A Simulator Designed By Photographers, For Photographers
The Birds In Flight Simulator was designed by Russell Graves, a respected Texas wildlife photographer who wanted to make wildlife photography more accessible to everyone.
Using the simulator, any photographer can practice taking pictures of birds in flight. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the craft or fine-tune your skills, the Birds In Flight Simulator was designed to give you the practice you need to take your camera into the field.
Russell Graves
The Man Behind the Lens
Raised in rural Texas, Russell Graves had a modern, blue-collar upbringing, a stalwart work ethic, and a family that put no bounds on his imagination and creativity.
From a young age, he was drawn to wildlife photography and became a published photographer at the age of 19.
He went on to earn a degree in agriculture education from East Texas State University and became an agriculture science teacher at Childress Independent School District in the Texas Panhandle.
Across his 16-year teaching career, he was named the Texas Agriscience Teacher of the Year three times, became a finalist for the National Agriscience Teacher of the Year twice, and won several significant awards within his profession.
During this time, he also built a solid reputation as a top Texas photographer and writer.
When he left teaching in 2009, he continued his photography work by capturing photographs of the people and places outside of city limits in innovative and authentic ways.
He continued his craft, producing magazine pieces, advertising campaigns, television projects, and numerous books. He also worked with a small West Texas town to bring jobs and prosperity to rural Texas.
In 2019, he began leading photography workshops to share his knowledge and love for the outdoors and photography. Since then, he has led hundreds of people on photography adventures worldwide.
He has been recognized as a top photographer in Texas, focusing on connection with people and places through his written, spoken, and photographic stories. With thousands of published images and six authored books, he is a decorated photographer, speaker, and business owner.
When he’s not in the field teaching or doing client projects, Russell can be found on his beloved Hackberry Farm driving his tractor and doing the tasks that benefit the land and its denizens.
Hackberry Farms Nature Photography Workshops
Come see Russell in action in his immersive photography workshops at Hackberry Farm. Learn essential photography skills and hone your style with tailored guidance from one of Texas’s best photographers.