Swamplands
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I fell in love with this tree as I must have circled it multiple times in my kayak trying different compositions.
We spent a couple of weeks in Louisiana exploring some of the swamplands there and I have to say it was an extremely rewarding experience. The mosquitos would greet me each morning in the hundreds as I would prepare the kayak for launch. However, once on the water they mercifully left me alone to enjoy the beauty of the cypress swamps.
Another beautiful morning on the Atchafalaya Basin exploring the swamplands. What a wonderful and peaceful way to spend ones morning.
During this beautiful morning while kayaking through Caddo Lake, I found this great blue Heron waiting patiently for its breakfast to show up.
The effort involved in unloading an eighty pound kayak from the roof of my jeep, getting all the gear loaded up in the dark paid off this morning. Early morning light and fog lit up the trees beautifully for a fleeting dream like moment.
There is not a lot of color this year apparently due to browning of cypress trees - probable cause, Cypress Looper "worms" that defoliate trees. I felt that this composition still works in spite of the missing leaves.
This morning's sunrise was cloudless but still beautiful nonetheless. I am tired from all the kayaking but still happy with the fruits of my labor.
The splash of fall color with fog to boot made for a wonderful morning on the swamps of Louisiana.
The Spanish Moss and fall color leaves lit up beautifully as the first morning sun light hit these beautiful and majestic cypress trees in Louisiana. It was a significant effort each day to unload my 80 lb kayak from the jeep roof rack in the dark, surrounded by hundreds of mosquitoes but once on the water it was like being in pure heaven drifting below the beautiful veils while enjoying the peace and tranquility of the swamps.
All our preparations outfitting our kayaks bore fruit when we finally arrive at Caddo Lake. We got up early and were on the water at dawn but were greeted to an overcast sky. We were still excited as this was our first day on the lake. As the explorations continued the clouds suddenly departed and everything was magically beautiful.
After several days of overcast skies thanks to Zeta, the skies have finally cleared and there has been fog early mornings. Needless to say these are ideal conditions for swamp photography.
The last few days have been a mad rush getting up early in the morning, driving to the launch site, getting the kayak unloaded and rigged, and then kayaking in the dark to location. The rewards however, have been worthwhile as this morning there was fog and a few clouds in the sky that lit up predawn.
As I was finishing up my morning shoot on Caddo Lake. I found this Egret majestically perched up on this beautiful tree surveying the landscape and it reminded me of the Lion King movie.
A relatively calm morning on the lake as the first rays of light lit up these magnificent trees.
This massive tree was adorned with beautiful color, a truly memorable moment.
I found the Spanish Moss totally mesmerizing especially when sunlight hits it at the right angle. The splash of fall color from the leaves on the Bald Cypress trees created some magical moments during our explorations at Caddo Lake.
I had an amazing opportunity to explore some additional wetlands in the eastern half of the country this year. There was a cold snap early season which led to some amazing morning fog. The early morning light backlighting these magnificent cypress trees was a sight to behold. One of my favorites from the trip.
As the morning progressed, the fog dissipated and the early morning sun briefly lit up this area of the trees.
These trees lit up beautifully in the fog creating an ethereal moment.
Some more moments of magic in the swamplands of Atchafalaya Basin in LA.
The first rays of light hit this tree lighting up the Spanish Moss.
The fog created some beautiful moments as I was gliding through this area on my kayak.