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📸Freelance Photographer/Videographer 🤠Explorer Of Texas And Beyond
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#westtexas#txncommunitycontributor#texas#igtexas#instagramtexas#bigbend#bigbendnationalpark#texasphotographer#nationalparkgeek#visitbigbend
Recent posts
Big Bend National Park really comes alive at night. As the fading light of day vanishes, a wonderland of stars paints the dark skies. I just returned from a 5 day trip in the park where I had the opportunity to work on several really fun projects. Now I’m back home and just started to sift through the thousands of images on my computer. I wanted to post a Milky Way nighscape shot first to celebrate the end of a very successful season. Starting next month, it will be more difficult to capture the core of our galaxy in great detail. This shot is from the west side of the park where remnants of ancient volcanic activity are everywhere. As usual, I shot the foreground at blue hour and later returned to the spot to capture the Milky Way above the scene. Merging these two shots together has become my go to style for Milky Way nightscape edits. Next year, I want to invest in a star tracker to get more detail in the night sky than what is possible with image stacking. Should be another fun piece of gear to use for one of my favorite types of photography!
#texas #texasmonthly #texastodo #igtexas #instagramtexas #bigbend #bigbendnationalpark #nationalparkgeek #visitbigbend #texasphotographer #nightsky #nightscapes #nightphotography #nightphotography_exclusive #milkywaychasers #westtexas #hikingtexas #nightshooters #milkywayphotography #earthfocus #earthofficial #astrophotography #nights_dreamworld #traveltexas
07 Oct 2021
The Rio Grande Village offers some of the most epic views of the Chisos Mountains. A small hike to the hill along the nature trail unveils a view of the river snaking off into the distance. I woke up on a near freezing morning to capture this exact image, but was unlucky with cloudless skies during my trip. Of course, the night before the sky erupted in color outside our motel. I’m sure other photographers have many similar experiences. For this image, I decided to swap the sky with the one I captured from outside the motel. While I don’t always get good sunrises while on scene, I cherish each opportunity I have to visit west Texas.
#texas #igtexas #instagramtexas #texasphotographer #visitbigbend #westtexas #bigbend #bigbendnationalpark #nationalparkgeek #usaprimeshot #sunsetphotography #trekkingtoes #hikingtexas #earthfocus #beautifuldestinations #usinterior #nationalpark
06 Jan 2022
Last night’s full moon positioned right above the crown of the frost bank tower. Watching the moon creep across the sky has always mystified me. Staring right at it, the moon appears motionless, a stone frozen in time. But the second you avert your gaze and return moments later, it’s changed position significantly. Sometimes this makes getting a perfect alignment difficult, especially when toying with camera settings last second. I’ve tried to get into the habit of committing to settings and then sitting back to enjoy the show. And what a performance the moon put on last night!
#igtexas #instagramtexas #texasphotographer #austin #atx #austintx #downtownaustin #do512 #visitaustin #visittexas #texas
07 Jan 2023
See you soon, little bean!
Thank you @carleyephotography❤️
17 Jul 2026
😭100 MILES of pristine water flowing in one of Texas’ wildest rivers!
📍You guessed it—Devil’s River!
A year ago, #TxNCommunityContributor @grantdpittman had the opportunity to experience the iconic waters firsthand:
The Devils is a vivid reminder of what Texas looks like at its absolute wildest. An overnight paddling trip is the best way to immerse yourself in the landscape and become acquainted with what makes this river so special.
The visual contrast of this region is striking. The river sits at a rugged ecological crossroads where the Chihuahuan Desert collides with the rocky Edwards Plateau. It’s an arid, jagged environment that seems like the absolute last place you’d expect to find a pristine waterway. Yet, born straight out of the rock, the Devils surges from the underground Edwards-Trinity aquifer at its spring fed headwaters. In an otherwise harsh landscape, those springs create a vital lifeline that cuts right through sheer limestone canyons.
As you paddle along, you’ll encounter geological wonders like Dolan Falls alongside the diverse wildlife that calls this place home. In the clear pools, you can easily spot some of my personal favorites including Spotted Gar, Rio Grande Cichlids, and Largemouth Bass. Out here, the absolute isolation forces you to be entirely present and truly soak up the beauty around you.
By the time you reach the paddler’s takeout, you’re physically drained but incredibly inspired. This waterway demands respect, and after an adventure on the Devils you’ll understand exactly why it’s worth protecting.
🗓️RSVP for our next Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) bi-monthly meeting on May 12th in stories!
06 May 2026
😱Our dark skies are rapidly disappearing by 10% each year!
😭At this rate, most constellations will be invisible in 20 years!
💡AND ~one-third of people already can’t see the Milky Way from their home due to light pollution!
#TxNCommunityContributor, photographer, and videographer @grantdpittman put together a list of his top stargazing spots to help your indoor friends fall in love with our Dark Skies!
⬇️How many of these have you visited?
📍Big Bend National Park, @bigbendnps
📍Palo Duro Canyon, @palodurocanyonsp
📍Enchanted Rock, @enchantedrockstatenaturalarea
📍Guadalupe Mountains, @guadalupemountainsnps
📍Pecos River, @chandler_ranch
📍Davis Mountains, @nature_tx
📍Big Bend Ranch State Park, @bigbendranchsp
Tell your indoor friends about these night sky apps to help ignite their curiosity for the stars:
🌌Download SkyView, an augmented reality app and step outside to explore the night sky!
