William C. Bunce's journal

Bronwynn's Texas trip cont'

2011-08-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Bronwynn is long since left Texas but I wanted to post the remainder of her trip. The day after she arrived we went to Waco, TX. and there we went to Cameron Park (one of my favorite nearby parks.) There she tried to jump off Lovers Leap.

From Cameron Park, we went to the Mammoth Site in Waco where we saw some mammoth remains.

We stopped for lunch at a place that Ted Nugent raved about called the Rusty Star.

We were traveling in record heat and we decided to take a trip to the Dr. Pepper museum for a refreshing drink.

Charles Alderton, the inventor of Dr. Pepper.

This would be the only refresher of the day, after we left the museum my AC broke down on our way to Glen Rose, TX.

This changed our plans some and so we waited until the evening and went to Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Bronwynn posing as a dinosaur.

The next day we went to dallas and visited the Dallas Museum of Art.

Bronwynn spent a lot of time looking at the Roman/Egyptian jewelry.

Later that evening we went to see the FC Dallas play Alianza FC (a team from El Salvador.) Dallas won 1-0

Bronwynn's Texas trip

2011-08-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Bronwynn flew in today and I got to take her to a weapons simulator where she got to fire a few weapons.

Later we went to the lake and did the water slide. Sorry, no pictures; we were too wet!

San Antonio, July 4th weekend

2011-07-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

I've not done a lot lately and I wanted to get out for my three day weekend. A co-worker invited me down to San Antonio where he and his wife have an apartment; a free place to stay? How could I say no? San Antonio is a 2.5 hour drive for me and so off I went. I got in Friday night and thought I would go to the Alamo on Saturday. I got up Saturday morning and set out for breakfast at Jims Restaurant (a great breakfast place.) Next I set course for the Alamo and I guess everyone else had the same idea because it was packed.

The Alamo was a neat place to visit but if you want the full effect you have to do a lot of reading because there really wasn't that much to see.

I decided that I should hike the river walk to get in some exercise and take in the sites. It was beautiful and I thought every city should have something like this. Along the river walk I spot this young fellow along with its brother:

No, I didn't take the time to determine their sex! Funny looking babies, I wonder if this is where women got the idea to highlight their hair?

It was hot and I was ready for some A/C, so I went to the Mall and decided that I wasn't a shopper and that I would rather go to the Art Museum. Man am I glad I did, this place was huge and I didn't even get to look at everything before they closed. Here are a few things that I did get to see:

The last picture here was a real treat. In my photography classes in college, I had to pick an artist and write a report every year and Phil Borges was the first artist that I wrote about. Pretty cool to get to see a print in person.

Something else that I thought was pretty cool was outside of the museum.

Part of the San Antonio transportation system! Take a bike and drop it off at the next location. Awesome!

I spent Sunday visiting with my hosts and then drove back on Monday.

Buescher State Park

2011-05-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

One of my hardest hikes so far. This park is located in the Lost Pines of Texas about two hours southeast of where I live. Lots of up hill treks and plenty of shade. A deer scared the crap out of me (I'm sure I scared it too!) but the deer ran and I didn't. That deer was lucky, I didn't get one shot off. Anyway, here are the shots that I did get.

On the map, this was labeled as a pond. Texas is going through a drought so things are all dried up.

No the deer did take the photos of me, I set my camera on timer and placed it on a stump.

Killeen Rodeo

2011-05-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

The Killeen Rodeo was happening this week and I went all three nights. What a good time and of course the photographer got to eat free every night; bonus! The bull riding was the highlight of the show but it happened at night and so for me the bronc riding was my most successful shooting. Here are a few shots and a video for you to enjoy.

The rodeo was fun, but the weather is still HOT!

Mother Neff State Park (the first Texas state park)

2011-05-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful hike and I'll take the hike over the tred mill any day. I left early in the day, because it is Africa hot, and drove about an hour north-east to Mother Neff State Park. This area is next to Leon River and it is a very wooded area. There was only one path that I didn't hike and that is because at the trail head there was a sign that read, "Watch for Snakes." My decision was made, why watch for snakes when you can avoid them? Anyway, here are some of this weeks shots.

The cave was excavated by the CCC workers and they found the remains of three indians buried there. The pavilion was built by the CCC; I ate lunch there.

The trails are pristine, this is what I've always envisioned our property to look like, minus the spider.

McKinney Falls State Park

2011-05-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

My NewBalance shoes fell apart (literally,) so I had to get something I could go hiking in. It just so happens that there is an REI store near me in Round Rock, TX. REI is like a candy store for the outdoorsman. Slowly, I am becoming more of an outdoorsman again. Here are just a couple of the reasons why:

This is when I most think about God and marvel at his creations. Time is such a wonderful thing, I wish I had more of it.

Longhorn Caverns State Park and Inks Lake State Park

2011-05-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

It was hot today so I decided to take my hike underground. Of course it was guided and there were some old crunchies with my group so it was a stop and go kind of hike but most of mine hikes are because I like to stop and take photographs.

Our tour guide was pretty funny but he did point out some facts. Like this cavern was created by fast moving water hence the smooth sides. And the domes where created by whirl pools in the underground river.

This little guy was fast asleep and I though he was pretty cool. If only I had a different lens and more time in the cave.

We owe it all the the CCC workers for digging this cavern out and for putting together this wonderful stonework.

From the Longhorn Caverns and back into the heat of the day, I went just a few miles up the road to Inks Lake.

At Inks lake I found the Devils Watering Hole. I hiked up the rocks to the top and took this panoramic. Kids were jumping of the rocks on the over side, it looked like a place my kids would like to go. Alas, I hiked back down and headed for home.

Colorado Bend State Park

2011-05-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

I drove to Bend, TX today and went to another state park. Colorado Bend State Park was worth the 1.5 hour drive, in fact I think I'd do it again.

All the roads in this park are dirt roads. Thankfully I didn't see this guy alive!

Seeing this made it hard to wanna hike...

but I did hike and the trail was pretty rough...

even rougher when I got nearer the Colorado River...

but the waterfall made it all worth it!

I traveled through Lampasas, Texas to get to my destination. Of course I didn't get my video camera out until after my hike through the park. Here is my trip through Lampasas on the way back.

Don't blink.

Scallops

2011-04-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

Cooked the most amazing scallops this evening along with a tomato and cucumber salsa. I just need to get some better plates.

Is this turning into a food blog?

A Walk In The Park

2011-04-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Dana Peak State Park for a hike. Here are the pictures from my walk in the park.

Danger, lake ahead, slow down!

The flowers are in bloom but there are fewer then I thought there would be. I did get to see the cacti in bloom; that was interesting.

I love black and white pictures; I miss working in the darkroom.

Overall my hike produced some good photos but, I went for exercise and I think I stopped to much to call it exercise.

Swiss Chard!

2011-04-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have decided to walk into the grocery store and pick some vegetables that I've never eaten before, then bring them home and cook them. This week I chose Swiss Chard.

Swiss Chard, pictured above (yes I took the pictures,) is a spinach like plant but with red stems. I cut the stems out because I didn't think I would like the texture.

I sautéed some onion in a very small amount of olive oil and then added the chard much like I would cook spinach. I tasted it before I added my apple cider vinegar and it was good! With a small splash of the vinegar it was even better.

Don't make fun of my 50 cent plate! And don't make fun of the ribeye, I cut it down on the advice of my wife who recommends, "a serving size of meat should only be about the size of a deck of playing cards." See honey, I do listen.

Fort Hood Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area

2011-03-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

I spent the day exploring the area. Here are some of the sites that I saw.

These Buzzards are everywhere at this park.

I hope the raccoons don't get the blame for this mess.

definitely in the west again.

The wildflowers should be making an impressive show soon.

This guy had an itch; If only I had horns...

That is an impressive rack! Hello, Texas!

My new apartment

2011-03-23T17:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I am finally in the new place here in Killeen, TX. Not very big but enough for one person. If you would like the address you may email me and I'll reply with it.

This is the front, I live in the back on the bottom floor.

From the entry door looking right into the kitchen.

From the entry door looking straight into living room and through the bedroom door.

Texas!

2011-03-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

Well folks, I made it. I'm trying to get everything in order so I can start my new job on Monday. Here are some pictures of my trip.

Chris helped me load the vehicle so I could leave Nashville.

Shortly after I cross into this state my car goes on the fritz! I spent most of the day trying to find a place that could fix it. I ended up in Little Rock several hours later after only being able to drive 55 mph. The next day I went to a Honda dealer and a few hundred dollars later I was on my way.

Just before Dallas my GPS took me the back way to Killeen!

The scenes off of TX Hwy 19, steers and...

Brigitte

2011-02-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

Mom and I had fun with some picture taking today! It was a warm day so we went outside and shot some photos.

I got a new job!

2011-02-05T21:58:00.000-08:00

It is official, I got a government job as a photographer! Maybe now I can pay on those student loans! All the applications and all the web portfolio tweaking finally paid off.

buncephoto.com

2011-01-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

I just finished putting together my new web-site. This site will hopefully help me get a photography job. I have a little tweaking to do, but check it out and let me know what you think.

www.buncephoto.com

Went to Frist Center for Visual Arts

2011-01-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

I went to the Frist for the second time to see The Birth of Impressionism. This time I went with my Mother, Sister and her husband and one of their friends.

The neighborhood roads were bad this morning but people still tried to drive on them. This one was quite hilarious.

Reading up on photography

2011-01-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading a couple of books. On Photography, Susan Sontag and Annie Leibovitz at Work, Annie Leibovitz. Both are very interesting books but I prefer Annie Leibovitz at Work because it has pictures. Sontag's book would be more powerful if you could look at the picture to which she refers.

Snow in Nashville!

2011-01-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

I am going to try and do the blog thing again. Hopefully you all will hang with me. Here is a photo that I took after the snow fell here in Nashville last night.

The Fair!

2010-10-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

I went to the fair just so I could get back into doing some artistic type work. It rained off and on, so my trip was short but I did manage to get some ok shots.

Liberty Enlightening the World (Statue of Liberty)

2010-09-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

While on a business trip with my wife and father-in-law, we had a moment of spontaneity and decided to visit the Statue of Liberty. We were astonished by her beauty! Here is one of the several photos that I took of her. Want a copy for yourself? click here to go to buncephoto.zenfolio.com

My first graphic drawing on a computer

2010-09-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some old files on my back up disc when I came across this. I made this about five or six years ago. I like to pretend that I'm better now.

HDR (high dynamic range)

2010-05-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

I played with HDR today and found that I could spend way too many hours making it look how I best liked the image to be. Here is an image from my time in Spain.