Texas photography

To some people, a photograph is no more than a moment in time that has been captured forever, through the wonders of science, to be preserved or cherished for a lifetime. To others, it is a method of communicating with others or, better yet, art. Wildlife and outdoors photography presents its own set of challenges, and Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine takes pride in exhibiting the work of some of the state's finest photographers each month.

From Our Pages: Photography Articles

Picture This: The New Crop of Cameras

Smaller and more versatile products combine photo, video, Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities. read more

Picture This: Kids and Cameras

Nighttime offers rewarding opportunities for photographers. read more

Into the Night

Photographer Chase Fountain’s view of Texas under the stars. read more

Picture This: Shooting Stars

Nighttime offers rewarding opportunities for photographers. read more

Picture This: Gifts for Shutterbugs

Presents for the photographer in your life don’t have to break the bank. read more

Picture This: Video for Everyone

Digital cameras and phones make it easier to shoot footage. read more

Picture This: Shooting Fall Color

Though autumn foliage doesn’t always show off, these tips will help you get the best shots. read more

Picture This: The Art of Seeing

To develop greater visual awareness, open your imagination to nuances of light, color and texture. read more

Picture This: Leading Lines

Diagonal composition can pull a viewer into a photo and tell a visual story. read more

Picture This: Out of the Middle

The Rule of Thirds brings visual energy to photographs. read more

Picture This: Sensors and Sensitivity

Technical advances enable cameras to better capture the drama of low-light photography. read more

Picture This: There's an App for That

Smartphones and camera apps are making it easy for photographers to express their creativity. read more

Picture This: Critter Cam

Game cameras — keeping watch for wildlife — are smaller and better than ever. read more

Picture This: Photo Contest Winners

Take a look at the top picks from our photography competition. read more

Photo Essay: Scorched

If it wasn’t the drought, it was the heat. If it wasn’t the heat, it was wildfires. Texas has suffered through a brutal year of severe weather and destructive blazes. read more

Picture This: Getting Colors Right

‘White balance’ settings compensate for variations in light. read more

Picture This: View From the Porch

Retiree’s morning photo sessions reflect the nature of each day. read more

Picture This: Keeping Your Camera Steady

One of the factors that distinguish a great photograph from a mediocre one is sharpness — or lack of it due to camera motion. read more

Picture This: Calibrate Your Monitor

I’m often called upon to explain why someone’s new high-dollar, multi-megapixel digital camera takes such lousy photos. Many times, images that look terrible on our computer monitors are not the problem of the camera or the photographer but of the monitor itself. Just as a television can be adjusted for optimal color, so can a monitor. read more

Photo Essay: Water Parks

Waters born from above and below, from desert downpours to crystalline springs, carve their way across the vast Texas map, shaped and colored by their geography and geology. Along their transformative journeys, many will flow through tranquil places, away from the noise and trappings of civilization. read more

The State of Texas Photography

It's no secret that Texans like to brag about being the best. Our state has abundant opportunities for photographers to capture landscapes and wildlife portraits. read more

Why We Shoot

Why do you take pictures? The reasons are as unique as the number of individuals behind the cameras and yet, there are some basic similarities. Many of us use photography primarily as a tool to remember and savor the fleeting moments in life. read more

Point, Shoot, Share

Today’s casual outdoors photographer can achieve surprisingly good results without investing a lot of time and money. And you can do it — promise not to laugh — with a point-and-shoot camera. read more

Rolf Nussbaumer: Rising Photo Star

To win major photography contests, Rolf Nussbaumer draws on a range of skills, from bird identification to carpentry. read more

Birth of the Photo Ranch

The goal is clear: encourage owners of privately owned wildlife habitat to keep their ranches intact for the sake of conservation rather than parcel it, sell it or develop it. John and Audrey Martin of Edinburg believe they could save ranches by opening the gates of private properties to nature photographers. The Martins say that, with proper marketing, their plan could turn economic liabilities into economic solutions. read more

Our Photo Contest Winners

2011 Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine Photo Contest — Congratulations to our photo contest winners — Laura Vu, Howard Cheek and Daniel Ray! View the gallery of winners and finalists here. The winning photos are featured in photographer Earl Nottingham's column in the January issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife. Thanks to everyone who entered.