The November 2010 russellgraves.com Newsletter

RUSSELLGRAVES.COM UPDATES2010

November

Made with 100% Texas grit...

IN THIS ISSUE PAYING IT FORWARD

FEATURED COLUMN

HUNTING DOGS

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SYNDICATION INFO

PHOTO ESSAY

PHOTO TIP

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NEED TO KNOW NEWS

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Paying it Forward

PHOTO TIP

A few nights ago I received a phone call from legendary Texas outdoor photographer Grady Allen. I’ve gotten to know Grady over the past couple of years but I’ve known about him for a couple of decades.

When it comes to the type of photography in which I’ve always been interested, Grady is a legend. In fact, when I was a young photographer of about 18, I wrote Grady a letter and asked him for advice on getting started in photography. A few weeks later, he graciously sent back a reply.

His advice was sound twenty years ago and it is still sound today.

Therefore, it is a pleasure whenever he calls and gives me the chance to give back by helping him with any advice I can muster.

Earlier that day I had a chance to help out another photographer on the other end of the photographic spectrum from Grady. The photographer is a

Put a cowboy hat on a kid and watch the fun begin.

Once they start playing, shoot away!

Flight Photography Flight pictures are dynamic and aren’t all that hard. When shooting pictures of birds in flight, select the center auto-focus sensor as it is the most accurate, pick a single bird or birds, and then track it in from a distance until it is close enough to photograph.

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college student from Texas A&M and is just getting started in the field. I first met her when I did a teleconference seminar last spring with the agriculture communications class in which she was a member. Since then I’ve had a chance to answer questions about the craft and business of photography on a few occassions.

Being a former teacher, I’ve always been a believer in the free sharing of information. Guys like Grady Allen, Steve Bentsen, Ray Sasser, and Wyman Meinzer taught me to give back to the craft and I always try to honor my mentors by helping out when I’m able.

So, if you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Have a great month!

-Russell Graves

FEATURED COLUMN My First Deer Stand It was probably half an hour before first light when my brother and I hiked across a successional meadow on our way to a thin strip of timber where our treestands waited. Two years ago this field was an old growth oak forest. As part of the Post Oak Savannah ecological region of Texas, oak forests rise from the sandy soils that flank the black-dirt bottomlands along the creeks in northern Fannin County. Last year, however, the landowner decided to harvest every viable tree from his property. His reasoning was simple: due to a proposed lake project, he and other landowners like him decided to squeeze every bit of revenue from their property before the powers of eminent domain take over and they loose control of their property.

Therefore, the property was logged and 95% of the trees were removed from the 250-acre parcel where I have spent my life hunting.

I don’t complain about his decision to harvest the timber. The property doesn’t belong to me and I do hunt the place at his pleasure.

In fact, I have hunted the land every season since I started hunting back in the early 1980’s.

However, the change in landscape is challenging for both me and the deer.

While last year the place was barren and we never saw a deer on he property, this year abundant rains caused to forest to rebound and the wildlife returned. Where a

About Russell Graves Outdoors

mature forest with limited understory once stood now is a bluestem meadow complete with small oaks, redbud, beautyberry, honeysuckle, and a whole host of wildlifefriendly plants. “... memories of When my my first deer as brother and I well as hunts past ascended one flooded my mind.” of the few big oaks left on the place, the in the wide open, it was easy to surrounding spot. After the hunt that evening, I landscape was black. ventured back to the spot and When the sky lighten, I saw photographed the tree that started something I thought was long my deer hunting career. gone.

As I stood there in the dark You see, last year, after the waiting on the five minute logging, I thought the viable trees exposure to lapse, memories of my were removed from the place. I first deer as well as hunts past was surprised when the sun rose flooded my mind. on Thanksgiving morning and I After I shot my deer from this saw my old tree stand. stand, my dad helped my track Before we knew any better and and find the buck and drag him out without regard to personal safety of a tangle of greenbriar and me, my dad, and my brother built a Chittamwood. Almost 24-hours wooden platform and ladder in an later, my dad took and almost old oak tree back in 1986. Fifteen identical deer from the same feet high and made from pressure stand. treated lumber, it was the first deer It goes without saying that this stand I ever hunted from. A year concoction of wood, wire, and after we built it, I shot my very first nails is special to me. Now that buck from this tree.

I’ve photographed it for the first For some reason, it seems that time, it’s significance will linger on. the loggers skipped the tree. Now Russell Graves Outdoors is a

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Texas and Oklahoma. If you’d like

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HUNTING DOGS

Friends in the Field Hunting dogs are our link to a more intimate outdoor experience.

Enthusiastic, loyal, excitable, and lovable are just a few adjectives lobbed to describe hunting dogs but words fall short.

Those who know the deep bond dog between a hunter and their dogs can’t explain it while those who are unfamiliar don’t quite understand.

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The Skinny Date: Various Location: Various, Texas Camera Gear: Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm f2.8 lens, 85mm f1.2 lens, 70-200mm f2.8 lens.

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NEED TO KNOW NEWS New Educational Website

New Article Be sure to check out the new article called When Pigs and People Collide.

If you haven’t seen it already, check out the new website for which I am a contributor: Pixiq.com. There you’ll find all kinds of cool educational content from a myriad of contributors.

Video Series I’ve been editing a little video series for my buddies at Wildlife Systems. Be sure to check them out.

New Portfolios I just finished updating the gallery with a couple of new,

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expanded portfolios. The Agriculture

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and Texas People galleries are expanded with lots of fresh content in

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a flip page design just like the newsletter.

Autumn is well upon us so check out the blog often for new photos..

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