< Previous20 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 PHOTOS: COU r TESY JULIE CHAPA (From top left) Brown pelican, blue heron, willet, Cooper’s hawk and laughing gull.JULIE CHAPA Tell us a little about yourself. Photography has been a big part of my life for over 40 years now, with the last decade dedicated to explor- ing the Texas Gulf Coast. I currently live in Rosharon, about an hour from Galveston. While I photograph a variety of subjects, there’s some- thing about capturing birds in their natural habitat that really makes me happy. There’s so much beauty and wonder in witnessing these creatures in their element, and being able to freeze those moments in time is very rewarding. Do you have a favorite bird to photograph? Blue herons are defi- nitely my favorite bird to photograph. They exude a regal aura, and their intense gaze adds to their majestic presence. Willets would be a close second with their intricate earth-tone color pattern, which offers a different kind of beauty. What have you found to be the best location(s) and times of day/ year for photographing birds? Galveston Island during spring mi- gration is my favorite time for bird photography. I prefer early morning when the sun is low in the sky creat- ing soft lighting and the birds are at their most active. Are there specific birds you seek out or are you coming across them as you go? I’m pretty much winging it most of the time, pun intended. What’s your most memorable sighting? My most memorable sighting was an eagle perched in a tall tree near our house in Louisiana about 15 years ago. I was so excited when I saw it, and capturing a pic- ture made the experience even more unforgettable. That sighting sparked my interest in birdwatching, and I’ve been fascinated by birds and their behavior ever since. Which image are you most proud of and why? The image I’m most proud of is the photograph that won grand prize in the 2022 Feather- Fest PhotoFest Contest — a capture of a willet standing on one leg in the surf on Galveston Island. It was such a tranquil moment watching this bird totally content as the soft waves rolled in. I titled the picture “Finding Balance” and it is definitely a lesson from nature to find balance in one’s own life. Do you keep a bird life list? Any subjects on the top of the wish list? I don’t have a list, howev- er, I would love to see and capture an image of a puffin someday. They are such cute little things and it makes me smile every time I see a picture of one. What makes birds so appealing to you? The wide range of sizes and colors, from earthy browns to vibrant reds, and the elegance of their mating plumage. Their quirky little habits offer endless opportunities to capture remarkable images as long as you have the patience to wait for it. Have you had any missed op- portunities, such as a bird taking off just as you were about to press the shutter release? I was tracking a Virginia rail (at the time a new bird sighting for me, so I was very excited) and just when it nabbed a small crab, my camera battery died. By the time I replaced it, the bird had already moved away. After that happened, I’m very mindful of my battery life. What’s your favorite camera or other equipment for bird photog- raphy? Most of my bird photography has been taken with a Canon 7D with the Sigma 100-400mm lens. I recently bought a used Canon 5D Mark IV that I’m very pleased with. Any advice to someone starting out with or wanting to improve their bird photography? My advice would be to photograph large birds like pelicans. They are plentiful in Galveston and it’s easier to fill the frame without needing expensive zoom lenses. Also, Galveston Feather- Fest excursions are a great way to see birds and learn where the hotspots are for the particular bird you are searching for. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 21 FEATURE There’s something about capturing birds in their natural habitat that really makes me happy. There’s so much beauty and wonder in witnessing these creatures in their element, and being able to freeze those moments in time is very rewarding. JULIE CHAPA22 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 PHOTOS: COU r TESY ED FE rr IN (From top left) Crested caracara, osprey, reddish egret, yellow-billed cuckoo and black and white warbler.ED FERRIN Tell us a little about yourself. I retired from American National about four years ago. This has allowed me to spend more time photographing birds. Galveston and the surrounding area is what I would call a birding para- dise. Between all the local birds and then those passing through during the spring migration and my passion for photography, I could not have retired in a better place. Do you have a favorite bird to photograph? I do. The reddish egret is fun to watch as it dashes through the water while throwing up its wings to shade the water. And all of this makes it a fun bird to pho- tograph. What have you found to be the best location(s) and times of day/ year for photographing birds? My favorite year-round place to take pho- tos of birds is the wetlands area along the south side of Sportsman Road and both sides of 8 Mile Road. The best light for photography and the time the birds are most active is the first couple of hours in the morning. My favorite spring migration place is Lafitte’s Cove Nature Preserve. This is a great all-day