A Photographic Adventure Through Texas

Only in Texas can the ultimate photography adventure combine epic wildlife moments and a journey into a mysterious subterranean underworld with the promise of an amazing meal and a cozy creative space awaiting you at the end of the day.

For award-winning nature photographer Ian Shive, it’s the unique intertwining of exploration and adventure that attracts him to Texas. Watch Ian's ultimate Texas adventure.

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Photo By: Ian Shive

Great Migrations

Photographer Ian Shive stands on top of a boat in search of the native Texas Whooping Cranes in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Whooping Cranes travel over 2,500 miles each year to winter in the 115,000-acre refuge.

Great Migrations

A baby alligator sunbathes on top of its' mother's back in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Alligators are one of the 37 animal species that call this 115,000-acre refuge home.

Great Migrations

Wetlands at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado County, Texas. It is home to one of the last populations of the critically endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken.

Great Migrations

Photographer Ian Shive holds up his massive camera and lens on a boat to try and photograph the native Texas Whooping Crane in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. These cranes travel over 25,000 miles each year to winter in Texas on the 115,000-acre refuge.

Great Migrations

Cranes fly over the wetlands of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. The refuge boasts a diversity of ecosystems including grasslands, blackjack oak thickets, freshwater ponds, and red-bay thickets. It is also the largest Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Refuge with over 115,000 acres.

Great Migrations

A pair of Texas Whooping Cranes perform their signature dance and their extremely loud vocalizations, all thanks to their five-foot windpipe, the longest of the species. These cranes travel over 25,000 miles each year to winter in Texas on the 115,000-acre Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Migrations

A native Texas Whooping Crane pulls a blue crab out of the water in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. These cranes travel over 25,000 miles each year to winter in Texas on the 115,000-acre refuge and enjoy other seafood like clams and fish.

Great Migrations

Two Texas Whooping Cranes perform their unique dance with each other along with their extremely loud vocalizations in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. The volume of these vocalizations is thanks to their five-foot windpipe, the longest of the species. These cranes travel over 25,000 miles each year to winter in Texas on the 115,000-acre Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Migrations

A Texas Whooping Crane searches for food in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas at sunset. The cranes enjoy seafood including blue crabs, clams, and fish that is provided by the gulf coast. They travel over 25,000 miles each year to winter in Texas on the 115,000-acre refuge.

Sea Turtle Rescue

Photographer Ian Shive smiles next to Gerry, an Atlantic green sea turtle and resident of Sea Turtle, Inc on South Padre Island, Texas. Gerry is used as an education turtle to spread awareness about sea turtle conservation. Sea Turtle, Inc rehabilitates 40 to over 100 sea turtles each year and releases them back into Gulf Coast waters.

Sea Turtle Rescue

Poppy is a Loggerhead sea turtle and permanent resident at Sea Turtle, Inc on South Padre Island, Texas after losing her back left flipper to a boat strike. Sea Turtle, Inc rehabilitates 40 to over 100 sea turtles each year and releases them back into Gulf Coast waters.

Sea Turtle Rescue

Sea Turtle, Inc staff member attaches a prosthetic, carbon fiber fin to an Atlantic green sea turtle named Allison. This prosthetic fin is the first successful one of its kind and took multiple iterations to achieve. Sea Turtle, Inc on South Padre Island, Texas rehabilitates 40 to over 100 sea turtles each year and releases them back into Gulf Coast waters.

Sea Turtle Rescue

An Atlantic green sea turtle patient is lifted out of their tank by a Sea Turtle, Inc staff member to be weighed and measured before being released back into the wild on South Padre Island, Texas. Sea Turtle, Inc records the patient's information and ensures it has a tracker in case it becomes stranded again. Sea Turtle, Inc rehabilitates 40 to over 100 sea turtles each year and releases them back into Gulf Coast waters.

