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Caddo Lake and East Texas Autumn (second session)- A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop
Just as soon as one Caddo Lake and East Texas Autumn nature photography workshop ends, the next one begins. Mid-November is the ideal time to see fall colors at Caddo Lake. Upon the arrival of a new group, it’s not long before we are back at the lake, embracing an unusual autumn in an out-of-the-way place in East Texas.
Russell Graves
1 day ago2 min read
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Caddo Lake and East Texas Autumn - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop field report
As the water calms around us, the sky to the east starts to lighten. First, pink tinges the wispy clouds floating through the eastern sky. Soon, the sky gradiates from deep blue to orange. On the Caddo Lake and East Texas Autumn nature photography workshop, scenes like this are common - and welcome.
Russell Graves
Nov 233 min read
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My Three Favorite Lenses - Digging Deep into What I Use to Make Pictures - a Hackberry Farm Nature Photography video workshop
While there's a technical glitch at the first of this video, it still has a lot of good information. This video goes into detail about my three favorite lenses and why I choose to use them.
What's your favorite lens?
Russell Graves
Nov 161 min read
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Cowboys and Canyonlands of Texas - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop field report
In the distance, a cow lowing breaks the silence of the moment. Soon, the clank of hoofs against wood slides into the ether as a horse repositions himself in the trailer. The horse knows that his services are needed and is ready to go to work.
In cowboy country, horses are unofficially graded on whether or not they have cow sense. Cow sense is a characteristic that horses have. It portends how good they’ll work around cattle and how enthusiastic they are about their job.Â
Russell Graves
Nov 93 min read
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Autumn in the Smokies - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops field report
It's quiet here along the Middle Fork of the Little River. The water babbles over the moss-covered rocks, creating a relaxing sound that reverberates a bit off the mountains. No one speaks as each guest is into their own camera, trying to catch the fleeting beauty of Autumn in the Smokies. Â
Russell Graves
Nov 23 min read
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Why Canon Cameras? A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops video
In this Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops video, I discuss what led me to choose Canon cameras over Nikon, OM Systems, Sony, or another brand. As photographers, we often have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing the right gear for us. The answer I give as to why I chose Canon may surprise you.
What compelled you to choose the kind of camera you chose?
Russell Graves
Oct 261 min read
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Clearing the Log Jam - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops Webinar
For most of us, the ultimate photographic log jam happens when we get home from a shoot. It's easy and fun to go out and take a bunch of pictures, but it all comes crashing down when we get the images back home and it's time to process them.
That's the log jam.
Russell Graves
Oct 191 min read
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Autumn at Redlands Ranch & Western Wildlife - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops field report
To the west, the clouds gathering are turning a deeper shade of slate. A slight breeze blows and cools off the morning nicely. Lately, Texas is unseasonably warm and a bit drouthy. Therefore, the prospects of rain (although it threatens to place our morning shoot on hiatus) is wholly welcome.  Â
Aside from a brief moment of golden sunlight this morning, it’s been overcast. Â
Russell Graves
Oct 122 min read
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Acadia National Park - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop field report
Pulling alongside the road in the dark, I can hear the waves crashing on the isolated cove below. This is one of those moments where imagination comes full circle. As a kid, I’d learned about Acadia National Park, and it’s a place that I’ve dreamt of visiting. Â
Russell Graves
Oct 52 min read
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The Wild Horses of Sable Island - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop field report
It's been a while, but planning the Wild Horses of Sable Island nature photography workshop started on a famous ranch near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in August of 2023. On a road trip with my wife, we stopped in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to eat breakfast at a restaurant owned by television personality Ree Drummond. After breakfast, we head out to the vast Drummond Ranch, where her show The Pioneer Woman is filmed. On our visit to the Drummond Ranch lodge, I was roaming through the kitc
Russell Graves
Sep 284 min read
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Three tips for Effective Wildlife Spotting - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography video workshop
With wildlife photography, there are a ton of technical things you need to learn about the camera. Perhaps, however, the most important ski
Russell Graves
Sep 210 min read
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Getting Published as a Photographer - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops Webinar
In this Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops webinar, I'll take you step by step on what I do to get my images published.
Russell Graves
Sep 141 min read
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Hummingbirds - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops Field Report
I was a little concerned about the hummers because this was the first Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops day camp I’d done in a year. While the camps are fun and productive, my travel schedule prohibits me from adding more. These legendary hummingbirds are too special to ignore, so I make time in my schedule to have people out.
Russell Graves
Sep 72 min read
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Waving at Elephants - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops field report
Admittedly, waving at elephants is a bit nonsensical. I do it anyway.
Inside their immense frames, covered in thick and wrinkled skin, is a sentient being that is thoughtful, caring, and empathetic. Sure, perhaps not in the way you and I are, but I challenge anyone to spend a little time with wild elephants and really study their behaviors and see how they treat one another and see if you disagree. Inside the behemoths beats a heart with emotions.Â
Russell Graves
Aug 316 min read
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Beautiful Botswana - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops Field Report
To say that Botswana is beautiful is an understatement. The country is wild yet elegant; sublime and exalted; rugged and, well, beautiful. For years, I've been traveling here with guests and helping them discover the magic of all that Botswana offers. It's a mesmerizing elixir made up of our guests, the people of Botswana, the impressive wildlife sightings, the austere landscapes, and the well-appointed lodges we visit. Â
Russell Graves
Aug 244 min read
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Fireflies - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography video wprkshop
Fireflies are among the hardest critters in which to take good photos. With a little planning and some post-production magic, it's not as hard as you think it is.
Take a look at this video nature photography workshop and learn more.
Russell Graves
Aug 171 min read
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How I Photograph Dragonflies - a nature photography video workshop
Dragonflies are all around us and are fascinating insects in which to study. In reality, though, they can be a challenge to photograph. Check out this video to see the unconventional way that I used to photograph these incredible hunters.
Russell Graves
Aug 101 min read
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California Dreamin’
California Dreamin' on an awesome spring day. Check out this video to learn about some cool wildlife research going down in Texas.
Russell Graves
Aug 30 min read
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A West Texas Nature Photography Workshop Scouting Report
Looking off the side of the road, sure enough, a mature black bear was picking its way through the scrub in search of food. We pull off the side of the road, roll down the window, and start taking pictures of him.Â
Russell Graves
Jul 272 min read
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Road Trip Wildlife - a nature photography video workshop
Just getting in your vehicle and cruising around is often an excellent way to photograph wildlife. Animals get used to seeing vehicles, so you can often get close to them.
In this nature photography video workshop, we're way out in far West Texas in search of what we can find along the roadside.
Russell Graves
Jul 201 min read
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