Below:  A photo taken with the Nikon D800 of the Texas Capitol Building at sunrise using a 50 mm  f/1.4 prime lens at f/8.0 and 1/640 sec, ISO 100. An enlargement of the same photo follows.

Below: An enlarged section of photo of the Texas Capitol Building showing greater detail.

The image above was taken with the Nikon D800 using a 70-200 mm f/2.8G ED VRII lens on a cloudy afternoon using ISO 3200, f/6.3 1/6000 sec, focal length of 122 mm.

The photos of peacocks were taken in Mayfield Park in Austin, TX.

About me. I’m an amateur photographer with about 20 years of experience. I’m also a part time travel writer and blogger. My previous cameras  have included the Canon EOS 30D, EOS 40D, Nikon D700 and numerous Nikon film SLR’s. I plan on taking the Nikon D800 with me on overseas trips to take photos for my blog and to post on MyGeoInfo.com   You can find the D800 for sale on Amazon.com, however as of the date this article was written it was on back-order. Best Buy, Crutchfield, Adorama and other camera shops also have it on back-order. The price of the D800 is currently fixed for authorized dealers at $2,999.00. If you see this camera selling for less than that amount, beware, since it is most likely grey market or a “bait and switch” scam.  One way to spot a grey market camera scam is when you see the camera for the same price or less that other dealers, but with a whole bunch of accessories bundled with it, such as cheap tripods and lens cleaning kits. Grey market Nikon D800 cameras aren’t a big problem yet, but be on the lookout for them soon as they trickle in from Malaysia, etc. There are currently some scam Nikon D800 sales on the web. On eBay some people are selling “extra cameras” that they ordered for speculation at prices  upwards of $4000, so it may be worth getting on Amazon’s pre order list and being patient.   Estimated shipping time for Nikon D800′s ordered from Amazon is approximately four to six weeks, though that situation may be resolved by the time you find this article. I’m very pleased with this amazing camera and plan on spending more time in the coming weeks becoming familiar with its features. One nice feature is that it shoots broadcast quality HD video, a feature that I plan on using often.

Nikon D800 on Amazon.com, Click For More Information. (Sponsored Link)

Below: Another historic old building in D’Hanis Texas made from red D’Hanis brick, the J.M. Koch Hotel. This quaint hotel, which is now a bed and breakfast, was started in 1906 by J.M and Mary Ann Koch. The hotel was reportedly constructed by Chinese railroad workers. In 1914 the J.M. Koch hotel was sold to another owner, and it was operated as a hotel until 1920, when it was purchased by the Farmer’s Exchange of D’Hanis for use as a feed store. Later the building was used as a boarding house, then finally, as a bed and breakfast, ran by hosts Hilo and Candy Del Bosque.

Here is a video taken during a private tour of the old brick factory in D’Hanis.

Fast Tube by Casper

Below, old iron water towers such as the one in D’Hanis are in danger of disappearing from small towns around Texas. Many old iron water towers in Texas are being torn down and replaced with newer style models which are designed to hold more water.

The locals will tell you that there is not that much to do in D’Hanis Texas. Despite this, it is a great place to stop for a meal, cold brew, or to spend the night when touring the Texas Hill Country.

Below are some photos of Comfort Texas, Bandera and the scenic Hill Country loop described above. (Note that there are many other possible routes that could be considered “a scenic Hill Country loop,”, this is just one possible route.

Above: Water flowing over the dam on the Guadalupe River at the city park in Comfort Texas

Below, Watusi cattle (native to Africa,) resting in the grass on a ranch between Comfort and Bandera.

There are many exotic game ranches in this part of the Texas Hill country. You’ll find everything from bison (below,) to oryx and other exotic species. Early morning can be a wonderful time to take photos on the scenic Hill Country Loop between Comfort and Bandera.

The small town of Bandera, below, offers tourists many shopping opportunities, as well as places where you can belly up to the bar for a cold brew, such as the 11th Street Cowboy Bar.

