Scott Newton Photo

One of the transcendant experiences of my life is illustrated by this photograph. This is my son, Orion, only a month old, rallying from his biggest battle. My wife, Mary, in the early morning on his fifth day of life, sleeping with her newborn, felt his breathing stop. He would have been a SIDS fatality, but she caught it…. He was intubated and eventually rescued, but not before many days of struggle with pnuemonia and other complications. Nothing prepares a parent for a life and death struggle of his infant. Nothing is as traumatic and profoundly difficult, on every level. Nothing will teach you to pray to whatever Higher Being or Principle you believe in more humbly, or directly…. Orion is fine now, a wonderful 25 year old man with eyes as bright as anyone I know. Sometimes horribly difficult experiences make those who survive stronger and closer than they would ever have been had life unfolded uneventfully. It’s always hard to see that at the time. Often things turn out quite the opposite of what they initially seem to be.

One of my favorite bands is Wilco, whose lead singer, Jeff Tweedy, seen here front and center, is one of the most adventurous and daring musicians performing and composing today. I’ve wondered what kind of music Beethoven would play if he were alive today, and the closest thing I can come up with is the music Wilco resonates–deeply emotional, rich and compelling. Tweedy is….out there taking chances, creating brand new music unlike anyone else.

In October it’s easy to spot one of the rarest of Texas trees, the Madrone. Usually appearing merely pink, the bark turns red and peels like paper from the white inner wood, creating this stunning, unexpected contrast. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it, either, but here it is…

On the day before her twins are to be delivered by C-section. Can you see that much talked about “glow”? If you can’t, I’ve not done a good job. These are her first children, and she’s so very happy. And I’m happy for her and Stuart. I love posting pictures on the front end of a major event, like a birth. To you, the viewer, who may read this for the first time years from now, the event has already unfolded….but I like posting images when the details have yet to be lived….it makes this whole process of photographing and writing captions much more interesting….and immediate and fun. By the way, you, the viewer, are seeing the most recent post first. As you push the “previous image” button you’ll work backwards in time to the very first post, Flaming Lips.

Actually, what you’re looking at are the sex organs of a red Amaryllis. Plants have had a lot of practice, over the eons, learning what arouses and attracts the insects, who provide the motion. Whatever the impetus, reproduction or ambrosia, the image is interesting from an insect’s (and a photographer’s) perspective.

One of the first displays of gaudy is Amaryillis in bloom. This one smells like apple blossoms..

In 1970, I had the excellent fortune of meeting and befriending Manuel Conde, Jr.; otherwise known far and wide as Pussycat. Pussycat was one of the few native born Austinites I met in those early days…everyone else was from someplace else. His parents were itinerant farm workers who followed the harvest around the country. Pussycat was educated, maybe, through the 5th grade, but was one of the wisest humans I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing…He was my housemate for many years through the early and mid 70’s…He sure expanded my Whiteboy frame of reference. He died about 4-5 years ago. Gentle spirit that he was, someone in prison (he had repeat DWIs) just didn’t like him and beat him to within an inch of his life. He got out but was never the same…physically. His Spirit lives on in me and everyone who met him.

This is one of the oddest , and most disconcerting, images I’ve ever recorded with a camera. I have no idea about what happened to anyone in the shot. All I can tell you is that no one was hurt, that I know of….

I want to include this shot because it’s one of my favorite photos of Willie Nelson. In 1972, my friend, Peggy Underwood, dragged me to a show in Round Rock, at “Big G’s”, where this “renegade Country-hippie coming back from Nashville” was holding forth…Since then, probably one half of my professional earnings were directly, or indirectly, due to the fact that Willie was in Austin. He made so many things happen just by being here! Austin City Limits wouldn’t be in it’s first, much lest 31st year, without him and his creative energy …. Willie is truly the best Texas has to offer. I’m proud to have been able to convey his image to the world. It’s been my pleasure, and honor….

Ok, the creative lamp is lit…I’m on a roll…Here’s what happens when I set off on a creative safari into the Wilds of the Front Yard…. This is a study into how even the everyday and mundane can be brought to Life with the Miracle of Backlighting! For those of you who don’t know lighting, here’s the deal: if you can’t make the image sing, put a light behind it!… That’s enough secrets for now.