Cruel Summer

 

The sign at Eanes Elementary School on Thursday July 9, 2009, conveys the feelings of many Austinites as we endure day after day of triple-digit temperatures. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Austin Tea Parties

 

Chuck Thomas waves a Texas flag at the 'Take Back America' tea party at the Capitol on Saturday July 4, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

 

Shirley Markley sings the national anthem at the start of the Austin Tea Party at Zilker Park on Friday July 3, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

 

Timothy Brown of Dickinson cheers during the 'Take Back America' tea party at the Capitol on Saturday July 4, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Austin hosted two separate ‘tea parties’ over the Fourth of July weekend.  Several hundred people from around Texas came to protest big government and wasteful spending.  Take a look at the photo gallery for more photos.

Independence Day

 

Fireworks explode over downtown Austin on the Fourth of July 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Explosions in the Sky

 

Explosions in the Sky are left to right: Chris Hrasky, Michael James, Mark Smith and Munaf Rayani, photographed in Austin on Friday June 19, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

I recently did a photo shoot with the Austin band Explosions in the Sky at the home of drummer Chris Hrasky.    The band is celebrating their tenth year together.  I shot the photo (above) for the cover of today’s Austin 360 entertainment guide.   Read the story by Joe Gross.

 

Explosions in the Sky Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

We were going for a relaxed mood with all of the band members sitting together on the sofa in the photo above.

 

Explosions in the Sky Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The band members came up with the concept of working together in the kitchen for the photo above.  I had a great time meeting these guys and working collaboratively with them on three different shots.  Explosions in the Sky are performing a sold-out show on, appropriately, the Fourth of July at Stubb’s BBQ.  The last time I saw the band they were headlining a free concert for several thousand fans at Auditorium Shores during the SXSW Music Festival (photo below). 

 

Explosions in the Sky performs at Auditorium Shores at the SXSW Music Festival on Saturday March 21, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Tribute to Tuskegee Airmen

 

Retired Maj. Levi Thornhill, 86, who was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, and 15-year-old pilot Kimberly Anyadike made a stop in Austin on Tuesday June 30, 2009, while flying from Califronia to Virginia in tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen. They are making the trip from Compton, California, to Newport News, Virginia, in six days in the Cessna at right in background. When she gets to Virginia she will be the youngest black female pilot to fly across the country. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

‘American Idol’ auditions in Dallas

 

Quatrele Smith, 18, waits in line with a life-size cutout of his "inspiration" Zac Efron at the "American Idol" auditions at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Friday June 26, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Thousands wait in lne at dawn at the "American Idol" auditions at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Friday June 26, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

 

Cameron Bass, 25, of Fort Worth hugs his father Doug Bass after Cameron advanced to the next round of "American Idol" auditions at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Friday June 26, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

I got to experience firsthand some of the excitement of ‘American Idol’ on Friday when I was sent to photograph the auditions in Dallas. Thousands came from all over to Cowboys Stadium before dawn for their chance at fame and fortune. I arrived at 5 a.m., and spent the next couple of hours photographing people waiting for their audition. Some wore costumes such as the Chicken Man and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. The media were not allowed to enter the building, so I waited outside to photograph the reactions of the winners and losers. I’m glad I got to witness this pop culture phenomenon in person.

You can see the photo gallery on the Statesman’s photoblog.

Yogurt shop defendants released

 

Michael Scott, left, with his wife Jeannine Scott, and Robert Springsteen, right, leave the Travis County Jail with their attorneys after State District Judge Mike Lynch ordered them released from jail on bond on Wednesday June 24, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

     I had a stakeout at the Travis County Jail today to photograph Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen as they were released from jail.  The two men have been in prison since 1991 after confessing to a role in the grisly murders of four teenage girls at an Austin yogurt shop in 1991.  Springsteen had been on Death Row, and Scott had a life sentence.  On Wednesday a judge ordered them released on personal recognizance bonds while waiting for a retrial. 

     I started standing outside the jail around 10 am.   Every hour or so someone would come out and alert the media that it would be about hour until the defendants exited the building.   By 3 pm it was 104° and I had been staring at that door for five hours.  Finally both defendants came out, and their lawyers said a few words to the media.  It was all over in five minutes.

Oh so hot!

 

It was 102° when Jackson Childers, 10, joined his teammates for a four-hour-long soccer camp on Tuesday afternoon. Even before the warm-ups began Jackson had to find a way to cool off. A big chunk of ice on top of his head seemed to help at least temporarily. Austin is expecting triple digit heat every day for the next 10 days. You might see me with a big chunk of ice on MY head! Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Happy Father’s Day!

 

Randall Collins and his 6-year-old daughter Masha Collins fish in Onion Creek at McKinney Falls State Park on Saturday June 20, 2009. The two were participating in the Texas Parks & Wildlife's angler education program Dad & Me Fishing event. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

100°

 

Conley Giles cools off after running three miles on the Hike & Bike Trail on Tuesday June 16, 2009. Giles said he runs six miles a day - three in the morning and three in the evening - every day, regardless of the heat. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

 It was a hot one out there today but that didn’t stop Conley Giles from his twice daily three-mile run.