There's a certain kind of chaos that comes with photographing a sport you're also actively competing in, and honestly? I'm here for it. I spent the day at Texas Wine Collective in Fredericksburg, TX shooting the Hill Country HYE-Land Games while also, you know, throwing heavy things alongside everyone else. Between events I was hunting for angles, finding the light, and figuring out how to make a grown adult hurling a 56-pound weight look as dramatic as it actually feels from the inside. Spoiler: it's not hard. These athletes bring the drama themselves.


The highlight (or lowlight, depending on how you feel about arm pain) was the Thor's Hammer challenge near the end of the day. Picture a heavy mallet, held at arm's length, for as long as humanly possible. It's basically a stein hoist but angrier, and my forearms are still filing a formal complaint. What made it worth every second of suffering was the crowd around it - athletes cheering each other on, laughing, trash-talking in the most loving way possible. That's the Highland Games community in a nutshell, and it's exactly why I keep showing up with both my camera and my throwing boots.


If you're an event organizer, athlete, or community looking for someone who gets the culture from the inside out, I'd love to shoot your next event. I promise I'll get the good angles even if I'm also about to throw a caber.


When: March 14th, 2026

Where: Texas Wine Collective, Fredericksburg, TX

Man in tartan kilt competing at Highland Games event outdoors, with judge holding scoreboard behind him.
Person in kilt and blue socks throwing hammer at Highland Games competition outdoors.
Athlete in kilt throws weighted bag over bar at Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in tartan kilt performs hammer throw at Highland Games competition outdoors.
Two men in kilts and gray shirts at a Highland Games event, one reviewing documents outdoors.
Man in kilt tossing a caber at a Scottish Highland Games competition on a sunny day.
Man in kilt tossing a caber at a Scottish Highland Games competition while a judge observes nearby.
Man swinging a colorful oversized foam hammer at an outdoor event with spectators in the background.
Man in kilt tossing a caber at a Highland Games competition, with a judge observing nearby under a clear blue sky.
Man in kilt competing in Highland Games heavy athletics, throwing weight for distance outdoors.
Athlete in kilt competes in Highland Games hammer throw on grassy field with spectators watching in background.
Man in tartan kilt tossing a ring onto a pole during a Scottish Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in yellow tartan kilt throwing at Scottish Highland Games competition on green field.
Man in tartan kilt tossing caber at Highland Games competition outdoors on sunny day.
Man in plaid kilt throwing hammer at Highland Games competition on green field.
Man in yellow tartan kilt tossing a caber at a Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in tartan kilt and sunglasses competing in Highland Games, holding a caber on a grassy field.
Person in tartan kilt throwing hammer at Highland Games competition on grassy field outdoors.
Two men in kilts playing bagpipes outdoors at a Scottish festival, with cars and a flag visible in the background.
Man in tartan kilt throwing hammer at Highland Games competition on grassy field outdoors.
Two men in plaid shorts compete in a caber toss at an outdoor Highland Games event on a sunny day.
Woman in tartan skirt and yellow glasses tossing a caber at a Highland Games competition outdoors.
Bearded man in tartan kilt competing in Highland Games, throwing object overhead on grassy field with trees and flag in background.
People playing outdoor lawn games on a sunny day, with a man throwing a ball and a kite flying in the background.
Athlete throwing a hammer in a field during a track and field competition outdoors.
Athlete in kilt and red socks throws hammer at Highland Games competition on green field outdoors.
Woman competing in Highland Games throws a weight for distance in a plaid skirt at an outdoor competition.
Athlete in red tartan kilt competes in Highland Games weight throw event on grass field.
Two people in kilts and casual attire smile at a Scottish Highland Games outdoor event on a sunny day.
Bearded man in gray tank top throwing a horseshoe on a grass field during an outdoor game on a sunny day.
Woman in plaid skirt and boots throwing a hammer at a Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in kilt competing in Highland Games hammer throw event outdoors on a sunny day.
Man in tartan kilt and cap competes in Highland Games sheaf toss event outdoors.
Man in kilt throwing shot put at Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man throwing a stone in a Highland Games competition on a sunny day with spectators in kilts watching.
Man in tartan kilt tossing a caber at a Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in yellow tartan kilt throws stone at Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in tartan kilt performs shot put throw at Highland Games competition outdoors.
Man in yellow tartan kilt throws shot put at Scottish Highland Games competition outdoors.
Person in a kilt competing in a caber toss at a Scottish Highland Games event outdoors.
Man in yellow tartan kilt performing Scottish Highland Games hammer throw outdoors on a sunny day.