— The last time we traveled to Brazil was in January 2020. We had a large family reunion for my youngest niece’s wedding. It was right before COVID-19 became a world pandemic. Besides seeing my entire family, another moment that … Read More

— Besides the historical connection between Portugal and Brazil, I have to admit my bookwormish side. In graduate school, I studied Brazilian and Portuguese literature. In addition to running into places connected to our historical characters, there were also the writers … Read More

— When I was a child, there was a song that became a big hit in Brazil. It was called “The Garden Flowers in Our Home,” and it was performed by unimitable Roberto Carlos. It was a sad song talking … Read More

— After spending a week in the high mountains in Colorado (running away from excruciating high summer temperatures), we headed back home. During the return trip, we did a very brief stop to check out the views at the Royal … Read More

— One knows summer has arrived in Texas when even sunflowers start to wither with the intense heat. A walk to my neighborhood park shows plenty of evidence about the effects of summer heat.  That was the case this week … Read More

— With summer temperatures clearly around us even before the official start of summer, there is not much one would think could be in bloom in the middle of triple-digit temperatures in Texas. Incidentally, for those who use Celsius for … Read More

— It seems like it was just yesterday when bike nights at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) started. That was in the spring of 2017. COVID made us skip a year, but the event returned in 2021. The sponsorship … Read More

— For this week’s assignment in my photography challenge group, participants were asked to submit a photo using the high-key photography technique. In plain terms, high-key photography is one that exhibits little or no shadows and is mostly bright. The … Read More

I have often heard that photographers should familiarize themselves with a location before they go out for a photoshoot. It pays to know your surroundings and what to expect out of them. I have made full use of that knowledge … Read More

— Another freeze has come and gone in Texas. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the first freeze of this year. This second freeze was much stronger, but it was nothing like the 2021 freeze. Nevertheless, we had three … Read More

— As part of a photography class I am taking this year, students receive an assignment every week. Initially, the focus has been on composition. We have to use new photos only, the photos need to be shot on manual … Read More

— I have been living in Austin since the mid-1980s. I recall back then that the northernmost point before leaving city limits was around IH-35 and E Highway 290. Not much else was north of there. There were even empty … Read More