Charlie Billups Photographer

I am Charlie Billups, a lifestyle photojournalist. Photographing the many sights and scenes of Austin, Texas, it's culture and it's people.

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Fall season of fall ball starts at at East Austin's GEAYA. Tigers win against Guardias 8-1.

It is still very warm in Austin, in fact 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The game was a well played game. Nico the starting pitcher hurled flawlessly through 4 innings. The Tigers managed to get on base and thanks to their impeccable running game scored 8 runs and cruise to victory. Here is a link to images from the game.

First day of fall baseball - GAEYA Austin - September 14 24

Charlie Billups Photographer 2024 Portfolio,First day of fall baseball - GAEYA Austin - September 14 24,

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Pachi growing up! Pachi Creciendo!

Pachi is growing! Ya se crecio!

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First Thanksgiving Celebration in Texas

Just an update! It has been 9 months since we moved to Texas. Today we celebrated Thanksgiving with Lorena's family in Katy, Texas a suburb of Houston. I am grateful that I am here. I am grateful that God always leads us in a triumphant procession. It has not been easy, but I am thankful for the new opportunities, relationships, and adventures that we have experienced.

I am so thankful for my friend, companion, and partner, and wife Lorena who has pushed through and persevered in so many trials. I am grateful for the trials. I have to say God has provided for us. He is the creator and he is the sovereign and the things that I thought were not replaceable for us in Chicago, he has provided.

May you all have a blessed 2023 Thanksgiving!

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Villa de Leyva in Boyaca, Colombia a Bucket List place of reflection and thought

As many of you know we left Chicago in February after a very difficult end to my 35 years there. I am grateful for all that I learned and all the relationships that I made. So we moved to Austin, and as with any major life transition, we have had to start from scratch in every single way, work, relationships, housing, and a completely new environment. So Lorena and I decided to take a break for a few weeks to reflect on our next steps. We have traveled to Colombia which is my 3rd home after the United States and Puerto Rico. I write this blog high from the Boyaca Mountains in the Village of Villa de Leyva a place that is as historic as history itself.

So far I have completely engulfed myself in photographing the people of the Cundinamarca and Boyaca departments and something is very clear to me, the most important thing to many of the people that live here is that Family is the most important thing. You may be poor, but Friday night and Saturday morning are totally dedicated to family to go to church, worship God, eat pollo, hold hands, and go for walks. Villa de Leyva is a place for that.

So far up here there is no Netflix, very limited internet and they are doing a lot of walking, Pachi kicking the ball around in our extra large yard with the mountains as neighbors.

I am glad I am here and like Jesus, we have taken time to go up to the mountains to pray.

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Latin music in the most unexpected places in Austin

Believe it or not last Sunday I was in a craze. Moving to Austin has been a box full of surprises. One of them, my children 3 months ago decided to get a rooster and a hen. Lorena and the kids traveled to Colombia for a month several weeks ago. In the next couple of days, I'll be traveling to Colombia and I had to give Ramiro the rooster and Manuela the hen away. On Saturday and Sunday I went to many places driving around looking for somebody to take the feathery pair and give them away and as I was driving around I took a turn into Ganter Street in Govalle neighborhood and I saw many people getting ready to have a fest with a latin band and everything. I said to myself let me keep going because I have cleaning and packing to do but a couple of minutes later I decided to come back take my camera out and enjoy the people and the music of Casa Marianella a migrant relief center and shelter. The band was Austin's cuban music band Sofrito y Su Melao. It was such a warm and place and I felt Casa Marianella offers so much to a community of people starting anew. 

Austin Post #8

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Bertha Sadler Means Dance Troupe Presents "Element Box" at LBJ High School Auditorioum

I had no plans to write or photograph on Friday night. Instead, I attended the dance performance titled "Element Box" by the Bertha Sadler Means Middle School Contemporary Dance group. I went simply as a spectator and to support my daughter who was the stage manager. What I got was a feast for the senses, a well choreographed, costumed and extremely well performed 1 hour of high power exquisite dance routines. Thank God that I had my notebook camera in the car.

My first impression is this was not a middle school show, the performances were of professional quality. In my opinion, Professor China Smith did an excellent job of portraying a professional mindset to the young members of the troupe.  I want to highlight two specific parts of the performance, the first being the "Dia de los Muertos" piece. I thought it was exquisite and well put together. The movements were well choreographed and for a group of over 20 dancers it delivered without a hitch. A lot of love was put into that piece. The costuming was modern and also reflected a Dia de los Muertos theme. The second was the element titled "Sinte", all I can say is that it was so enjoyable, this invocation of African rhythms was excellent and the number was choregraphed to perfection.

