About

Jeff Lynch

Jeff Lynch Photography, Ltd.
Sugar Land & Fort Davis, TX
832-451-8676

Jeff Lynch is a commercial, landscape and nature photographer based in Sugar Land and Fort Davis, Texas.

Jeff’s passion for Texas landscape photography extends to his love of teaching and he can be found leading groups of serious amateurs each spring and fall during the Texas Landscape Safari workshop.

His most recent work can be found gracing the pages of this blog: Texas Landscape Photography where he shares his passion for landscape and nature photography with photographers around the globe. Jeff’s first two books of Texas landscape photography, Hill Country Landscapes, released in 2009 and Landscapes of the Texas Plains & Canyons, released in 2010 have been widely praised throughout the state and his next  two books, Landscapes of the Davis Mountains and Big Bend Landscapes have just been released.

Texas MonthlyJeff’s work has been featured in Texas Monthly, San Antonio and Cowboys & Indians magazines and in Jeff Carlson’s book; Canon Powershot G10/G11: From Snapshots to Great Shots published by Peachpit Press.

Serious photography really began for me in the mid 70’s when Canon introduced the TX with an “auto-winder” and the (ultimate) F-1 w/motor drive. They also introduced their FD line of “aspherical lenses”, which (for that point in time) were exceptionally sharp.

I began taking shots of local sporting events (high school football, basketball, track & field) in the northern suburbs of Detroit as a freelance (B&W only in those days) sports photographer. I only made money “if” the local paper liked the shots and their own guy was covering some other event. I’d load up my TX with a (relatively) fast 50mm lens for close-up shots and my F-1 with a 70-210 zoom for everything else.

All together including my shoulder bag, filters, film (Tri-X) and raincoat (it always rains in Michigan in the fall), everything must have weighed in at over 25 lbs and it felt like much more! I’m running down the field to catch the action, reloading film on the fly, taking shot after shot praying that one of two turn out OK. I’m wet, tired and ache all over from lugging all that gear around in the rain and cold. And that’s just the fun part!

Canon Powershot G10 and G11Once the event was over, I’d rush back to the darkroom and begin the arduous (and messy) process of developing the ten or so 36 exposure rolls of Tri-X, praying that I was agitating just the right amount to prevent any air bubbles from ruining my shots but not too much or the contrast and grain of Tri-X (pushed to 1600) would turn to mush.

Next I would print a quick contact sheet using my enlarger while the film was still “wet” and allow my socks to dry right next to the rest of the film. When I had the time (which was really never, before the usual 4:00 AM deadline) I would also pick a few good shots and print some 5 x 7’s to take along with the contact sheet, to the paper’s sports editor.

Canon Powershot G12So here I am. It’s about 3:00 AM on a Saturday morning. I’m standing in front of some guy who’s smoking one cigarette after another and he pushes my nice 5 x 7’s onto the floor, grabs the contact sheet and marks big red X’s on all but two of the 300 or so shots. These he circles, while grabbing my negs and looking at them on his light-box. All the time muttering about how spoiled we kids are today and how he used to walk to and from school in the dead of winter, up hill both ways, carrying a warm potato to keep his hands from freezing, which he then ate for lunch. 

He reaches into his desk, pulls out two twenties and says “Kid, those shots really suck but we’ve got nothing else so we’ll run em anyhow”. This guy was the sports editor for a small town paper acting like he ran the New York Times!

Today it’s a whole new world and this is the best time in history to be a photographer!

Digital SLRs are incredibly sophisticated, lightweight and durable. Lenses are designed by computer aided technology, precision fabricated by computer controlled machines and calibrated and tested by laser. Digital film (CF) is fast, affordable and reliable. Post capture processing is done on a personal computer (MacBook) using programs like Photoshop and Lightroom at a fraction of the cost of film and enlargements. Printing can be done at home or online at places like Mpix.com.

Learning your craft used to take years and years. Trial and error was expensive in the days of film. Today we have the Internet. The most incredible learning tool a serious amateur or budding professional could ask for. Over the course of a few days we can take several thousand digital exposures, sort through them and “develop” the best in just a few minutes. Post our work online and ask for constructive criticism or submit our work to online courses and receive feedback from masters like William Neill.

What an incredible time to be a photographer!

Jeff Lynch Development, Ltd.

