Coastal Prairie Photos

[Casper]

I'm taking photos to show the coastal prairies in the Houston area, their management, and restoration.

I have not yet figured out how to show the prairie overall in an exciting way. I can get photos of things going on- fires, buffalo grazing, etc. But, I'm having trouble with just the prairie.

Any and all ideas are appreciated.

Steve


Volunteers are collecting seeds at the pristine Nash Prairie for help in restoration of other prairies.


Jaime Gonzalez of the Katy Prairie Conservancy is interviewing Tom Solomon about seed collection at the Nash Prairie.


This is a close-up of the seeds to be collected from Yellow Indian Grass at Sheldon Lake State Park.

[Patti Edens]

Steve, I like the ones you have taken a lot! They really tell the story. I know what you mean by photos of just the prairie though. Without some subject, it would be very difficult.

Without a subject:

Playing with the DOF, making the foreground and background OOF

Look for some pattern in the grasses - maybe if part is mowed or if there are different color grasses.

Shoot when there is a great sky - stormy or dramatic clouds or sunrise or sunset. You can get the grasses silhouetted against an orange sky sunset which looks cool.

With a subject: (not sure if you want this though...)

A lone tree in a field of grasses

A red-winged blackbird hanging on the side of some grass in the foreground with fields stretching out behind

Fence posts or a stream/creek trailing off into the distance

A lone farmhouse or windmill in the distance

A patch of wildflowers in the foreground with the grasses stretching out in the distance becoming OOF near the horizon.

A hawk or other large bird flying low over the field - Harriers do this and this is starting to be the time to catch them.

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I'd love to see what you get! Post them if you have time.

[Casper]

Thanks Patti,

I like the idea of watching for patterns in the grasses; they are there. I think I need to catch the patterns/colors during the golden hours.

Watching for a great sky is good, too.

[johnastovall]

Practice writing you titles in API standard form. If you plan to submit to editors that is a must.

[Coelus]

Try changing your POV. Bring a big ladder out or a hunting tripod to show things from a height different than what people are normally used to looking at.