I hope to see this ensemble and this particular presentation again in the future it's message of cultural inclusiveness is relevant and needed.  Please see the Video and Photos in the links, Photos: https://charliebillupsphotographeraustin.pic-time.com/-elementboxberthasadlermeansywla/gallery Video:

Austin Post #7

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When in Austin please participate in the Bat watching experience on the Congress Avenue Bridge. I could not believe the amount of people that were there enjoying this wonderful experience. Most of the images on this set were taken by my son James (Pachi). Austin Post #6

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Austin's Latinita's celebrates Eco Chica 2023 Conference at Atlassian's Offices

This last weekend a very special event occurred at Atlassian's lavish Austin Campus. Girls from all over Texas and as far as Laredo, came together to participate in a conference themed "Eco Chica". The purpose of the conference was to empower girls ages 9 to 15 to think ecologically and globally. Through a team exercise, they came up with concept business projects that could be eco-friendly businesses. What was my take on a day filled with empowerment speeches and highly structured breakout groups in which the 70+ attendees were divided into 9 groups? My take was focus! Every group was competitive and organized, leaders emerged, and all were very tech-savvy with wonderful skill sets and the members that did not have skills were gently made to feel that their input was encouraged and needed.  At the end of the day, all groups presented in front of a set of very accomplished and distinguished judges, and a winner came forward, a group that represented a concept named "Monarca" which used the topic of ecological waste presented by discarded soccer balls. Their product will be a Soccer ball that will be eco-friendly. The proposed ball will be made of 100% recycled fibers.  I was not the hired gun photographer for this event, this are my own images as I am an employee of Latinitas, Inc. but I have to say I was very emotional when I heard and saw both of my children present for their respective teams. This was a very impactful event which changes lives and for sure will create and inspire thought leaders in a very near future. ECO CHICA 2023 mission accomplished. More images from the day click here Austin Post #5

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Dedication - Yesterday was a difficult day at bat during Pachi little league game in South Austin. He struck out twice. For an 8 year old that is devastating. I am glad that Lorena and I were there for him. I realize more and more the importance of parents guiding a child through though days and teaching them to observe the positive and learn to be better. For more images click on the link,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/titoytitabillups/albums/72177720307734909/with/52840375300/ Austin Post #4

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Hot day at the Liz Carpenter Fountain in Austin - Austin Post #3

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Yesterday was an important day for me. My son played his first-ever little league baseball game. This experience was new to me as I had never been part of a little league community. As I spent part of my day at East Austin’s Mabson field for the Greater East Austin Youth Association opening day, I was struck by the diversity of children, parents, and fans at an extremely well-attended event.

The images included showing a mother comforting her son after striking out in his first turn at bat, later to also be comforted by another mother of Hispanic background. To me, it was a such tender and loving act of support. Without a doubt this event made me recall Martin Luther King's I have a dream speech, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” Austin Post #2

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Charlie Billups - Update from Texas - March 18, 2023  Today is exactly a month an 1 day from the day we arrived in Austin, Texas.  We are doing good and happy. We are happy that we did not deal with the brunt of the snow and cold weather in Chicago. 

Why Austin? It is a magical place where so many creative and innovative forces are all at play. We also needed new adventures, new friends and a new opportunity.  In the image that you see is that of Sarah and Pachi on the seawall in Corpus Christi and the Selena Quintanilla Mirador de La Flor memorial in the seawall. If you come to Texas this is a must. 

So far, So good!

Austin Post #1

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The majesty of Sleeping Bear Dunes in Empire, Michigan

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Paradise found, Paradise lost https://www.instagram.com/p/CRj10fjr15cc2bPIthEQIv1iT0DlZM-HtaRkx40/?utm_medium=tumblr

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On the way home (at Orlando International Airport (MCO)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjk-qpj19FtBUzOAkHxTGNxR1JjnuajTusGb80/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Florida Life #ccbsummer2021 (at Calypso Cay Resort) https://www.instagram.com/p/CReyy9lrjq8srAJyQnr0FIXOvn0QnKOYYMyL3s0/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Our Home away from home (at Calypso Cay Resort) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRexbnjLgduJBCB3vdtGkb99c07wxpDLkMFw3M0/?utm_medium=tumblr