I’m packing the big guns and heading down to south Texas for my annual South Texas Birding Photo Safari! This year, I’ll be bringing five clients to shoot with me in the private ranch blinds. While birding does require long focal lengths, the good news is that there are lots of good options for people who don’t want to fork over several month’s pay for a part-time lens.

If you use Nikon DX format bodies, the Nikkor 80-400mm AFS G VRII lens is amazingly sharp, and very easy to hand-hold. If you are considering a trip like this as a special occasion, consider renting a lens (and even a body) from a company like LensRentals or BorrowLenses. Weekly rentals are reasonably priced, especially when considering the purchase price of a new lens.

Oh, and Texas? I’m already planning to return next year. If you’d like to join me, sign up over at my workshops page so you get early notifications. These trips fill up fast!