Heaven in Texas
by Brian E. Small
Throughout my years in photography, I have met many wonderful
people and made an amazing number of friends all over the United
States. Two of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure to
know are John and Audrey Martin of Edinburg, Texas. Whenever I
hear the phrase "southern hospitality", the Martin's are the
first people I think of.
For many years now, John and Audrey have been heavily involved in
the implementation and administration of the bi-annual Valley
Land Fund Photo Contest in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Through their work with the contest, not to mention John's
involvement with NANPA as a board member, they are well
acquainted with and have worked with many of the nation's top
wildlife photographers. They also have an amazing amount of
knowledge of the south Texas landscape along with a tremendous
network of people they know who own property in the Rio Grande
Valley.
The Martin's, along with many of these other landowners are
gracious hosts who will allow photographers to come work on their
property for a very reasonable daily fee. You can find out
everything you need to know about photographing in south Texas on
private ranches at www.lensandland.com.
This is truly a unique
opportunity to photograph on private property that is already
set-up for photography. I have had the pleasure to shoot at John
and Audrey's property many times and have come home with some
wonderful images of a great variety of the specialty birds of
south Texas. Just some of the birds I've photographed at the
Martin's include: Green, Ringed and Belted Kingfishers, Great
Kiskadee, Green Jay, Common Ground-Dove, Plain Chachalaca,
Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Olive Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Northern
Cardinal, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cactus Wren, Golden-fronted
Woodpecker, Long-billed Thrasher, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck,
Curve-billed Thrasher and many more. You'll find just a few of
them displayed below. If you have ever wanted to photograph in
south Texas, I promise you'll find the opportunities to work the
Lens and Land ranches are something you don't want to miss.
Click below to see a larger image
Brian E. Small
Phone: 310/440-9443
Mobile: 310/849-0306
E-mail: BSmallFoto@aol.com
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