Book excerpt: Experience the wildlife of Texas, up-close and personal, through the eyes of one of the country’s most talented nature photographers. Where else can you look a coyote in the eye while it licks its chops? Spy the long tongue of a Nine-banded Armadillo as it drinks? Watch a rare Blue-faced Ringtail dragonfly eating its prey? Glimpse a Sanderling’s feet spread midair as it scurries down the beach? See an American White Pelican’s pouch turned inside-out as it yawns? Award-winning photographer Greg Lasley has been taking pictures of wildlife for thirty years, and although he has photographed some of the most exotic creatures and remote places on earth, in Greg Lasley’s Texas Wildlife Portraits he gives homage to his favorite place for photography: his home state. With more than a hundred stunning color photographs, this book reflects Lasley’s penchant for the state’s insect life, especially dragonflies, as well as his long affection for Texas birds. In addition, many hours of patient waiting or the happenstance of a chance encounter have yielded fine images of Texas mammals and reptiles in their habitats. Veteran Texas naturalists John and Gloria Tveten open the text with an introduction to the man behind the camera. From there, photographer’s comments and insightful photo captions help vividly re-create the moment each image was shot—what the animal was doing, what the photographer was thinking.