Either Comfort or Bandera is a great place to start or finish a scenic Texas Hill Country loop driving tour. For an excellent guide to scenic drives in the Texas Hill Country, I recommend the Lone Star Travel Guide To The Texas Hill Country by Richard Zelade.

Below, the old water tower in Bandera Texas.

A word of caution: Always be on the lookout for deer crossing the roadway in the Texas Hill Country. Be extra careful at night, evening and early morning when deer are most active.

To me, every travel destination offers an exciting new opportunity for  photography.  Before visiting any future travel destination I usually browse through the photos on Google to see what images other photographers have captured, and  imagine how I might improve on them if I happen to visit the same spot.  If you plan on traveling with your new  DSLR, here are some “must have” travel accessories for the Nikon D800 and other professional cameras  that will help you protect it  and make using it more enjoyable.  DSLR   “protective items” fall under the category of “camera protection,”  which includes things like “camera skins” or covers, lens skins, waterproof camera cases and UV lens protectors.  Functional accessories  are those things that help you get the most from your digital SLR, such as extra lenses, tripods, remote shutter release controls, etc.

Nikon D800 Camera Armor Or Skins

As of April of 2012  there were no commercially made camera armor for the Nikon D800  available on the market.  There are however some universal protective skins that will fit a Nikon D800,  such as the BodyGuard by LensCoat.  Granted you will lose some ease of access to certain buttons, however products such the BodyGuard  can be easily slipped on and off depending on the circumstances you’re shooting in. You can reach most of the controls of the Nikon D800 through the slits in the side of the cover. In my case I had a family member who is good with a sewing machine make some alterations to the cover so that I could reach vital buttons easier.

LensCoat Lens Protection

People who have used the neoprene LensCoat  “lens skin,” or  lens protection system  either love it or hate it, there is no in between.  This system comes in a series of precisely cut segments  of fabric covered neoprene rubber that fit each part of a Nikon or Canon lens. With the LensCoat  system attached to your lens you can still operate the manual focus control, telephoto, and have access to switches such as the “autofocus on–off” button. LensCoat   comes in a variety of patterns, from plain black to “urban camo,”, RealTree camo and more.  I personally use both the BodyGuard and LensCoat  products  to protect my Nikon D800 DSLR.

 A Waterproof Camera Carrying Case or Backpack For the Nikon D800

If you plan on doing any sort of adventure travel and taking your Nikon D800 or other DSLR  along  on vacation, you should have a rugged, water resistant carrying case or backpack. I prefer a  camera backpack for the simple fact that I usually  end up carrying a number of lenses and a small tripod with me wherever I go. I really like the LowePro Flipside 400, which  allows you to store enough accessories for almost any kind of  photography you might get into. If you’re looking for something a bit more compact and well suited for day hikes, consider the smaller version, the LowePro Flipside 300.  Both have extra compartments for items such as  lenses, filters, batteries, chargers, memory cards and even a snack or two.

 Be Sure to Use a UV Lens Protector On Every Lens That You Use

When  it comes to UV – Haze  filters, the old expression “you get what you pay for” holds true. The difference between a $15 UV  filter and a $85  filter is that the expensive one will have more layers of coating on the lens and will most likely have better  overall optics, meaning less distortion  in your photos.  Multi-coated UV  lens  filters can last for years when  properly taken care of,  however I have found that cheap, poorly coated UV  filters will generally last  only about a year before the coating starts to wear off and they become unusable.

 Always Carry A Waterproof Memory Card Holder On Vacation

If you plan on taking a lot of photos on your vacation, make sure that you carry several extra 16 or 32 GB  memory cards and a waterproof case to store them in. One waterproof case that I always take on vacation with me is the  Pelican 0910  case which holds 16 SD cards.  This inexpensive case is  “water resistant,”  but not waterproof. It will generally keep your memory cards safe and dry unless you submerge it for an extended period of time.

