A thin waterfall spills down a moss- and lichen-covered limestone cliff into the cypress-lined pool at Krause Springs on a calm winter afternoon.

A Hush in the Hill Country: Krause Springs in Winter

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Considered by many to be the best swimming hole in Texas, Krause Springs sits in Spicewood, about 30 miles (48 km) west of Austin. Thirty-two springs feed its pools and waterfalls, all held inside a 115-acre (about 47-hectare) property listed … Read More

A cluster of pickerelweed plants along the edge of a calm pond, violet flower spikes scattered among bright green heart-shaped leaves and tall reeds, with the water reflecting the morning light.

Pickerel-What? Weed by Name, Wonder by Nature.

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Last year, I revisited a friend’s ranch just outside Caldwell, Texas, for a refresher on macro photography of bees and odonates in flight. After an early morning session photographing bees, I found myself gravitating toward other treats on his property. … Read More

A weathered wooden arch marks the trailhead entrance to Twin Springs Preserve, flanked by a stone foundation and framed by the dense canopy of Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) and mixed Texas Hill Country brush.

Off the Beaten Path: A Quiet Afternoon at Twin Springs Preserve

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I recently completed a two-part training on the Leave No Trace Seven Principles — a meaningful program that encourages us to be more mindful of protecting the places we visit and hike. For those unfamiliar, the seven principles are: Plan … Read More

Panoramic view along FM 170 in Big Bend Ranch State Park showing a vehicle on the road in the middle ground, colorful mineral-rich mountain faces displaying yellows, greens, and rust-orange tones, the dramatic Flatiron peaks rising in the background, and sparse Chihuahuan Desert scrub in the foreground beneath a bright blue sky with wispy high-altitude clouds.

Nature’s Own Wall: The Case Against a Border Barrier in Big Bend

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The plans for a border wall across Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park continue to face strong opposition in Texas. The project has encountered significant resistance from residents, landowners, and both Democratic and Republican officials in … Read More

Sunlit woodland trail at Copperfield Nature Trail in Austin Texas framed by large tree trunks in the foreground, winding dirt path and footbridge in the middle ground, and bright open forest clearing in the background.

Foreground to Horizon: Layered Nature Photography

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Lens-Artists Challenge #392: Framing Your Shots: Exploring the Foreground, Middle Ground, and Background When Patti set the theme for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, I wanted to capture new photos that put her excellent guidance to the test. She wrote, “This … Read More

Paved hiking and biking trail through winter Texas Hill Country landscape with limestone rock outcrop, bare trees, and long shadows, Brushy Creek Regional Trail, Round Rock, Texas.

From Saddle to Shutter: A Winter Ride Through Brushy Creek on the S23

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Lens-Artists Challenge #391: Phone Photography So, this week, Tina leads the Lens-Artist challenge with a theme that should be lots of fun for everyone. As Tina says in her post, “phone photography … has come such a long way these … Read More

A wide panoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel bathed in warm sunlight, with terraced stone ruins in the foreground, the iconic Huayna Picchu peak rising sharply on the right, and the Andes mountains receding into a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Huayna Picchu: Standing on the Edge of the World

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You’ve seen that photo before — the one of Machu Picchu with a dramatic mountain looming in the background. That mountain is Huayna Picchu, and the sweeping view below? That was taken from its summit, where I stood, slightly breathless, … Read More

A shallow, rocky stretch of the Rio Grande flows through a wide channel bordered by golden dried grasses and reeds, with a rugged volcanic mesa rising against a clear blue sky in the background. A sandy island of sparse dry vegetation sits mid-river, splitting the current into riffles. Photographed along FM 170 (El Camino del Rio) in the Big Bend region of West Texas.

Wild Water, Ancient Land — The Rio Grande Along El Camino del Rio

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If you’ve ever driven FM 170 in West Texas — also known as El Camino del Rio, the River Road — you already know it’s one of the most breathtaking stretches of highway in the entire country. This shot was … Read More

A sweeping landscape of a forested mountainside and a body of water. A faint, broad rainbow (or "fogbow") arches across the sky, appearing as a soft, luminous band of light hitting the hillside.

Lens-Artists Challenge #390: Color in Black and White

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In a world saturated with color, black-and-white photography commands a unique kind of attention. It forces us to look beyond the surface, to engage with form, texture, and light on a fundamental level. But the true magic lies not just … Read More

A cool-toned monochrome landscape of the entrance to Closed Canyon, with a flat-topped mesa and a rounded hill flanking a dark rocky cleft, surrounded by sparse desert scrub under a dramatic, streaked sky.

Stone Cold Serenity: Finding Your Calm at Closed Canyon

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Lens-Artists Challenge #389: Time to Relax For this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, Anne wants to know what relaxes us. She writes: “What gets you away from the stresses of daily life. What’s your passion?” The short answer for me is nature. … Read More

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