The Pennybacker Bridge in Austin, Texas bridges Lake Austin to connect north and south Loop 360 highway, also known as "Capital of Texas Highway". The road is widely considered one of the most scenic urban drives in central Texas, in large part due to the arched weathering steel bridge and rolling hills that flank the road. More commonly known as the "360 Bridge" it is named for Percy Pennybacker, who designed bridges for the Texas Highway Department and was a pioneer in the technology of welded structures.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Austin Pennybacker Bridge
The Pennybacker Bridge in Austin, Texas bridges Lake Austin to connect north and south Loop 360 highway, also known as "Capital of Texas Highway". The road is widely considered one of the most scenic urban drives in central Texas, in large part due to the arched weathering steel bridge and rolling hills that flank the road. More commonly known as the "360 Bridge" it is named for Percy Pennybacker, who designed bridges for the Texas Highway Department and was a pioneer in the technology of welded structures.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Scenes from the Austin Grand Prix
The Austin Grand Prix swimming competition was held this past weekend, Jan. 14-16, at the Jamail Texas Swimming Center at the University of Texas. It featured some of the top U.S. swimmers including 2008 Beijing Olympic medalists Michael Phelps, Jason Lezac, and Ryan Lochte. 
Nobody will ever forget Jason Lezak's 2008 Olympic performance when he made up what seemed an impossible deficit in the final leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay, stunning the favored French team and keeping Phelps' gold medal string alive. Lezak is pictured below in Lane #3.
14-time gold medalist Michael Phelps, returned to the pool where as a 15-year old he became the youngest man to set a swimming world record. The 1:54.92 Phelps clocked in the 200-meter butterfly in March 2001 lasted only a few months as a world record before he lowered it, but it still remains a pool record here in Austin. Below, Phelps competes in the 100-meter backstroke.
Six-time Olympic medalist and 2010 American and World Swimmer of the Year, Ryan Lochte won the 200-meter freestyle Friday night.
A nice moment of Phelps with his mom after the competition.
The one thing I learned from photographing this event, is that shooting a swimming competition is hard!! Without access to the pool deck level and an amazing zoom lens, it is difficult to grab the images that we see in SI that look so stunning. All in all it was fun, and it was neat to see these icons of the sport that thrilled us so much in the summer of 2008.
Nobody will ever forget Jason Lezak's 2008 Olympic performance when he made up what seemed an impossible deficit in the final leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay, stunning the favored French team and keeping Phelps' gold medal string alive. Lezak is pictured below in Lane #3.
14-time gold medalist Michael Phelps, returned to the pool where as a 15-year old he became the youngest man to set a swimming world record. The 1:54.92 Phelps clocked in the 200-meter butterfly in March 2001 lasted only a few months as a world record before he lowered it, but it still remains a pool record here in Austin. Below, Phelps competes in the 100-meter backstroke.
Six-time Olympic medalist and 2010 American and World Swimmer of the Year, Ryan Lochte won the 200-meter freestyle Friday night.
A nice moment of Phelps with his mom after the competition.
The one thing I learned from photographing this event, is that shooting a swimming competition is hard!! Without access to the pool deck level and an amazing zoom lens, it is difficult to grab the images that we see in SI that look so stunning. All in all it was fun, and it was neat to see these icons of the sport that thrilled us so much in the summer of 2008.Saturday, January 8, 2011
Destination: Deathstar - 2.6.11
Today, the NFL Playoffs begin and all the teams have their eyes set on being at one place on February 6, 2011...here.Good Luck!!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Year of the Quarterback - Tim Tebow: Everything In Between
I just finished watching ESPN's documentary about Tim Tebow's journey from his final days as a University of Florida quarterback to Denver Broncos rookie. As always it did not disappoint. It was really cool to see how he has used criticism as his fuel to succeed at the pro level. You know, he may not become the greatest QB of all time but I'll be damned if he doesn't die trying!!
