The Happy Accident: How This Photo of the Pennybacker Bridge Kicked Off a Photography Adventure
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Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you're not even looking for them.
This photo of the Pennybacker Bridge? It's the one that started it all. It's the image that turned a guy who bought a drone to mess around with into someone who actually calls himself a photographer. It's also my best-selling piece, which is a pretty cool twist to this story.
From Drone Hobbyist to Accidental Artist
Back then, I had no business calling myself a photographer. I'd just gotten my first drone—a DJI Mavic 2 Pro—and was mostly buzzing it around my neighborhood, taking simple shots of the downtown Austin skyline. I'd done a bit of Googling about the rule of thirds, but that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge. I was still using the drone's auto settings religiously.
To be honest, those early shots were... let's call them "learning experiences." I was that guy taking horribly framed photos and thinking they looked amazing on my phone screen.
A Sunset I Almost Missed
One late spring afternoon in 2019, I decided to take my new toy out to the 360 Bridge. I'd never flown over water before and wanted to see what kind of different shots I could capture. I planned on shooting at sunset, but I had absolutely no idea the sky was about to deliver one of the most beautiful light shows I'd ever witnessed.
As the sun started going down, the sky just began to glow—not just pretty, but absolutely electric. I decided to experiment with the camera settings and, for the first time ever, switched into HDR mode. I had no clue what it actually did, but curiosity got the better of me.
I took a bunch of single photos and, out of pure curiosity, a few of those bracketed sets the camera kept offering me. When I looked at the images on my phone's tiny screen, they didn't look like much. The exposure seemed off, and honestly, I figured I'd wasted the perfect sunset.
The YouTube-Fueled Discovery
I went home feeling a bit defeated and left those photos untouched for a few days. Then I remembered those weird bracketed sets sitting in my memory card. I had no idea what they were supposed to do, so I did what any good amateur does when completely lost: I turned to YouTube.
After watching several tutorials about HDR processing (and feeling pretty overwhelmed), I finally imported the images into Lightroom and figured out how to merge them. What happened next still gives me chills.
What came out was this photo—this incredible, vibrant sunset that seemed to capture colors my eyes didn't even register in person. The HDR processing revealed details in both the shadows and highlights that a single exposure could never handle. And here's the craziest part: the image you see isn't heavily edited or oversaturated. That's pretty much exactly what the camera and HDR processing revealed.
More Than Just a Snapshot
Looking at that final result on my computer screen, I realized this wasn't just another drone photo—it was something more. It was the moment I understood you could take a fleeting, beautiful moment and transform it into a piece of art that actually moves people.
I was so in love with it that I immediately had it printed and hung it in my living room, where it still hangs today. Every time I look at it, I'm reminded of that evening when everything clicked—literally and figuratively.
This happy accident became my "Austin Glow" and truly kicked off my obsession with photography. It's why I'm so passionate about getting out there, watching the world transform in front of your eyes, and being ready for those magical moments that nature decides to gift you.
More importantly, it taught me that some of your best work might come from experimenting with techniques you don't fully understand yet. Sometimes you just have to trust the process and see what happens.
The Technical Stuff (For Those Curious)
For y'all interested in the details: This was shot with a DJI Mavic 2 Pro using its automatic AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) feature. The camera captured 5 shots at different exposures and I merged them later in Lightroom. The warm tones you see are completely natural—that spring evening delivered one of those perfect atmospheric conditions that photographers dream about.
Camera Settings (as best I can remember):
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro
- AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) - 5 shot sequence
- Auto white balance
- ISO 100 (drone's base ISO)
- Processed in Adobe Lightroom
Your Turn
Now it's your turn, y'all. What's an unexpected moment that sparked a new passion for you? Maybe it was a photo that didn't turn out how you expected, or a creative accident that opened up a whole new world? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
Bring This Story Home
If this photo's story sparked something in you, maybe it's time to bring a little bit of that Austin glow into your own space. This piece is available as a museum-quality print that captures every detail of that magical evening—from the warm light dancing on the water to the vibrant sky that started it all.
Or browse more adventures in my full gallery—each one with its own story waiting to inspire your next discovery.