What Software Do I Use?

What Photo Gear Do I Use?

What Filters Do I Use?

What Lighting Gear Do I Use?

What Photo Gear Do I Rent?

Legal Notice

”Canon” and Canon product and services names published on this website are the Trademark or Registered Trademark of Canon Inc. and/or other members on the Canon Group. All other products and company names referenced herein, if any, may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Jeff Lynch Photography does not authorize the use of any trade name, trademark, registered trademark, logo, or any copyrighted material referenced herein for any purpose whatsoever, including non-commercial applications.

25 thoughts on “About”

  1. Stumbled across your site while researching a trip to Big Bend next month (March 2014). With limited time to enjoy the park, I was looking at best opportunities to photograph and your blog plus the incredible photos were perfect. I’ll sign up for the subscription and perhaps will be able to attend one of your seminars in the not too distance future.
    Mike

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  2. Jeff, my name is Marcus, I’m 53 years old and I live in Rio de Janeiro. I found your blog looking for an article on lenses, Google, and get very excited about the articles and photos.
    So I decided to sign up and track their publications, as study nature photography two years ago, approximately.

    A hug and greetings from Brazil!

    PS. As I do not speak English used Google translator.
    Our Gallery: http://flickeflu.com/photos/43414779 @ N05

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  3. Great blog and superb images Jeff. Would love to shoot some landscapes in your “neck of the woods” but you are a little too far away from Scotland. Perhaps some day.

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  7. Great photos. I am very new to WordPress and blogging. I can’t find a place on your blog where I can subscribe. Am I missing something? Sure would like to read your blog on a daily basis, if possible. I’ve been to Sugar Land many times. A former friend of mine lived there.

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  8. I stumbled across your site while looking up photos that have been taken by a Canon 40D. I’m hoping to purchase one used and use it to improve my skills and hopefully do some freelance photography (and writing). Your photos are beautiful and the information helpful. I will certainly frequent your site to learn as I go.

    Michelle

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  9. Found your site while researching the Mark II; your photos are beautiful. I am a serious amateur photographer living in Beijing, China and have just begun selling my work here. Your site is informative and your talent is remarkable!

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    • Mary,

      Thanks for reading and for your kind words. My last trip to Beijing was about 17 years ago but I was on business and had no chance to explore.I look forward to seeing your images.

      Jeff

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  11. Jeff,

    No comments here since July, hope you are still reading this. I’m coming to Austin 1/14/10 through 1/18/10 to visit my daughter who lives in Kyle. I might well be interested in a one on one that weekend if it makes sense. I do love the hill country, but as much as I have been there, have never been to Perdernales(?) or McKinney Falls parks. Spen most of my time with my grand kids. Let me know if that weekend is a possibility.

    Thanks,

    Wes

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  12. Jeff,

    Found your blog just very recently but, after reading through a few posts, subscribed immediately. I am taken equally by both your beautiful photographs and the eloquent stories behind them. On Gorman Falls, for example: I wished I was accompanying you , in awe, at the bottom of the ravine.

    Northern suburbs of Detroit? Whereabout? I’m in Macomb! 🙂

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    • Dylan,

      Thanks for reading and for your kind words. I lived in Troy and Houghton (UP) for a few years before heading south to Texas in the early 80’s.

      Jeff

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  13. Jeff,
    Found your blog recently while surfing photoblogs and was pleased to see such great photography from a fellow Texan. A native of Fort Worth but now live in Baton Rouge, I enjoy viewing moving images from familiar places. You have great vision and emotion in your images. I also was an avid golfer, but now just trying to improve my “serious amateur photography” during my retirement. I will continue to enjoy your blog and especially your photo images.

    David

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  14. Wow! Your site is a wealth of information. Your photos are excellent. I will have to spend quite a bit of time here. I consider myself a serious amateur, but an inexperienced one at that. The fun is in the learning and I’m having a marvelous time. I appreciate your post on the new MacBook Pro. I’m giving it serious consideration.

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  15. Found your site through the tag “Photography” and glad I did.
    Your site is very informative and I will be reading more in the days to come.

    Thanks for all your info.

    Jocelyn

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  16. Just got here from advice from Mark over in Jersey. Thanks for all the info and it looks like I will be a regular… great style and helpful to boot. How can you lose?

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