LAustin's Blog

California Traffic

2009-12-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

LA Metro: Promoting Mass Transit from EMBARQ Network on Vimeo.

Traffic is a part of every day life for a commuter in Southern California. Moving here from Vermont, it's something I am not used to at all. I live about 45 minutes away from work but around 9 in the morning or 5 at night on a weekday that drive can take 2 hours in a slow crawl. There are 5 lanes! How does that happen?! Here is a little video from some people with the right idea.

Nantucket Part 2

2009-12-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

Here is the second batch of photos from my trip to Nantucket a while back. These ones were all taken with a Canon 5D.

Deja Vu

2009-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

Making the drive from Vermont to Southern California, again. I'm taking a full time design job over at Quiksilver.... so I had to pack myself up and do the drive across the country for the 3rd time in the last few months. I doubt I'll be making another movie of my trip, but I'll definitely be taking pictures along the way. It should take me two days to get to Colorado where I will stop and ride for a day. Then another day to get from Colorado to California. Here is my video from my last trip out there.

VT to CA Roadtrip from Laura Austin on Vimeo.

Nantucket Part 1

2009-11-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

About a month or so ago I went down to Nantucket with some family.... it was my first time to this island off the coast of Massachusetts. This was an interesting time to be there because fall is an off season for the island... so it was dead. Which to be honest, was pretty cool to experience. I loved the colors there this time of year, everything was so dull, so I spent a lot of my time taking pictures while I was there. Enough to have to separate this post into two parts. This post consists of my Canon G9 pictures... I will put some of the shots I took with my 5D in the next one.

Took a 15 minute flight in a little puddle jumper over to the island.

Some of the strongest winds I have ever experienced. My friend Toohey was literately leaning up against the wind.

House on stilts.

The flight back...this shows how small the plane really was... I was sitting in the very back.

Hide and Seek

2009-11-20T08:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the lack of posts recently, no I'm not hiding... just been incredibly busy with work and trying to get ready to move out to California. Hopefully I'll have time to put up more stuff soon.

essa catalog

2009-11-03T04:53:00.001-08:00

A little over a year ago I was asked to design eesa's 08-09 consumer catalog... I have yet to put the thing up on my site, but here is a digital version if you haven't seen it already. View it in fullscreen mode... it will look a lot better, or go here.

GWAR

2009-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

My skin is stained multiple colors, I have bruises and cuts on my hands and arms, a few jammed fingers, and my contacts are dyed red....you would think I would be bummed, but it was one of the best shows I have ever been to. I can't lie, I don't listen to Gwar's music, but I went to the show for the experience. Guys dressed in ridiculous costumes, playing metal, spraying what I think was food coloring all over the crowd, with a crazy mosh pit..... sounded like something I didn't want to miss. Here are some shots from the show.

Before & Afters

Ripping out his guts.... spraying stuff everywhere...

Obama came out for a second, but then they killed him... and yes, sprayed his "blood" everywhere

I got in there too...

This lady... a true Gwar fan

Welding

2009-10-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

I randomly shot some photo's of my mom's fiance doing some welding. A few turned out pretty cool.....

Skeet Shooting

2009-10-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

Went skeet shooting in my backyard today. I felt like I had to dress the part.... But maybe I got carried away.

Burton's Fall Bash

2009-10-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

Snowboard Mag just posted my coverage from Burton's annual Fall Bash. Take a peek here.

Photo of the Week- Haircut

2009-10-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

So a while back my friends (Gus and Keenan Cawley) wanted to shave their heads. In order to do so, they asked me to cut their hair short so it was easier to shave. It is hard to say no when someone is willingly putting their head of hair in your hands. We went through a series of styles, this is a shot of Gus at the "dutch helmet" stage. The brothers ended up liking the cuts I gave them so much that they backed out of shaving their heads. Maybe if this whole photography/graphic design thing doesn't work out for me I'll have a future in cutting hair.

Good Ol' Vermont

2009-10-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

The lineup of tractors before they started the parade

I was informed that the 11th Annual Charlotte Tractor Parade was happening about two miles down the road from where I live in Vermont.... yeah, a tractor parade. This was something I could not miss. I didn't expect it too be a big ordeal, I thought it would be a few tractors going down the road with some of the people in town coming to check it out. Well I was very wrong, apparently tractors are a big deal in this neck of the woods. A rather large crowd gathered for the event. There was face painting, a petting zoo, apple cider, and of course tractors... lots of tractors. The procession went for about a quarter-mile but lasted quite a while, tractors don't move very fast. Things like this make me realize how awesome Vermont really is.

