than have them lost in a sea of bigger content as before.

I will continue to work on all four projects, and I will update their webpages as I generate new content.

If you spot any bugs or errors on the new site, please let me know! Thanks!

Updates and New Photos

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I posted so much in August that I feel an explanation is needed for my two week lag here on my blog.



desert rainstorm
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My wife and I had a nice trip to Big Bend National Park over Labor Day weekend. Photos and reports from this trip will come soon as I’m still in the process of editing.



South Rim of the Chisos
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Other “life” activities and happenings have been getting in the way, including a bad cold and sinus infection. Staring at a computer monitor is the last thing I want to do when I have a throbbing, pounding, ice-pick-in-my-forehead headache!

Stay tuned, there’s more ahead. Hopefully I can resume my normal photo-walks very soon.