Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop

November 1-5, 2024 - Sold Out

November 5-9, 2024 - Sold Out

Photograph the enchanting beauty and native wildlife of the Southern Cypress Swamps. Dates are timed for the best chances of fall colors and foggy conditions! We will be going out on small boats in Caddo Lake in East Texas and Louisiana to access many diverse areas. With 4 participants on board each boat along with a photo instructor and local guide, you'll have plenty of space and individual attention. Classroom sessions will be held during the midday hours for post-processing training and image critique. This workshop is rated Easy for physical difficulty and includes lodging and ground transportation.

Tuition

$4300
Includes Lodging

Max Group Size

4 Students per Instructor
4 Students per Boat

Instructor(s)

Kevin McNeal
Shane McDermott

Physical Intensity

Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop Caddo Lake Texas

Highlights

Experience the sublime beauty of the Cypress Swamps and native wildlife. Dates are timed for best fall colors and foggy conditions!
We will be using a small boat to efficiently access areas with optimal photographic opportunities. These boats are stable, quiet, and nimble and will deliver great landscape and wildlife photo ops.
A small group size of 4 photographers per boat will ensure plenty of individual attention.
Expert local knowledge from our boat operators and guides.
Lodging and all boat/ground transportation is included.
Post-processing instruction included during the midday hours.

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be flexible based on the weather and current conditions. If we get foggy conditions one day, we'll spend more time out on the boats. With pro photographers and local boat operators, we'll get you to the best places at the best times. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

Day 1: 7PM Orientation session in Marshall, Texas where we'll cover the specialized photo techniques you'll be using during our upcoming days together.
Day 2: We awake well before dawn, drive to the put-in spot, board the boats, and arrive at an enchanting cypress grove as beautiful fog sifts through the majestic trees. Vibrant fall colors adorn the branches and calm water amplifies the reflections. As the morning light begins to filter in, we shoot various compositions. The fog continues to last throughout the morning and we continue chasing the light until almost noon. We return for lunch and then head out again on the boats in the late afternoon for our sunset shoot.
Day 3: We are out early again and capture some incredible wildlife images of the egrets and herons in the ethereal forest. A few alligators also make their appearance! We boat back to the pier and do a midday post-processing session. We depart again on the boats for our sunset shoot where we find some magnificent fall color!
Day 4: We head out on boats again for our sunrise and sunset photo shoots, chasing the best light, fall colors, and conditions. We do one more midday post processing session showing you how to make the most of your images with many new digital darkroom techniques.
Day 5: Although it's hard to believe, today is our final sunrise shoot. It's our lucky day as fog has returned and we capture some amazing atmospheric images. Everyone is thrilled with what they were able to capture. We return to the pier and the workshop will conclude no later than 11AM.

Cypress Swamps Caddo Lake Photo Workshop

Barney Canson Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop

Caddo Lake Photo Workshop Wildlife Egret

Logistics

This workshop is rated Easy for all activity levels. Participants need to have good mobility for getting into and out of the small boats. We will be doing a lot of handheld shooting from the boat to maximize our photo compositions, but there may be opportunities to setup tall tripods in the water for longer exposures.

Double occupancy hotel lodging is included in the workshop price and single rooms are available for an additional fee (see Pricing section below). We will be based in Marshall Texas and there are many options for dining and shopping.

We will send out much more detailed information to help you plan for the workshop as we get closer to the dates. We will also hold a pre-workshop Zoom Meeting to ensure you are setup for success. The closest airport to our location is in Shreveport, LA. All ground and boat transportation is provided once you arrive in Marshall, Texas.

Pricing

$4300 Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

4 nights double occupancy hotel lodging. Single rooms add $300.
Boat and ground transportation once you arrive in Marshall, TX.
Photography guiding and instruction by pro-photographers.
Local guides and experts.
Post-processing and image critique
Pre-workshop zoom meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

Travel to/from your home to the gateway location.
Meals, beverages, and snacks
Tips and Gratuities for instructors and local guides.

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit. If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be charged approx 120 days prior to the credit card we have on file. See our full Terms and Conditions.

Redheads - Rajesh Jyothiswaran Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop

Recommended Camera Gear

Digital SLR or mirrorless camera body.
Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range.
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
Long telephoto zoom lens in the 100-600mm range. For wildlife you will want a lens that is longer than 200mm. Most of the shots you'll take will be with the telephoto lens.
A tall, sturdy tripod and ballhead. We recommend using the standard arca-swiss mount for your camera so we can more easily share tripods.
An L-bracket is highly recommended for your camera!
Circular polarizers are recommended and ND filters may come in handy for longer exposures. If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.
A monopod can come in handy for handheld shooting from the boat.
Backpack to carry your gear.
Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

Personal Gear List

Sturdy footwear and long pants.
Warm jacket for cool mornings
Waterproof shell or rain jacket.
Headlamp
Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat.
Water bottle.
Knee pads for photographing from the boat

Blue Autumn Fog -Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop

Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop Caddo Lake

Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop Fisherman Caddo Lake

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Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States. He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C.. He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.

Shane McDermott

Photography Instructor

Artist's Statement: Through all of my wanderings, photography has remained a constant, providing the creative link between my passion for adventure and the outdoors. I will never get enough of that “Wow!” feeling when I see a stunning image rendered on my camera’s LCD and helping guide others to that same experience is the bacon in the beans for me. I am excited to start working with Action Photo Tours. Everything about their instructors, locations, deep research, proficiency and stop-at-nothing vibe shows me that I have found the company where we can all grow and have countless “wow” moments together.

From the inseparable experience of unity, the camera is not something I “look at” the world through it is an opportunity to see something in myself. Photographs are no longer lost extractions of time; they become holographic reflections of the precious whole in every part. I love to guide those passionate about photography and those wanting to celebrate the extraordinary beauty of nature. If you seek a deeper connection with yourself and the astonishing beauty of our planet, I invite you to embark on this journey of creative discovery. I seamlessly weave together the technical and artistic dimensions of photography and help students learn to cultivate a greater level of presence, perception, and perspective. I have endless patience for those who genuinely seek to unlock their unique creative brilliance and transform their passion into pixels.

Photography has been a transformative experience of Self-discovery more than it has been about great image-making. The interior landscapes of my Soul have been the primary territory of my exploration. From a place within, the landscapes and creatures of our great planet have provided amazing opportunities to learn about myself and my connection to the world.