Sea Turtle Rescue

An Atlantic green sea turtle swims towards the edge of their tank in preparation for their food at Sea Turtle, Inc on South Padre Island, Texas. Patients at Sea Turtle, Inc are carefully examined to determine their nutritional and rehabilitation needs. Sea Turtle, Inc rehabilitates 40 to over 100 sea turtles each year and releases them back into Gulf Coast waters.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

The Civilian Conservation Corps Conservation Tower is located in Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County, Texas. The structure is made of native stone, quarried and cut from the excavated cavern below, local cedar, hand-split shingles, and iron fixtures. It features a unique central circular lobby surrounded by quartz walls.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Photographer Ian Shive observes the patterns created by an ancient flowing river inside Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County, Texas. From 1934 to 1942, members of the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps built buildings, explored the cavern, and made it accessible by removing some 2.5 tons of silt, debris, and guano.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Evan Archilla, Cave Guide and Director of Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County, Texas looks up at the cave walls. The cave was created by an ancient river that flowed through the cave, dissolving the limestone. From 1934 to 1942, members of the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps built buildings, explored the cavern, and made it accessible by removing some 2.5 tons of silt, debris, and guano.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Evan Archilla, Cave Guide and Director of Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County, Texas shows off a prehistoric arrowhead that was found within the cave. The cave's history with humans dates back hundreds of years to the native peoples who inhabited the region, the Comanche Indians about 350 years ago.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Photographer Ian Shive observes the compass on top of the Civilian Conservation Corps Conservation Tower at Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County, Texas. The purpose of this compass is still unknown. The structure is made of native stone quarried and cut from the excavated cavern below, local cedar, hand-split shingles, and iron fixtures.

Big Texas Adventure, Big Appetite!

Detail of LeAnn Mueller seasoning a brisket with salt, pepper, and garlic at la Barbecue in Austin Texas. The briskets get smoked low and slow for 14 to 16 hours with Texas post oak. Chef LeAnn Mueller, with the help of her wife Alison Clem, runs la Barbecue with recipes and flavors inspired by their travels around the world.

Big Texas Adventure, Big Appetite!

Alison Clem smiles as she holds up a tray of brisket ready for the smoker at la Barbecue in Austin, Texas. Chef LeAnn Mueller, with the help of her wife Alison, runs la Barbecue with recipes and flavors inspired by their travels around the world.

Big Texas Adventure, Big Appetite!

Ribs inside a smoker get covered in a secret sauce whose recipe is known by a select few at la Barbecue in Austin, Texas. These ribs are a signature dish at la Barbecue and if the only man who makes them isn't available, then they're not on the menu.

Big Texas Adventure, Big Appetite!

Alison Clem (left) and wife LeAnn Mueller (right) laugh as Alison puts the finishing touches on a plate of barbecue at la Barbecue in Austin, Texas. LeAnn, with the help of Alison, runs la Barbecue with recipes and flavors inspired by their travels around the world.

Big Texas Adventure, Big Appetite!

A plate of mouthwatering barbecue with brisket, sausage, potato salad, and so much more from la Barbecue in Austin, Texas. LeAnn Mueller, with the help of her wife Alison Clem, runs la Barbecue with recipes and flavors inspired by their travels around the world.

The Ultimate Creator’s Space

Photographer Ian Shive (left) and Home Designer Kayla Simone (right) smile as they point towards areas of inspiration in Ian Shive's photos of Texas landscapes. These photos act as a guide for Kayla's home office renovation project in Pflugerville, Texas.

The Ultimate Creator’s Space

Photographer Ian Shive (left) and Home Designer Kayla Simone (right) smile as they prepare to finish painting a wall as part of a home office renovation in Pflugerville, Texas.

The Ultimate Creator’s Space

Photographer Ian Shive smiles as he waits for the power to be turned off in order to install new lights as part of a home office renovation in Pflugerville, Texas.

The Ultimate Creator’s Space

Photographer Ian Shive screws a lightbulb into a new lighting fixture as part of a home office renovation in Pflugerville, Texas.

The Ultimate Creator’s Space

Photographer Ian Shive (left) screws in a lightbulb with Home Designer Kayla Simone (right) as part of a newly installed lighting fixture. Kayla is transforming a room into a home office in Pflugerville, Texas.