South Padre Island Birding

I spent a few hot and muggy days down at South Padre.  I really hadn't planned on shooting much, but came across the SPI Birding and Nature Center with some cool residents.

San Antonio Botanical Gardens, Indian Style

I've always wanted to shoot an Indian wedding or similar event, as the clothes and colors are so vibrant.

It wasn't quite a wedding, but I did get a chance to do a behind the scenes (BTS) session of Aishwarya Rajan Babu being photographed by John Vega, assisted by Kelly.  As Aishwarya would say, Semma Jolly time!

Texas 7 on 7 Football - Boerne-Champion - Warren - Cedar Creek & Johnson High Schools

Just when I thought it was going to be August before I could shoot some football, someone brought the 7 on 7 leagues to my attention. Thousands of Texas high schoolers play this and I was able to shoot the qualifying games of the Central Catholic 7 on 7 State Qualifying Tournament (SQT) at the University of Incarnate Word stadium...such a great facility. (Tournament Director is Carl Padilla)

These are fast 20 minute halves with no running or linesman, mostly just pass plays and their defensive counterpart on the half a football field.  I felt like I was shooting a mix of baseball and basket ball on a big court, since you never know where the ball is going to go and it's much quicker than and tighter than regular football.  Still got some great action and more than a few nice portraits.

Check them out on RalphMawyerPhotography.com or BoerneSportsPhotos.com

Boerne-Champion vs Lake Travis Region IV-4A Baseball Final

Excellent game at Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, close innings to the very end...

Check out the gallery at www.ralphmawyerphotography.com.

Col. Ralph Mawyer Sr., USMC, Retired. (Dec'd)

A Virginia farm boy, then World War II, then a Forward Air Controller and Pilot in Korea dodging MIGs in a Corsair (F4U), followed by jets in Vietnam, retiring just short of 30 years.  Not a bad legacy...

Nine battle stars, the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.

Boerne-Champion vs Alamo Heights Baseball 4A Quarter Finals

Boerne-Champion Chargers (Boerne, Texas) closed out the Alamo Heights Mulls in the 2012 4A baseball quarter finals.  Beautiful day, good field action and some really nice candid portraits.

University of Incarnate Word (UIW) Red & Black Game

A the end of each football Spring Training season UIW holds their Red vs Black intra-team scrimmage. This year under the leadership of their new head coach, Larry Kennan, the teams held a draft to provide for a more competitive game.  It's fun to shoot football in the spring, but the real thing starts with August pre-season training.  The third game of next season will be a real highlight under Coach Kennan as the team will be playing in Dallas Cowboys stadium on September 14th....and UTSA still refuses to scrimmage. ;-)

For a few more photos, check out the gallery at RalphMawyerPhotography.com