Over the past decade, I’ve seen more breathtakingly beautiful photographs of Texas than I saw in all the decades before, combined. This is thanks to social media, where many photographers share their exquisite work online daily. I’ve made it a point to befriend these great visual artists so I can enjoy Texas in all its resplendent glory from mountain to sea, from high plains to the tropics. I will share with you the names of some of my favorites so that you can see Texas through their gifted eyes. Now this is just my list – work I’ve come to know, somewhat at random. Many of your favorites I will no doubt miss, but perhaps you can add mine to your list of favorites, and you can add yours to mine at the end of this commentary.
In no particular order, here we go.
Wyman Meinzer is the official state photographer of Texas. He was given this honorary title by the 1997 Texas Legislature at the request of Gov. George W. Bush. They wanted to recognize his extraordinary body of work, that captures the varied landscapes of Texas and the people who work the land. I love his titles: “Between Heaven and Texas,” “Windmill Tales” and “Horses to Ride, Cattle to Cut”– among the more than 20 books he has published.