Other items that I would recommend taking along on vacation with your Nikon D800 or other DSLR  are a lens cleaning kit which includes a Rocket Blower,  microfiber cloths and a LensPen  brush.  Also, extended warranty plans are generally not a very good investment, however if you travel often, as I do,  you may find that they are worth the money if your camera becomes damaged. Look for extended warranty plans that cover impact as well as mechanical malfunction.

Functional Travel Accessories For Nikon D800 And Other DSLR’s

Functional accessories are those items that enable you to use all of the features of your new DSLR  on vacation.  Depending on where you’re going, you may want to take landscape or other types of photos in low light conditions. To do so you’ll need a sturdy yet lightweight tripod suitable for travel.  Travel tripods generally use carbon fiber legs to reduce weight.  I  personally like the Ravelli  carbon fiber travel tripods, however there many brands on the market such as Manfrotto, Dolica, and Tamarac.  If you’re not going to be using a superheavy lens, a very nifty little travel tripod is the Tamrac TR406, which uses shock corded legs such as those found on some tents. It can handle cameras and lenses up to 3 pounds and only weighs 11 ounces.

If you have any ideas regarding essential travel accessories for the Nikon D800 or other DSLR cameras, please leave your comments below. Thanks!

county and state parks around Austin and Central Texas. Enchanted Rock State Park is dog friendly, that is, as long as dogs are kept on a leash at all times. Our family recently visited Enchanted Rock State Park, where we saw many happy hikers and their pets enjoying  the park. Enchanted Rock, is a huge granite batholith, or single body of rock, which was formed underground millions of years ago as the Llano Uplift was created, then uncovered by erosion. Enchanted rock is 425 feet high and is considered a moderate to challenging hike.  If you’re thinking about taking your dog along with you to Enchanted Rock, be sure to take along plenty of water  and some kind of dish for them to drink out of. Also, before taking your dog hiking at Enchanted Rock, make sure that their nails have been trimmed first. Walking on hard steep surfaces, such as the  smooth granite surface of  Enchanted Rock can be hard on dog’s feet if they have long nails. Also, don’t forget to bring poo bags and pick up after your pet. You will be issued a steep fine if you do not pick up after your pet.

If you have any question you can contact a park ranger at Enchanted Rock State Park at this number: 830-685-3636

Below is a map of Enchanted Rock State Park:

Below: the Luling watermelon water tower,  and a small oil well pump jack featuring a quarterback throwing a pass.

The small oil wells that you see around Luling Texas are part of an old oil field discovered on August 9, 1922 by Edgar B Davis. Davis had mortgaged everything that he owned and was betting on either finding oil are going broke. The Rafael Rios No. 1 well came in at 2,161 feet and began producing 150 barrels per day, thus ensuring Davis’s fortune and and Luling  place in Texas history.

Although the small independent oil companies that own most of the wells around Luling Texas have made attempts to make them look more attractive to local residents and tourists, quite a few that we saw on our trip were leaking small amounts of crude oil onto the ground from leaking stuffing boxes, leaky valves or busted pipes. The smell of hydrogen sulfide gas or H2S gas, can be smelled throughout the town of Luling Texas, but concentrations from these small wells are usually not a big danger to residents. While driving around the county roads around Luling, just after recent rains, we noticed a sheen of oil on some ponds, and other areas devoid of vegetation due to years of crude oil spilling on the ground. The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas, along with TCEQ, the TExas Commission for Environmental Quality, apparently has bigger fish to fry with the large Eagle Ford Shale oil discovery just to the south of this area. In that area there are some oil wells making over 2000 barrels a day. These understaffed agencies are struggling to keep up with all the new wells being drilled.

