A few weeks ago I downloaded a new app called Roadtrippers®. You indicate where your road trip will start and where it will end. You then select a few parameters about what you’re interested in seeing (attractions, entertainment, history, nature, food & drink, etc.) along your route and how far you’re willing to veer off your course. The app then flags every spot that may be of interest to you. You get to read the reviews, look at pictures and you have all contact info, website and other important information right at your fingertips. You then choose all the stops to add to the trip and then the navigator starts to guide you to all your destinations. Whalla. Fabulous roadtrip.

Since I did a San Antonio Photo Walk a few weeks ago, I decided to give the app a try at an Austin Photo Walkabout. Although I’ve been a lifelong Texan, I’ve never seen, or even heard of, some of the attractions the app directed me to.

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I parked my car and walked to each stop on the app in the downtown area. I think I may have walked more than ten miles over the course of the weekend.

I’m not a HUGE fan of Willie (please don’t throw things!), but decided to make his statue in downtown Austin the first stop. I then made a 1.2-mile walk to the Baylor Street Art Wall. I love the feature image (above)! The contrast between the graffiti and trash and the Texas capitol and Austin skyline in the background struck me as contradictory. Though they were only one mile apart, the capitol symbolizes strength, wealth and law, while the graffiti and trash signify freedom of art and illegal activity. One is power and the other is struggle. One is organized, the other, chaotic.

I visited the Congress Avenue bridge to watch the bats fly… but they didn’t. So, I busied myself photographing all the other people who came to watch the bats not fly. I visited the capitol grounds and then strolled back down Congress to my car. I finished up Sunday shooting the Governor’s Mansion and I was lucky enough to be entertained by the governor’s dog for a few minutes when he was let outside.  Finally, I caught a quick lunch and headed home.

To all the camera enthusiasts: The nighttime shots during this Austin Photo Walkabout (the last seven shots before the governor’s dog) were shot on my Nikon D4S at ISO 25,600. Yes, you read that right. This ISO produces about the same noise when shooting my D7000 at ISO 3,200. I’m not kidding. I did apply a very slight noise reduction in Lightroom 5.5. I’m adding a before-and-after shot. In case your interested, I toggled the noise reduction sliders to: Luminance 20, Detail 15, Contrast 0, Color 15, Detail 0, Smoothness 50.

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Until next time, be positive, happy, and healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I am a San Antonio-based wedding and senior photographer who started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. As one of the up-and-coming San Antonio wedding photographers, I am also available to shoot in Austin, Houston and Dallas and the surrounding areas. I am also available for destination weddings worldwide. Ata-Girl Photography Co. offers an amazing wedding photography service that you won’t soon forget.  As a professional photographer, my sole purpose is to provide you the absolute best photography experience.

I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love hiking, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and most importantly, I enjoy seeing my daughters happy!

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