Shorthorn Shots of the Week 8/29

Shorthorn Shots of the Week is back! It feels like the most hectic "Welcome Week" I've had at The Shorthorn so far. We are making a big push for video and other multimedia content this semester and it should definitely be interesting going forward. First off, I shot a video of Welcome Week's annual Waffleopolis event where students can come together and have a waffle dinner with new friends. Next, and probably the most personally satisfying, was our coverage of UTA's Extensive Green Roof project. It was a great opportunity and was less hectic than my usual assignments. Last but not lest, I covered the Movin' Mavs annual Back to School Alumni Game where graduates came back to coach current players in a "Blue vs. White" game to show off their roster to the new student body. This semester has already started with a bang and I'm looking forward to the surprises/challenges that will be sure to come up in the future.

Sarah and Johnathan Hill's Wedding

These are some shots from my first wedding shoot back in February. It was a great learning experience and really tested me in adapting to any situation. Wedding mood lighting can be torture on a photographer. All in all, it was a fun experience and I hope to continue to shoot more weddings and develop a strong portfolio in the future.

Lose The Training Wheels at UTA

Lose The Training Wheels was a week long camp at UTA hosted by the Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County that taught individuals with disabilities how to ride two-wheel bicycles. Most of the sessions I went to were full and it was great to see how many volunteers came out to help. Most of the kids seemed hesitant to go for the two-wheel bikes but soon overcame the challenge. While talking to a parent, I could see the joy it gave them to see their child do something like this because to most of these kids it is the most freedom they will have with transportation. We found out about the event last minute but I'm glad I had the chance to shoot it. For the full story, check out TheShorthorn.com.

Lose The Training Wheels from Andrew Buckley on Vimeo.

2010 Texas Autocross Weekend

Over the weekend, UTA hosted the annual Texas Autocross Weekend on July 10 and 11 where 35 cars from 14 different universities from all over the United States and Canada came to race their student built Formula SAE cars against the clock. This event was for bragging rights and let the teams trade rides without the pressure of a formal competition. There was also a bit of excitement off the track as a 1965 Ford Cobra flew into the creek across the street from where the races were being held. Life lesson for the kids: Showboating just brings a waterlogged ride and embarrassment for a lifetime. Enjoy.

July 4th Weekend

This year for the 4th, Victoria and I headed down to South Padre Island for some much needed relaxation. Since we didn't want to make the entire 10-hour trip on one drive, we stopped half-way in San Antonio to stay the night then headed to Padre early the next morning. It rained half of the time driving down but we had a beautiful two days of sun and blue skies over the weekend. I try to make it to Padre whenever I can to take in that little bit of Texas paradise.

July 4th Weekend from Andrew Buckley on Vimeo.

Shorthorn Wild Art Hunt

My first video shot and edited fully with iMovie on the iPhone 4. This was a training session we did to encourage everyone to get out of the office and find out what's going on around campus at any given time. It was hot but I think everyone learned a lot. It was really interesting using the iPhone as a full capture/edit platform. I hope Apple continues to update iMovie with more transitions and options to allow more user control to bring it closer to the capabilities of the desktop version.

Shorthorn Wild Art Hunt from Andrew Buckley on Vimeo.

1:1 Life Volume 1

1:1 is the technical specification for showing something that is very small at life size. This exploration into the macro world shows life at its smallest in its natural environment. This is Volume 1 of a continuing series that will follow my explorations as I travel and find new things to shoot that most people would pass by or run away from. In the end, it is ultimately a learning experience both technically and intellectually. In addition to the video, here are a few stills from a couple of the shoots. Enjoy.

1:1 Life Volume 1 from Andrew Buckley on Vimeo.

Lake Eufaula Video

I see every weekend vacation this summer as another chance to practice and learn from experience. This is a perfect example of shooting with what was available in front of me with only natural light in less than perfect conditions. I had a great time over the weekend and through the editing process.

Lake Eufaula Weekend from Andrew Buckley on Vimeo.

Lake Eufaula Preview

This past weekend I finally got a taste of the great outdoors and got away from Arlington for a much needed mini-vacation. A friend of my moms invited us to spend the weekend on a houseboat that they had as part of a timeshare at Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma. We didn’t see a drop of the predicted rain all weekend and it was beautiful. The wildlife was great and I even did some shooting for an upcoming Macro video. I wish we could have stayed longer but work was calling us back to the city. Here are a few photos from the trip and a video is coming as soon as I can find some time between work and other personal projects. The baby geese at the end are a “palette cleanser” for those who don’t like our six-legged friends. Enjoy.

Troy Trojans Swept in Burleson

Today and Thursday I covered the Troy Trojans during games 1 and 2 of their series against Aubrey in Burleson. Unfortunately, the Trojans were swept pretty convincingly and it looks like my post-season baseball freelancing for the Temple Daily Telegram might be winding down. At The Shorthorn, lots of new faces are going to be coming in so my focus will be on training but hopefully more jobs will come in so I can keep shooting.