🛰️Download @nasa’s Spot the Space Station app to note its next pass near you!
18 Apr 2026
A physical border wall system through the Big Bend region of Texas is simply unnecessary. Long before Big Bend was a beloved national park, early Spanish explorers looked upon this vast, rugged terrain and named it “El Despoblado,” the uninhabited lands. For centuries, this name reflected a profound respect for a geographically hostile environment. The harsh desert climate, massive canyons, and jagged mountain ranges made establishing missions or colonies nearly impossible. Nature itself has always stood as an inherent barrier to human travel.
Today, that same imposing landscape is at the center of a concerning situation. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made plans to carve a physical border wall straight through both Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Recently, the CBP updated its border wall map to show a shift from a physical wall to “smart detection technology” in the parks. While some have celebrated this update, those who live and work in the area remain deeply skeptical.
The reality is that the CBP has quietly changed this map a half-dozen times, and there is still no official commitment to abandon the physical wall. We are not out of the woods yet and warning signs are already appearing.
Construction contracts have been awarded for the Big Bend Region. 28 environmental regulations have been waived to bypass standard protections. Physical survey stakes have already been placed in the ground within the state park. We cannot let our guard down. I urge you to stay informed on the facts as they develop.
Please continue signing the petitions circulating online, and most importantly, contact your local representatives to voice your clear opposition to a physical wall in the Big Bend. We must advocate for the permanent protection of this landscape, ensuring it remains wild and unbroken for generations to come.
#nobigbendwall #bigbend #bigbendnationalpark #westtexas
02 Apr 2026
💧The Pecos River flows into the Rio Grande.
💧The Delaware River into the Pecos…sometimes😔
Starting at its source in the sky island of @guadalupemountainsnps, the Delaware River flows through the scarcely populated rugged Chihuahuan Desert until it reaches the Pecos River.
Drought and water use result in declining water flows that place pressure on ecosystems, communities, and industries in West Texas that rely on shared natural resources.
🤔WHO can help?
🤝Every Texan can participate in conservation, and we’re seeing this vision in action through:
📍The Delaware River Basin Restoration project!
ConocoPhillips and Texan by Nature are collaborating with conservation organizations and landowners in Culberson County to get involved!
💡The project combines on-the-ground restoration and research through #ConservationPartners like @borderlandsresearchinstitute @riograndjv and @texasparksandwildlife ➕ the development of a dataset to guide future investments and conservation activity.
The Projected Impact:
✅Improved soil health, wildlife habitat, water quality/quantity, and drought resilience!
✅A scalable model for conservation that supports long-term sustainability.
🗓️RSVP for our next Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) bi-monthly meeting on March 24th!
Panelists John McLaughlin from @texasparkswildlife and Jesús Franco and Price Rumbelow from @riograndejv will discuss the important role joint ventures play in conservation in Texas!
22 Mar 2026
Flying above Enchanted Rock reveals an awe-inspiring, undisturbed viewshed that stretches across the Texas Hill Country. From this aerial vantage point, the magic of this landscape truly comes alive.
Life here is beautifully resilient. Delicate vernal pools harbor tiny, thriving populations of fairy shrimp, while above, the designated Dark Skies protect our ancient connection to the stars. It’s incredibly thrilling to see this sanctuary growing through exciting new park expansions.
Documenting these wild spaces is my passion, which is why I’ve partnered with @tanciglaw. Their dedication to helping landowners navigate conservation easements ensures the rugged, untamed beauty of Texas is fiercely protected. Together, we celebrate the land that shapes us.
(Captured responsibly with approved permits)
#TexasHillCountry #EnchantedRock #TexasStateParks
02 Mar 2026
Painted Canyon Rapids along the mighty Pecos River shot at dusk. This is a composite image I created with my favorite winter constellation Orion. Shooting the foreground at dusk allowed me to smooth the flowing water into a frothy blur while gathering enough light to make the scene pop. The night sky was photographed later in the night using an equatorial mount. It had been so long since I pointed my camera straight up at the cosmos. Sitting in pitch black while my camera clicked away, pondering the humongous scale of our universe.
#WestTexas #TexasRivers #PecosRiver #NightPhoto #AstroPhoto
24 Feb 2026
🌱What is your nature origin story?💙
For #TxNCommunityContributor @grantdpittman, it was playing in a creek in his Dallas neighborhood!
🥹We like the sound of THAT!
Whether you’re a lifelong nature nerd, have a conservation degree, or just went on your first hike,
💙EVERY Texan can participate in conservation!
👉Check out our stories for the link to Grant’s full blog interview!
⬇️Share your own nature origin story in the comments!
19 Feb 2026
Hike one of the most remote areas in Texas!
📍The Marufo Vega Trail @bigbendnps
#TxNCommunityContributor @grantdpittman shares his insights and tips for staying safe!
🗺️The Marufo Vega Trail is a challenging hike located on the east side of Big Bend National Park in the Deadhorse Mountains.
🎒It’s best to backpack this 13.9 mile loop over the course of two days in early spring or late fall.
☀️Temperatures can be extreme along the Marufo Vega and there is no way to escape the sun during hot days.
✅Pick up a backpacking permit at a ranger’s station before starting and make sure to leave no trace!
Are you adding this hike to your bucket list?
25 Jan 2026
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