location. Are there specific birds you seek out or are you coming across them as you go? I like all the birds. I am looking for unique photos though — to catch a bird in flight, a bird on a post or tree branch, one of the herons or egrets snatching a fish out of the water, a white ibis with a crab in its bill, a tern hanging in the air just before it dives for a fish, a closeup of the black-crowned night heron’s red eye, a black skimmer dragging its bill in the water, a summer tanager eating mulberries and any other bird in action. What’s your most memorable sighting? Last year during the spring migration, I was sitting at the drip in Lafitte’s Cove Nature Preserve when a yellow-billed cuckoo landed in one of the trees nearby. It was a bird I had not seen before, and I have been bird- ing here on the island for 25 years, so it really made my day. Which image are you most proud of and why? I photographed a crested caracara in the rain and I feel like it is one of the most artistic photos I have ever taken of a bird. Do you keep a bird life list? Any subjects on the top of the wish list? I do keep track of what birds I have seen in my lifetime, but I do not go seeking out birds not on my list. What makes birds so appealing to you? They are beautiful and very entertaining to watch. A lot of times it is just me and the birds and I find that is a very peaceful and relaxing time for me. Have you had any missed opportunities, such as a bird taking off just as you were about to press the shutter release? Yes, missed shots do frustrate me, but even worse is when I think I have captured a perfect moment only to find out the bird is out of focus. This happened to me recently when I was photographing a Forster’s tern. I saw it dive into the water and was able to spot the splash. I quickly found the tern and watched it through the camera (I was taking about 12 frames a second with the camera) come out of the water with a fish. I thought I had some great shots, but once I got home and saw the out-of-focus image on the computer, I was very disap- pointed. What’s your favorite camera or other equipment for bird photog- raphy? My camera is a Canon R5 mir- rorless camera and my lens for bird photography is always the Canon RF 100-500 L zoom lens. I really like this combination because I can hand hold it, which allows me to move around easily to get a photo. The big lenses are not easy to hand-hold and most of the time require a tripod. Any advice to someone starting out with or wanting to improve their bird photography? You need to learn and understand the habits of the birds you are photographing and learn and understand how your camera works. When it comes to the camera, I try and shoot with shutter speeds of 1/1600 to 1/3200 when I am trying to capture any kind of action. With digital cameras, you can take lots of practice photos, and if they are not good, just delete them. Birds have tells. If you watch them long enough, you will know when they are going to fly, dive for a fish, chase another bird out of its fishing territory, etc. Once you learn to anticipate what a bird is going to do, you can catch some amazing action shots. The more I am out with the birds, the more I understand them and the better my photos get. If you find a good spot for birding, keep going back and I promise you will get better and better photos each visit. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 23 FEATURELYNNE HUGHES Tell us a little about yourself. I was raised in Huntsville and have always been a nature lover. I attended and now teach at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Depart- ment of Physical Therapy and Rehabil- itation Sciences. On my drive into Galveston each day, the wading birds caught my attention and I stopped to take pictures. Watching the birds is relaxing and a hobby that I share with my elderly parents. We take day trips to the birding hotspots in the local area, and I have become a full-fledged birding nerd. I shared a few pictures with friends and colleagues who encouraged me to continue develop- ing my craft and to show some of my work at the Galveston Art League gal- lery. I have won awards for my photos at the local and regional levels, in- cluding the Texas City Art Festival and Galveston’s own FeatherFest. I am a self-taught photographer with a focus on capturing images of birds, nature, as well as portraying some of Galves- ton’s coastal culture. I like to keep my photographs as natural as possible with little computerized enhancement. I look to portray the natural beauty of birds through classic poses and action shots that elicit emotion. I believe that a great shot should appeal to both the eye and the mind. When we take time to admire the beauty of nature and the glory of our surroundings, it is good for the soul. Do you have a favorite bird to photograph? In general, I like to photograph wading birds such as the reddish egret, the great egret and the great blue heron. I always enjoy the pelicans. Last year, my goal was to get a good shot of a hummingbird. What have you found to be the best location(s) and times of day/ year for photographing birds? There is the opportunity to see birds around Galveston any time of year, but spring and early summer are my favorite times. This time of year is mating season and the birds interact with one another more and then there is the nesting and