This guy was probably my favorite

The band in the parade marched right up to these people and gave them their own little show

Smokin his pipe

This dog wouldn't stop looking at me

So I was trying to be sneaky and take their picture, but when I went back through my photos I realized that pretty much all of them were looking directly at me. So much for being sneaky.

I had a hard time narrowing down my favorties.... there are a bunch more on here.

Photo of the Week

2009-10-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

I have decided that at least once a week I'm going to pick out a photo from the archives to put up.

This first one is a shot I found going through tons of old family photos a while back. It is my dad... short shorts, high socks, shirtless, mustache, and a camera around his neck. (Dad- if you see this, please don't hate me). I'm not really sure what year this is from, but I'm pretty sure it was before I was born. I couldn't resist.

Matt & Kim in Burlington

2009-10-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Last night Matt & Kim put on an amazing show at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT. If you haven't heard of them, check them out. There is a video of one of my favorite songs by them at the end of the post. It is a two man show with Matt on the keyboard and vocals and Kim on the drums. They are Brooklyn based, but Matt grew up in Vermont and he definitely seemed to be happy to be in his home state. These two had enough energy to get a retirement home riled up, I don't think they stopped smiling the entire show. After they were done playing, Matt jumped into the audience, and of course was bombarded by tons of girls trying to get a hug. Both Matt and Kim stayed around to talk and sign autographs, a pleasant surprise you don't see too often. If they happen to be playing at a venue around you, I highly recommend going. Here are a few random shots from the night.

Matt giving out some hugs.

Tom with his screen printed poster

Lauren still dancing even after the show ended.

Kim signing some autographs.

Matt signing someone's Metro Card

The music video for their song "Daylight"

Blog Revamp

2009-10-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

So I have come to the conclusion that my blog has become pretty bland....I mean, I don't even know if I would follow it. Sure, every now and then I post some pictures, with a little write up, and some captions pointing out the obvious. What would make you want to look at my site rather than the millions of other blogs out there?

To do this I have to consider some of the top reasons people even use the internet.

Reason 1- Porn

Ok, yeah, I said it.... you know you are guilty. Well I am not about to go posting racy pictures of myself up on the internet. So I guess here is the next best thing...cleanly shaved....

Or for those of you who like them hairy....

Still not satisfied?... maybe this Diesel commercial will do it for you.

Reason 2- YouTube

You can find anything on youtube these days. From Leprechauns in Alabama , to a cat playing a keyboard, or miniture dancing people.

Let's be honest here, I don't have pets with amazing talents, mythical creatures running around that I can document, or mini people that can dance.... so I guess I can't really compete with youtube.

Reason 3- Stalking People

Twitter...I can't lie, I have a twitter account, but I guess I haven't really caught on. I can see the appeal to companies and whatnot, it is a good marketing tool. But I don't really need to know that snuggling is your favorite activity, or that you had a tuna fish sandwich for lunch today. Maybe I am missing something, but I if you really want to know what I had for lunch, just ask me.

So a lot of people like nudity, watching people do stupid stuff, and knowing everything about everyone's life. Well, I can't really promise you all of those things.... but we'll see what happens from here on out. Maybe things are fine just the way they are.

Tobin Yelland @ JDK

2009-10-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

On Oct. 2nd JDK hosted a show of artist Tobin Yelland. The show featured, some of his photography, some Antihero skate decks, a video, as well as a few Antihero ads. Definitely great to see some work from one of the legends of skateboard photography. Downstairs JDK's mini ramp was packed with skaters and the night ended with an awesome performance by the band Rough Francis. To see more of my shots from the show check out BNQT.

Rough Francis

Bess checking out some of Tobin's work

Antihero Skate Decks

JDK's mini ramp downstairs

Rough Francis

Rough Francis

The crowd got pretty into it, a mini mosh pit eventually started going.

Hitler on Reverse Camber

2009-10-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not normally one to post on "propaganda" but this is just too funny. I gotta give it to these guys, it is well put together. Take a look for yourself.

