Padgetts. Dallas, TX.

Sunday done right. Dallas, TX.

Back of the car fun. Dallas, TX.

Maple & Motor

No nonsense, greasy, delicious-as-hell burger joint near Dallas. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get another crack at it when I’m back in the area next week.

Cold Lampin’ on Flickr.

Fort Worth, Texas

These two crazy kids. I think I forced them to let me take this photo as the conditions were too good to pass up. I’m very glad I did.

Vast Texas: Big Mouth on Flickr.

Oak Cliff, Texas

Step inside.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Vast Texas: Hats Upon Hats on Flickr.

White Elephant Saloon
Fort Worth, Texas

Big hats, not just on the wall, but on the ceiling. And TONS of them. Go big.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Vast Texas: Fort Worth Streets on Flickr.

Fort Worth, Texas

Big space, big sky, big sun. Everything feels like it goes on forever.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Vast Texas: The Stockyards on Flickr.

The Stockyards
Fort Worth, Texas

I’ve only had brief experiences in Texas. Slices of life, bits of truth. You hear that everything is bigger in Texas and assume it’s just talk and bravado, but I actually found it true. The first and most immediate thing I noticed about Texas was a sort of grand openness that permeates every facet of the state. It’s immediate and forward, it’s big, it’s vast: It’s the Lone Star state.

These aren’t bold photos of recognizable tourist spots. These are just slices of quick visits to grand, vast Texas.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Trophy Wall on Flickr.

White Elephant Saloon
Fort Worth, TX

Pretty sure the record skipped when we walked in. Still loved it.