chicks. Many of the baby wading birds are so ugly that they are cute. They resemble prehis- toric creatures. If you haven’t been to High Island Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary during nesting season, it is a must-see. Are there specific birds you seek out or are you coming across them as you go? Most of the time I just go to an area and see what is happen- ing there. I have started watching for unusual species or migratory birds in more recent years. Lafitte’s Cove, Corp Woods and High Island all are great locations to see the migratory birds in spring and summer. I sometimes go to the nearby East End Lagoon after work in search of any bird activity. What’s your most memorable sighting? My most memorable sight- ing is seeing the snow geese at Ana- huac National Wildlife Refuge. It was near sunset and there were thousands of geese flying in and landing in the ponds and marshlands. The experi- ence was amplified by the honking sound of so many geese. But any- time the birds get close to me, seem curious about what I am doing, or let me spend time in their space, that is a memorable experience. Which image are you most proud of and why? I like making an ordinary bird look spectacular and to evoke emotion in the beholder. I have gotten the most compliments on my white pelican picture. This picture wasn’t a difficult shot or a difficult bird to see, but it appeals to people. But at the mo- ment, the hummer is my favorite be- cause they are challenging to capture since they move incredibly fast. This image captures her feeding and has the beautiful wildflowers in it, too. Do you keep a bird life list? Any subjects on the top of the wish list? I don’t keep a list. To me, I don’t want to just see the bird but capture a great image of the bird. I have a per- manent record of thousands of shots of hundreds of birds. What makes birds so appealing to you? Watching wildlife and being in nature is relaxing. It takes you to another world where you can observe. Photographing birds presents the challenge of getting an image of the bird that is in focus, with the right lighting, that is unusual in perspective or captures a unique moment and is artistically appealing. 24 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 FEATURE COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 25 Have you had any missed op- portunities, such as a bird taking off just as you were about to press the shutter release? All the time! That is part of the challenge. These are wild birds that can take off at any moment. What’s your favorite camera or other equipment for bird photog- raphy? I have a DSLR Nikon D500 with a 200-500 lens that I shoot with most of the time. I started out with a Nikon 5600 and the better camera makes getting the shot easier. It is possible to get great shots with most cameras, but the faster focus, faster shutter speed, and more pixels make it easier. My camera is considered a classic now with the emersion of the mirrorless. It is a good camera for beginners who don’t want to make a major investment. Any advice to someone starting out with or wanting to improve their bird photography? Just get out there and enjoy. Learn as much about your camera as possible. There is a lot of information online or you can take some classes at FeatherFest. Find a photography friend to share tips and tricks. (Clockwise from top left) White pelican, Mississippi kite, great blue heron, hummingbird. PHOTOS: COU r TESY LYNNE HUGHESGARY SELOFF Tell us a little about yourself. I recently retired after 34 years at NASA’s Johnson Space Center where I was part of the management team for a range of multimedia and IT support services. With two degrees in art his- tory from University of Texas-Austin, it was an unexpected career move that brought me to the Houston area but one that exposed me to the variety of natural resources along the bay and coast, especially the nearby bayou that I kayak regularly and that became my refuge from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Since retirement, I have been a volunteer at the Armand Bayou Nature Center, primarily as a deckhand and interpretive guide on the center’s pontoon tour boat. Do you have a favorite bird to photograph? If I have to pick one favorite species, it is the least bittern. The smallest member of the heron family, it is a fairly secretive bird that nests and feeds among the marsh grasses and reeds in a habitat that has been painstakingly restored by Ar- mand Bayou Nature Center volunteers and staff. After years of observing and photographing them, I have thousands of shots of them in flight, actively feeding and bringing food to their hatchlings in the nest, but I never tire of shooting them. What have you found to be the best location(s) and times of day/ year for photographing birds? The great thing about living near the coast in Southeast Texas is the wealth of target-rich opportunities for bird pho- tography within a relatively short drive from home any time of year. Number one for me is Armand/Horsepen Bay- ou because the kayak launch is only 5 miles from my house, but I also regularly walk the shoreline at Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, the trails at Lafitte’s Cove during spring migration, and the driving routes at Galveston Island State Park, Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. I am an early