In the very lower left-hand corner of this photo, you can see oil and natural gas bubbling up from a hole in the casing. This small stripper  oil well near Luling Texas had crude oil draining down the hill into a creek which flows into the San Marcos River. It’s hard to believe that things like this still go on, but they do. From personal experience working as an oilfield pumper or gauger, I know that most oil and gas companies nowadays try to keep their locations clean and comply with state regulations, but there seems to be a double standard when it comes to the upkeep and regulation of small stripper wells in Texas. The oil and gas industry is an important sector of our nation’s economy, however all operators, both large and small, should play by the same rules.

For more photos of  pump jacks and oilfield equipment see Energyindustryphotos.com

Above: Visitors can step right up to an outdoor raw oyster bar located only a few feet from where they are grown. You can rent everything you need for an oyster feast, including charcoal for grilling and a shucking knife.

As we sat and ate fresh oysters a white egret dined on fish in Tomales Bay.

At Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall California you can watch local sailboats gently bobbing at anchor in Tomales Bay.

Above: View from a roadside pull – out, near Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve along Highway 1. Bird watchers frequent this area due to the great variety of wildlife in and around Tomales Bay.

Below: A fishing boat returns to port at Bodega Bay. This is one of my favorite places on the California Coast. For a bit of trivia, Alfred Hitchcock filmed most of the movie “The Birds” here. The birds we saw were not scary at all, but loved crackers.

One of “The Birds” on a beach near Bodega Bay. There are many awesome hiking trails on Bodega Head, a rocky headland near town.

Photo of the Bodega Bay Harbor, which is home to an active fishing fleet and many pleasure boats.

A jellyfish on Dillon Beach near Tomales California.

Above, a stranded jellyfish on Dillon Beach, just south of Bodega Bay.

Below, a picturesque home overlooking the Bodega Bay harbor. It looks like it has weathered quite a few Pacific coast storms over the years.

An old dairy barn is shrouded in mist along California Highway 1, between Bodega Bay and Sonoma Coast State Beach park. The area still has many working dairy farms, and lots of happy looking California cows grazing in open pastures.

The photo of flowers below was taken on the beach between Fort Ross State Historic Park and Stewarts Point California.

The small pumpjack below is typical of those used in the East Texas oilfields like Spindletop. It is found in the Permian Petroleum Museum. These may have been initially operated by a sucker rod energy transfer system, whereby several pumping units could be powered by a single steam engine housed in a central location. Later they were converted to run on small electric motors or gas engines. This pumpjack has the classic “horse’s head look”. If you are interested in the history of the oil and gas industry, make sure to stop by the Permian Basin Petroleum. It can be found at the address below:

1500 Interstate 20 West
Midland, TX 79701
(EXIT 136, North Service road)
Phone: 432-683-4403

Below, a workover rig that I worked on near Amarillo, Texas.  A workover rig is a small truck mounted drilling rig used to service existing oil wells. This one is being used to pull tubing and sucker rod from an old oil well. Small oil companies may purchase aging, depleted oil wells from larger companies and use means such as perforating new zones, hydraulic fracturing or acid stimulation to get more oil to flow from the well. Many fortunes have been made (and lost) by small independents who specialize in working over depleted oil wells.

Below is a photo of a rusty heater treater on a oil lease near Post Texas.  Heater treaters are a type of separator used to separate oil, gas and water. Oil and water are piped to the tanks and gas is sent on to a dehydrator unit and sold into a pipeline. Excess oilfield salt water is hauled to a disposal facility and pumped deep underground into non productive zones.

Below, the sun sets on a West Texas oilfield near the town of Sundown.  The Slaughter field oilfield is on of the most productive fields in North America.  The Slaughter field has produced millions of barrels of crude. The company of Cascade, Devonian, and Honolulu, Inc.,  spudded  the Slaughter Field discovery well, the Duggan et al. No. 1-A just west of the Hockley county line in Cochran County. The well was drilled a rotary rig to 2,297 feet, and then with a cable tool rig  to a total depth of 5,098 feet in the San Andres formation on October 29, 1936.

You can see the first photos in this series on oilfield equipment here: Page 1 Oilfield Photos   Also, you can find tons more oilfield photography at Energyindustryphotos.com