Bluebonnet season is right around the corner. In fact, we were already seeing some early blooming in extreme southern locations along the Rio Grande and Gulf Coast. I wouldn’t expect widespread blooming anytime over the next several weeks after the recent winter storm and as temps stay on the cool side across most of the state. If current trends verify, I would expect the season to be right on schedule, with southern locations blooming in the middle of March and northern locations filling in through the first two weeks of April.

It was nice to experience, at least some degree of normalcy, for the bulk of the year with no shutdowns or cancelled workshops.

We kicked off the year in March with our usual Astrophotography and Advanced Astrophotography Workshops.. The weather was cooperative, which was great since the astrophotography workshop was our biggest ever with 40 guests (after the 2020 versions were cancelled).

The historic winter storms were actually a great thing for the upcoming wildflower season. Bluebonnets are freeze tolerant. The plants are mostly still small and are in the process of building their root systems.

Howdy y’all! I am back with my annual “Where to Find the Best Bluebonnets” this year post. This is now the fifth year in a row I have published this type of article, because I remember how hard it was to find these scenes when I first got started!

The story of how fauxtographer Brent Shavnore used stolen pictures to build himself an Instagram following of 130,000.

2017 was an interesting year for Texas Bluebonnets. Overall, it was a good but not great season. An early onset to spring brought on two distinct blooms. If you knew where to look, there were excellent fields for about 6 weeks, from early March through mid-April. Northern Texas still had blooms hanging around in late April. The roadsides were good in spots but levels of coverage were below what we had seen over the last several seasons.

Photographing Northern Lights can seem like a daunting task. Planning to shoot this phenomenon can require combining a little bit of astronomy with meteorology. You will need some clear skies. Looking at a basic local forecast, you wouldn't want to see more than 50% cloud coverage. If the forecast looks clear, get an aurora map and you will be good to go. 

Current signs are pointing to an above average bluebonnet season for the Texas Hill Country. As we transitioned from El Nino to La Nina, winter temperatures returned to a more seasonably cooler normal, with a few weeks of very cold temperatures. We have also seen some precipitation over the last few weeks with many areas receiving three to four inches.

2016 was by far the most successful year for my career in photography, which should be expected as each year you gain knowledge and confidence. The jump I saw in my income from my photography was astronomical.  This was the first year that I didn't have to work a side job to make ends meet, all income came directly from my photographic work. One of my biggest issues was that I used to wait to be inspired, but now I find inspiration in my progress.

2016 was an exceptional year for my career and photographic work. For the first time, I focused my entire year on creating timelapses (see video below).

My first book, The Anatomy of Severe Weather was released in February. After spending much of 2015 working on the book, it was nice to get out and shoot more often.

On November 14, 2016 the moon will be at its closest point to Earth since 1948. This will cause the moon to appear bigger and brighter than it typically does. 

Photographers of any skill level can capture the moon. It just takes some planning and the proper equipment

Texas is home to many fantasticly frightening places. If you're looking for a Halloween scare that also makes a great photo op, here are ten of my favorite abandoned places I have photographed during my time exploring the state. 

Everything You Need to Know to Photograph the Prolific 2016 Perseid Meteor Shower

The 2016 Perseid Meteor shower peaks this weekend and astronomers believe it could be a shower for the ages with rates up to 200 meteors per hour. Perseid meteors are small pieces of debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Usually Earth grazes the edge of this debris, but thanks to the gravitational pull of Jupiter, this year we will plow straight through the middle of it. 

As April wears on we are getting deeper into the heart of severe weather season in the state of Texas. This state is no stranger to violent weather systems causing scores of fatalities. In 2015, 24 Texans perished during the Memorial Day Floods, while 11 lost their lives in tornadoes on December 26th (8 in Garland alone). 

Bluebonnet season is here and the roadsides and fields are quickly filling in with wildflowers! Whether you decide to make your own images or hire a professional (ahem,) these tips will help you be sure your bluebonnet family photos will be the best they can be. 

The stars at night, shine big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas. But where do they shine the biggest and brightest? Here is my list of the top spots in the state to take in the night sky. 

The galactic center of the Milky Way is beginning to be visible in the Northern Hemisphere before dawn, as it rises on the southeast horizon. It will retroactively be visible for longer durations as the year wears on through October, when it aligns closer with the sun and is no longer visible.

Shooting the Milky Way can be very challenging, yet rewarding. The following will teach you everything you need to know to go out and capture your own view of our galaxy. 

During Spring, fields of bluebonnets can be spotted throughout central, southeast and east Texas. Many of the state's major highways are lined with bluebonnets and other wildflowers during this time of year, making for some incredibly scenic drives. Over the years, the wild population has been supplemented with planted parcels of bluebonnets. So, if you're looking to see blooming bluebonnets in Texas, what's the best spot to look?

New photographers often question which shooting format better fits their needs. There are a ton of articles out there that delve deep into the technical aspects of the two, but I have found that photographers learn best by seeing actual examples of subjects they are interested in shooting.