The Trip Back To VT

2009-10-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

A while ago I made my trek back to Vermont from California. I had finished up my job and it was time to head back home, relax a bit, and figure out the next steps. I had my friend Shawn fly out to California to make the drive back with me this time. Didn't really feel like doing it alone. It was nice to have some company and someone to share the driving with. The drive took 4 days this time, instead of the 3 it took on the way out. We made a pit stop at my Dad's house in Breckenridge, CO but besides that we pretty much trucked right along, sleeping at rest areas. No video this time, just pictures with my Canon G9.

Vegas...

Some of the views in Utah are nuts. It was probably my favorite state to drive though.

Pointing out the obvious

Yeah, I was scared too when I turned to the side and saw this out my window.

Shawn woke me up and told me to take a picture of the truck coming up on the right.

It was driving around Denver promoting The Office.... amazing.

Stretching out the legs a bit

California Bike Ride

2009-09-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

I did quite a bit of biking around in California... easiest form of transportation around Newport. Parking in most beach towns is a nightmare. This night I decided to take a cruise to catch the sunset. I brought my G9 along to shoot some pictures but once I realized I missed the sunset I ended up just shooting the bike ride. And yes I am on a Crest bike... no I did not win it from a tube of toothpaste.

Last Day in CA

2009-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

A little over a week ago I left California to come back to the east coast. I flew my friend Shawn out to make the long drive back with me. Driving across country by myself once was enough for me. Here are some shots from the final day in CA. Pictures from the drive back will be up soon.

All photos shot with a Canon G9.

Watching some surfers from the pier. (Newport Beach)

Newport Beach

This bird happened to swoop in just in time for the picture.

Shawn

An old man trying to catch some fish.

Went for a little bike ride.

One of the most amazing beaches I have ever been to. But it's a secret.

The sunset was incredible

VT to CA Roadtrip

2009-09-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

I just got back to Vermont from working at Quiksilver/Roxy for a little over 3 months in Southern California. If I wanted to have a car while I was out there I had to drive out. Sure this might sound fun, but when you have to do the drive in three days by yourself... it can be a bit crazy. On average I drove about 15 hours a day. To keep myself occupied I filmed my entire drive out there. I took the middle route so that I could hit Colorado and see some family. I finally got the chance to put together the footage of my trip.... here it is. Everything was filmed on my Canon G9. Let it load for a bit.

VT to CA Roadtrip from Laura Austin on Vimeo.

G9 Moment

2009-09-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the perfect photo opportunities come out of the blue.... I guess some call is a "Kodak Moment". Well this was one of those moments.... but I'll call it a "G9 moment". I bring my little Canon G9 everywhere with me, just in case.

Click on the picture to see a larger version.

Design Update

2009-08-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

The design section of my website has been neglected for a little while. I can't remember the last time I updated. I felt obligated to do something about that. It still doesn't contain all of my most recent work, but it is a start. Take a look around here.

If you have visited my site before you might want to clear out that cache or the updates might not show up. Not sure what a cache is? Google can help you out with that one.

Here are a few of the new additions to the design section.

Drawing I did on a plane

Front of a business card

Goggle Design for Anon... I still need to get actual product shots.

Logo design for Frontside Foundation

Personal Piece

The Good Ol' Boys

2009-08-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was asked to come shoot a concert of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp at Diamond Stadium in Lake Elsinore, CA. Something that I obviously wouldn't miss, free ticket into a great show and the opportunity for some good pictures. It was definitely amazing to see some of the legends preform live and still killing it. Here are a few shots from the show.

To see more go here.

Mellencamp

Dylan

Dylan's stage setup

I walked past this man and I had to go back and ask to take his picture.

I saw this woman walking around before the show with this sign. Then I found her waiting by the tour buses after the show trying to catch a glimpse of Bob Dylan. I don't think she even had a ticket to the concert... she was probably waiting outside the entire time. When I asked her if I could take her picture it was hard for her to pull herself away from the search for Dylan. But after taking one more glance around to see if he was coming she turned to me for a slit second and this was what I got.

Beautiful/Decay

2009-08-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Beautiful/Decay Magazine did a cool little write up of me on their website. Check it out here.

"Well rounded photographer Laura Austin is starting to make an impact in the extreme sports world. Originally from Vermont, Laura is now living in Newport, California, where she has been working on a few fun projects. This girl is rad. She is always willing to go the next mile to get the shot. Whether she is freezing in a tree in the middle of the backcountry or banged up on the front row fence at a concert, Laura will roll home with some pretty awesome photos."

If you haven't heard of Beautiful/Decay before definitely take a look at their website and even subscribe to their magazine. One of the better art/design based magazines out there.