MAY 16, 2013

If you've taken a look at my "Learn" section during the last couple months you've probably noticed that my recent additions haven't been PDF's. Instead, you've found links to articles I've written for Apogee Photo.

I first learned about this photography site about a year ago. I've been especially impressed with the direction it's taken since January when it came under the ownership of Marla Meier.

Apogee has literally thousands of articles in its database as it's one of the Web's oldest online photo magazines. Of course, the articles on wildlife photography appeal to me most, but you'll find pretty much everything under the sun to do with photography here for all levels of photographers from beginners to pros.

My latest article, "Best Ways to Photograph Javelinas," just went live so if these cool critters interest you as much as they do me be sure and check it out.

MARCH 23, 2013 ~ McDonald Observatory, Mt. Locke, Texas

Mary and I just returned from west Texas -- one of those all-time favorite places of ours -- where we were working on an assignment for American Profile Magazine.

I had to wait for the moon to go down to get this star-trail shot so I had to get up in the wee hours (even before a wildlife photographer usually gets up-- that "wee!"). It was cold and windy, but worth it to be up there alone under that incredible night sky.

West Texas and southern Utah are the two darkest places in the continental U.S., with Bortle ratings at a borderline 1-2. A Bortle rating of "1" signifies a "pristine" sky with zero light pollution.

Look for our article on best places to stargaze in America in an upcoming issue of America Profile.

March 2013

I'm happy to announce the above image placed in the top 100 in the North American Nature Photography Association's (NANPA) Showcase competition where it was one of the images shown during the "Nature and Music ~ Jacksonville Symphony Celebrates Nature Photography" performance on Thursday Feb. 27, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida.

The performance was a relaxing way to end a busy day. I'd spent a fun day photographing with John Eppler at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine.

I was told that, in addition to NANPA members, people from the Jackonsville community came to see the show, which made for an audience in excess of a thousand.

This image was taken in May of 2012 on one of the two ranches to which I'll be returning during my Focus on South Texas Birds tour. Their photo blinds are built especially for nature photographers and provide great perspective just above ground-level, which allows us to capture intimate images like these.

These Mexican ground squirrels--with their interesting antics-- are always fun to photograph!

January 2013

The 2013 Coastal Bend Wildlife Photography Contest is just around the corner. I have competed in the 2007, 2009, and 2011 contests. It was a ton of fun and I learned a lot. Sadly, my schedule does not permit me to enter in 2013. Between conducting photo tours and workshops, and working on the nature-tourism book that Mary and I are doing for the Texas A&M Nature Series Guides, I simply couldn't do it.

Texas is lucky to have this contest. There is nothing like it anyplace else. The Valley Land Fund was the original "Texas contest" but they no longer hold that event. The Images for Conservation Pro-Tours were a similar concept, but they were only open to pro-photographers and there are no more scheduled.

The Coastal Bend contest is open to anybody and I feel it is a fantastic way to up your game concerning wildlife photography. Check it out: www.wildlifephotocontest.com

I will be giving a talk on the contest experience at the February Austin Shutterbug camera club meeting on February 7th, 2013. Learn more about the club at: Austin Shutterbug.com.

November 2012

Yes it's true. There IS fall foliage in Texas. While we don't have the extensive colors of New England, if you know where to look you can find it.

Mary and I are working on a book project about nature tourism in Texas. This has given me the excuse to travel around capturing some of the elusive fall colors. The above image is from Lost Maples State Park, one of the better known spots for leaf peeping.

Some of the other places we've explored in the last few weeks are northeast Texas near Tyler and McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

OCTOBER 2012

It's official! ... I'll be doing an Elk Rut / Aspen Fall Color photo tour at the Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico in September 2013.

Details will be posted in the "Join Me" section very soon.

ONLY 8 SPACES WILL BE AVAILABLE so let me know now if you're interested. Thanks! ~ Jeff

SEPTEMBER 2012

Mary and I just returned from a scouting trip to Vermejo Park Ranch. Wow! Nearly 600,000 acres of contiguous private land teeming with wildlife.

With ecosystems ranging from the short-grass prairie to above treeline, Vermejo Park offers a wide variety of landscape and wildlife photo opportunites. In a three-day stay we saw: Mule Deer, Prairie Dogs (Black-tailed and Gunnison), Burrowing Owl, Pronghorn, Bison, Elk, Black Bear, Blue Grouse, Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Northern Flicker, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel, Least Chipmunk, Coyote, Pinyon Jay, Stellar's Jay, and whatever else I forgot.

The Vermejo's nature-tourism team is developing a first-rate program and we're working together to create nature-photography options, which will contribute to their overall goals and objectives.

Stay tuned to the "Join me" section for upcoming photo-tours to this private wildlife playground!

MAY 2012

I had the opportunity to act as "coach" on two Images for Conservation Pro-Ams this spring. These events were a fun learning workshop with a bit of competition thrown in the mix.

Participants would capture images and select their best shot in a daily contest. The images were assigned points which determined daily winners and overall winners.

I really enjoyed these events. It was great to see how the images improved over the days. Being able to meet new people and make new friends was icing on the cake!

APRIL 2012
Late April found Mary and I on the Wyoming/Montana border on a scouting trip for a future Sage Grouse Photo Adventure.

Early mornings were spent on the lek and the rest of the day seeing what other possibilities the ranch would hold for us. The wildlife was abundant with golden eagles, sandhill cranes, Canada geese and other waterfowl, pronghorns, mule deer and prairie dogs.

We had a great time on this beautiful private ranch. It's a joy to see well managed range with a multitude of wildlife co-existing with the cattle.

We'll keep you posted on the chance to join us here.

MARCH 2012
It's always great to return to the tropics and witness the diversity of life.

Our Honduras Photo Adventure had a diversity of weather to go along with the wildlife. We had a couple of days of rain, despite it being the "dry" season. After all, it IS a rainforest.

The wide verandas of the Lodge at Pico Bonito kept us and our equipment out of the rain and provided my favorite images of the trip. Watching the hummingbirds bathe in the rain was a special treat and all the bird activity ramped up whenever the rain let up.

The weather was perfect for our Cuero y Salado excursion. The river provided us with good shots of White-faced Capuchin monkeys, Long-nosed bats and Green herons among other sightings

Now if I could just get those Blue Morphos to sit still long enough for a good shot!

Join us in March 2013 to experience the joys of tropical nature with luxury accomodations.