Features... It's Hot In Texas

Since it's slow in the summer time, it makes for a good time to spend feature hunting - I know I've said that before in previous posts. The following are daily features, although some are from an assignment.

I spend a lot of time driving around looking for spots that might make for a good feature. Sometimes it's a deserted place that I imagine might make for a good feature, although no one is there. When I find a spot, I drop a pin in the maps section and label it "Feature," "Rain Feature," "Heat Feature" etc. I know that it's not uncommon to keep a list of places to go like what has been done for years, but I find it easier to go to the bookmarks section of the maps and by typing "feature," I get a list.

Not always is a feature planned, there can be luck involved too. Chance favors the prepared mind, so if you come across a feature and you're not prepared, keep driving. Those always hurt the most.

Oh, one more thing. If you're shooting a feature, whether you came across it or it was assigned, don't be afraid to pursue a different situation if you hear something going on. For example, I saw Heather, the woman in the image below, painting her fence at about noon yesterday. I stopped to talk to her and after about an hour of chatting, I asked if I could come back and photograph her when the light was better. She replied with "yeah, that'd be great." As I was photographing her, I didn't liked images that were coming from the situation, I just wished they had a little more to them. All the sudden, I heard a splash. I asked if she had a pool in the backyard. She said yes. I switched gears and went to the backyard. That is where I spent about half an hour shooting Harry as he splashed away in golden light.

Thanks for stopping by.





Harry Bause, 6, jumps into the pool in his backyard as he escapes the heat Wednesday, June 29, 2011, in Houston. Harry's parents put the pool in the backyard so he can have a place to not only escape the heat, but Harry is on the swim team as well, and it helps him stay in shape. "It's hot in Texas," Harry's mom, Heather Bause said. "It also helps him escape the germs and dust of being in the house." ( Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle )



Harry Bause, 6, enjoys the pool in his backyard as he escapes the heat Wednesday, June 29, 2011, in Houston. "It's hot in Texas," Harry's mom, Heather Bause said. ( Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle )



William Morales (left) grabs a pole as he and Arnold Elliott (right) assemble a tent in preparation for the Mayor Annise Parker’s official Fourth of July event, Freedom Over Texas at Eleanor Tinsley Park Wednesday, June 29, 2011, in Houston. ( Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle )