Wandering Through Austin – A Return to Inspiration

There’s a rhythm to Austin that just sticks with you. Maybe it’s the skyline at golden hour, the smell of tacos wafting through East Side neighborhoods, or the way creativity oozes from both old buildings and modern glass towers. On this latest trip I found myself just as inspired.

One night we found ourselves at The Aristocrat Lounge, a local bar with serious character. The atmosphere? Chill, unpretentious, and packed with personality. Classic rock hummed in the background while vintage movies played silently on the TVs—total vibe. I played several rounds of pool against my daughters (yes, I won most of them), and we had some fantastic drinks to top it off. The kind of place where you just ease into the night without even trying.

During the trip I visited a few old haunts. The Texas State Capitol still hits hard with its sense of scale and symmetry. I spent a long time looking up inside the dome and walking the grounds tracing lines and shadows through my lens. And the Austin Public Library—still one of my favorite buildings in town—offered quiet corners of natural light, texture, and form that never get old.

In the evenings, we caught a comedy show in East Austin. Local acts, gritty and genuine, had the place rolling. Later, I found my way to The Elephant Room, that underground jazz bar with low ceilings and deep soul. It’s still magic down there—dim lights, pure sound, a timeless vibe.

Of course, the highlight was spending time with both of my daughters in a city that holds so much personal history. There's nothing quite like sharing places that once shaped you with people you love.

And through it all, I kept wandering. And I kept shooting.

Here are a few images from the trip that stuck with me: