First of all, this is an amateur site. I am not a professional photographer, nor do I intend to become one. Photography is a hobby for me. I enjoy carrying my camera around when I travel, hike, and ride my bikes. Besides trying to be creative and make interesting photos, I appreciate the feeling that viewers can live vicariously through my photos. These photos also help me revisit places I’ve been.

Traveling to my favorite places in Texas led me to submit photos to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation‘s contest Focus on the Wild in 2016. I had never entered photo contests before, but a friend convinced me I should. Then, in February 2016 and June 2016, the photos I submitted to the Focus on the Wild contest were picked as the best in those months. At the end of the year, the entry for February 2016 also won the best for 2016.

I was born and raised in northeast Brazil, Fortaleza, Ceará, and moved to Texas in 1981. Besides music (my other site is MúsicaBrasileira.org), photography is another hobby of mine. Since the appearance of digital photography, it’s become a lot easier to explore and experiment with making photos. Add to that my passion for traveling — whether a short weekend or an extended vacation — and the stars align for a great hobby. All images here are my own, but if I feature one by my spouse, it will be noted accordingly.

Throughout the years, I have used several cameras. I remember back in 2001, I was using an Olympus Camedia C-960. It is surprising how a 1.3-megapixel camera produced good results. Some shots from that camera are featured here. With the development of AI (artificial intelligence) technologies in photography software, even old photos can be restored to good quality. Other cameras I have had include Canon PowerShot G5, Sony DSC-W80 and W330, Pentax X90, Nikon D40X and D5000, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70, Sony NEX-5, Sony a6300, Sony a7R II, Sony a6600, Sony a7C, and several camera phones. I use the Samsung Galaxy s23 phone, Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 (my bridge camera for fun and travel), and a Sony a7IV (my primary camera). Lenses have also varied through the years. My present configuration has three lenses:

1. Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD;
2. Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G (ultra-wide-angle lens); and
3. Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG DN MACRO.

I also have a NISI filter for macro photography and a couple of extension tubes.

In the summer of 2022, I joined the Nature Photographers Network, the premiere site and forum for nature photographers. It welcomes both professionals and amateurs like me. It is a great “community helping out fellow photographers through helpful image critiques, thoughtful articles, meetups, and a whole lot more,” as its website states. I cannot express how glad I am to have joined NPN. Members are thoughtful and very helpful in their critiques. Unlike social media, there is no push for “likes” or “followers.” It is a community for nature lovers and photographers interested in growing and learning.

At NPN, you will not have advertising, politics, or competitions. NPN is solely dedicated to the art and technique of nature photography. These are some of the features you can expect to find at NPN:

• Weekly challenges to spark your creativity;
• Renowned guest photographers to offer critiques on your images;
• AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with guest photographers;
• Webinars;
• In-depth articles on photography;

and so much more. Here is a one-minute video to give you more information about NPN.

I am also a proud Nature First – The Alliance for Responsible Nature Photography member. Nature is a source of life, and preserving our natural resources is everyone’s responsibility, whether a photographer or a world citizen. As such, I abide by Nature First’s core principles:

• Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography.
• Educate yourself about the places you photograph.
• Reflect on the possible impact of your actions.
• Use discretion if sharing locations.
• Know and follow the rules and regulations.
• Always follow “Leave No Trace” principles and strive to leave places better than you found.
• Actively promote and educate others about these principles.

I used conversations with park rangers, brochures I obtained from various featured locations, official websites, and Wikipedia to write the stories behind the shots.

If you need to contact me privately, you can use “contact” in this domain (egidio.photography). Thanks for stopping by.

Egídio