This documentary reminded me of the one time I crossed paths with Tebow. As mentioned in a previous post, I was staying at the Gators hotel in Ponte Vedra during the annual Florida v. Georgia game and happened to see the team arrive Friday night at the hotel. Looking at this picture, it is crazy to see how different he looks just two years later.
This documentary reminded me of the one time I crossed paths with Tebow. As mentioned in a previous post, I was staying at the Gators hotel in Ponte Vedra during the annual Florida v. Georgia game and happened to see the team arrive Friday night at the hotel. Looking at this picture, it is crazy to see how different he looks just two years later.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Florida Gators
Well, I decided to save this one for the last post of the day. Today we saw Urban Meyer's six year career at the University of Florida come to an end. When AD Jeremy Foley hired Urban Meyer on December 4, 2004, the goal was to return Florida football to SEC and national prominence. Mission accomplished. In his six seasons in Gainesville, Meyer guided the Gators to a pair of National Championships, two SEC championships, three SEC Eastern Division crowns and six straight January bowl games, including three BCS bowl games. He became the first coach in the history of the Football Subdivision to post consecutive 13-win seasons and he is the only coach to post three 13-win seasons in a four-year span. I took the picture above while I was in Jacksonville for the annual Florida/Georgia game. I happened to stay at the same hotel/resort as the Gators and caught the team arriving. Little did I know that a few months later I would meet my wife; a Florida alum. I now have, by default, become a Gator fan. We were in Gainesville the weekend of Tim Tebow's final game at The Swamp and I got to see first hand the madness that is Gameday in Gainesville. I can tell you with certainty that the brightest chapter ever in Florida football history, came to an end today. For all he has done over the last six years, I join in with all of the Gator Nation in saying a big, heartfelt Thank You, Coach Meyer!!!
Ben Hill Griffin StadiumMerry Christmas from Austin, Texas
Okay, I know it has been a week since Christmas Day. In my defense, though, I did not know I would receive a new lens from Santa. So last night I set out to grab some shots of the Zilker Park Tree. I know most folks are used to a more traditional Christmas Tree in their town, but here in Austin this is what we have - and what we love!! The Zilker Tree stands 155 ft. tall and is composed of 39 streamers, each holding 81 multi-colored, 25 watt bulbs, totaling 3,309 lights. At the top of the tree, a double star measures 10 ft. from point to point. The double star contains 150 frosted bulbs. The unique spiral pattern of lights was created by City of Austin electricians. At its circumference, the tree measures 380 ft. The diameter is 120 ft. The base of the tree is made up of 19 utility poles, each 14 ft. tall, arranged in a circle around the Moon Tower.
Origins:
The Zilker Park Tree was initiated in 1965 by Mrs. Alden (Mable) Davis, civic leader and chairperson for the City's Special Holiday Activities Committee. The tree was designed by City of Austin electricians Odie Bull, D.J. Kozlowski, Fred Scatlen, and Merle Wheeler. On December 10, 1967 the first tree was lighted by Mayor Pro Tem Mrs. Emma Long. In subsequent years this honor has been awarded to the young winner of a city-wide tree coloring contest. The winner of the yearly art contest gets the honor to throw the switch to illuminate the tree.
The Zilker Park Tree was initiated in 1965 by Mrs. Alden (Mable) Davis, civic leader and chairperson for the City's Special Holiday Activities Committee. The tree was designed by City of Austin electricians Odie Bull, D.J. Kozlowski, Fred Scatlen, and Merle Wheeler. On December 10, 1967 the first tree was lighted by Mayor Pro Tem Mrs. Emma Long. In subsequent years this honor has been awarded to the young winner of a city-wide tree coloring contest. The winner of the yearly art contest gets the honor to throw the switch to illuminate the tree.
One favorite tradition of Austinites is to stand under the tree and twirl. Just stand right off the center, underneath the tree. Grab a friend, look upwards, and start spinning around and around.
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