Rockport Road Trip
A Rockport road trip is just what I needed. With two knees surgeries and horrible weather patterns, last year just didn’t work for a photography road trip. I love photo road trips; they’re good for the soul. It’s getting away from home, your routine, and your cell phone. More importantly, just spending time doing photography is great way to reinvigorate your love for photography. It’s an opportunity to explore new territories, experiment with different techniques and conditions. It’s a chance to simply just immerse yourself into your photography.
If you’re lucky you can make the road trip with friends; telling stories and swapping lies while on the long drives. It’s also exchanging ideas and learning from each other. I was fortunate to be able to tag along with three friends on their road trip to the Rockport, Texas area. Keep in mind that by “area” I mean a span of about 100 miles. You also have to add the 200 some miles to get there.
My three friends love photographing wildlife and especially like birds. For this road trip getting a shot of a Whooping Crane was their prime target. The Whooping Crane is an endangered species with only a bit over 800 birds left. While this is a significant increase from the 15 remaining in the early 1940’s they are still endangered. Accordingly, this makes photographing them kind of a big deal for birders.
But I Don’t Like Photographing Birds
I appreciate the status and beauty of the Whooping Crane. However, I’m just not all that interested in photographing them. The same is true for any other wild life for that matter. It’s simply just isn’t “my cup of tea”. This might have you wondering why I even bothered to go along on this trip. Well, there are a few good reasons.
First, these friends are great travel partners. We always have a good time and I learn something from them every time. Second, birds tend to hang out in more secluded areas which means there is the potential for some good landscape shots even if the locations weren’t selected based upon the beauty of the landscape. Third, the locations we were going to are predominantly rural. This mean old abandoned farmhouses or barns might be available to shoot. Fourth, shooting somewhere that may not be considered a prime location would help me improve my ability to see and locate shots beyond the obvious.
The Shots
While I did try taking a few shots of the Whooping Cranes none were to my liking. However, my reasons for going all paid off; all four of them.
I thought I’d start with my favorite shot of the trip. I love this tangle of Live Oaks shaped by the coastal winds. Set against the clouds it was a compelling scene.
As we headed to Goose Island State Park (where I found the Live Oak trees) one morning we took a slight detour and were greeted by this glorious sunrise. What a way to start the day!
This is another set of Live Oaks. I just love that tangled shape. It’s simply mesmerizing.
I decided to play with this image of a Fan Palm. I created layers and then nudged them around a bit while making them semi-transparent. In addition, I also warped the top layer to add the curves.
While shooting the Live Oak trees at sunset I turned around to this scene. The light, color and simplicity of the minimalistic scene really struck me. It had a nice serene feel.
A quick trip to Padre Island National Seashore revealed this wonderful remnant from its former days as a cattle ranch.
On our first morning I was greeted by this old farmhouse on the way the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We didn’t have time to stop that day but I made it back another morning to capture it in the warm morning light.
Okay, technically there are birds in the next image. However, the birds are not the subject of that image. Just to be clear, that does not by any means make me a birder or want to take wildlife/bird images. Just sayin’.
Leave A Comment And Share
What do you like about photography road trips? I’d love to hear your comments and feedback. Please leave a comment in the comment box below.
