Cypress Swamps Photo Workshop
November 1-5, 2027
November 5-9, 2027 - 2 Spots Left!!
Capture the haunting beauty and native wildlife of the Southern cypress swamps at one of the most atmospheric times of year. Timed for peak opportunities to photograph fall color and misty morning fog, this workshop explores the otherworldly waterways of Caddo Lake in East Texas and Louisiana by small boat. Each boat is limited to four participants and is accompanied by both a photo instructor and a knowledgeable local guide, giving you plenty of room to work and personalized support in the field. During midday hours, we’ll gather for classroom sessions focused on post-processing techniques and constructive image critiques. Supercharge your experience by adding on our Secret Swamps & Wildlife Workshop in Louisiana!
Tuition
- $4,800
- $4,320 with
Loyalty Discount
Max Group Size
- 4 Students per Instructor
- 4 Students per Boat
Instructor(s)
- Shane McDermott
- Wendy Casey

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 noon.



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.
It's easy to add on our Secret Swamps & Wildlife Workshop in Louisiana after this one concludes. It's a 4hr drive between Marshall, TX and Henderson, LA. If you are doing this, you'll fly into and out of Shreveport.
Pricing
$4,800/person + Tax
$4,320/person with Loyalty Discount
Trip Includes:
- 4 nights double occupancy hotel lodging. Single rooms add $400.
- Boat and ground transportation once you arrive in Marshall, TX.
- Photography guiding and instruction by pro-photographers.
- Local guides and bayou experts.
- Post-processing and image critique
- Pre-workshop zoom meeting
Trip Does NOT Include:
- Travel to/from your home to Marshall, TX.
- Meals, beverages, and snacks
- Gratuities for instructors and local guides.
The Fine Print:
- 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
- Remaining balance is due July 1, 2027.
- If you need to cancel, a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee will be given once your spot is filled by another participant.
- See the full Terms and Conditions.



Physical Difficulty
This workshop is rated Easy on our physical intensity scale. There is very little walking required beyond getting to and from the boat dock, and most photography will be done from stable, flat-bottomed boats. Participants should have sufficient mobility and balance to safely step into and out of the boats with assistance as needed.
Because this workshop is designed around the best light and foggy morning conditions, departures may be as early as 5:00 AM, and returns may be as late as 7:00 PM. Midday breaks and classroom sessions are built into the schedule whenever conditions allow, giving participants time to rest, recharge, back up images, and prepare for the next boat outing.



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

Shane McDermott
Photography Instructor
Shane is a seasoned photography instructor with more than 25 years behind the camera and over ten years of experience leading photo workshops. His work is rooted in presence, patience, and a deep relationship with light, shaped by a lifetime spent exploring both creative expression and the natural world.
For more than 30 years, Shane’s practice of yoga and meditation has helped him see beyond surface appearances, and he brings that same awareness into the field. He doesn’t just teach people how to photograph beautiful places; he helps them slow down, truly see, and develop their own creative vision.
Many photographers arrive at iconic locations chasing “the shot” they’ve seen before. Shane gently guides them away from imitation and into genuine discovery, helping them understand how light, form, color, and texture can speak directly to their own sensibility. His passion is helping participants move from simply capturing a scene to creating something that feels alive and deeply personal.
That creative process continues after the cameras are packed away. Shane also guides photographers through RAW processing, adjustment layers, and thoughtful image development, helping them translate the emotion and magic they felt in the field into finished photographs that reflect their own vision and passion.

Wendy Casey
Photography Instructor
Wendy Casey is a Utah-based landscape and wildlife photographer with more than 40 years behind the camera. Her photography journey began in 1982 with her first photography class. She built her technical foundation in the film era through extensive darkroom work and developing and printing her own images. That experience continues to shape the way she teaches exposure, light, camera settings, and composition.
Wendy’s photography has taken her from Utah’s dramatic red rock country and the Alaskan tundra to the vast plains of Africa. She specializes in landscape and wildlife photography, with a particular passion for wild horses and animals in their natural environments. As an exhibiting fine art photographer, she photographs with the finished print in mind, creating images designed to tell a story, evoke emotion, and be enjoyed beyond the camera screen.
As an instructor, Wendy is known for her warm, patient, and encouraging teaching style. She helps students slow down, see with intention, and take creative control of their cameras, especially through Manual mode, thoughtful composition, and field-based problem solving. Through hands-on instruction and collaborative post-processing sessions, Wendy meets photographers where they are and helps them build the confidence, technical skill, and vision to create images they are proud to print, frame, and share.
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