riser, so I always try to begin my outings by sunrise to catch the birds at their most active and their most photogenic in the raking morning light. Are there specific birds you seek out or are you coming across them as you go? While there are certain birds that I expect to see at different times of year, such as warblers during migration, least bitterns and green her- ons during the summer or bald eagles and ospreys in the winter, I mostly en- joy just sitting quietly in my kayak in the calm water of Horsepen Bayou, waiting to see what might wander within range of my camera lens. The subjects change with almost every outing and there are often pleasant surprises. What’s your most memorable sighting? I often find myself staring in wonder at some wildlife behavior such as barn swallows swooping to feed their perched fledglings without missing a wingbeat, or a murmuration of thousands of red-winged blackbirds in perfectly synchronized flight, but one of the most memorable sightings was on a late-September morning as I rounded a point on Armand Bayou and saw more than 600 wood storks roosting in the trees along the shore. Within a few minutes, they all lifted off in unison and after forming three large kettles, they headed in a long line for some southern wintering ground. Which image are you most proud of and why? To be honest, I am proud of any number of shots but I am still waiting (and hoping) for that one de- fining image that stops people in their tracks with their jaws dropped in won- der. In addition to the sheer pleasure of seeing and photographing wildlife, that is what motivates me to make the effort, brave the elements, return to the same locations time and again in pursuit of that elusive perfect shot. Do you keep a bird life list? Any subjects on the top of the wish list? I do keep a life list, mostly to document and remind myself what I have seen, but I don’t go too far out of my way to chase rarities. I regularly hike and camp in the Big Bend region and would love to see the Colima warbler that nests high in the Chisos range. Likewise, I hope to someday encounter a black rail while birding along the coast. Otherwise, I will happily accept whatever new bird happens to come my way. What makes birds so appealing to you? Going back to the days of film and point-and-shoot cameras, I have always enjoyed composing and capturing pleasing scenes, mostly landscapes in the hills of Central Texas and the mountains farther west. When I arrived in Houston, it took a number of years before I embraced the subtle beauty of the flat coastal prairies and 26 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 FEATURE COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2024 27 in the meantime, the great variety and beauty of birds on the bayou filled the void. I never intended to become a bird watcher, but if you are not careful, it sucks you in. I can certainly think of worse ways to spend my time. Have you had any missed op- portunities, such as a bird taking off just as you were about to press the shutter release? I can’t begin to count the number of times I wished for a mulligan while out photograph- ing birds. You sit for minutes on end waiting for that decisive shot and the one second when you have to scratch your nose is the exact moment the bird picks to launch. I’m sure some- where in those many misses would have been that one defining image, so I will be back out there at the next opportunity to give it another try. What’s your favorite camera or other equipment for bird photog- raphy? I have shot Nikon, Canon, Fuji and Sony cameras and liked them all. I am currently shooting a Sony mirror- less but might switch again with the next technology innovation. Regard- less of brand, my favorite features are a fast frame rate (10 to 15 shots per second) and a long focal length lens (400mm or longer). Any advice to someone starting out with or wanting to improve their bird photography? I period- ically teach a course on bird pho- tography at Armand Bayou Nature Center and the single most important message I try to impart is to get out and practice as often as possible and test as many different settings as pos- sible. With digital cameras the “film” is essentially free, so the only cost after the initial equipment purchase is the investment in time. It takes trial and error to learn the effects of the dif- ferent focus modes, and repetition to develop techniques and train muscle memory, but that is the secret to im- proving your photography, especially for capturing birds in flight. (Clockwise from top left) Brown pelican, Forster’s terns, least bittern and least bittern chick. PHOTO: COU r TESY GA r Y SELOFFTheGrand.com 409.765.1894 2020 Postoffice Street, Galveston Mar 16 | 8 PM Get ready for an outstanding evening with two-time Tony ® Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell in concert! Dubbed as “The Last Leading Man,” Mitchell has starred on Broadway in Ragtime, The Man of La Mancha, Kiss Me Kate and so much more! Mar 23 | 3 PM & 8 PM Relive all your favorites – “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” “The Sound of Silence” – with this immersive concert-style theater show chronicling the amazing journey shared by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.Compassionate Guidance in Your Time of Need. E. R. 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