Enjoy substantially more time on the water than the typical workshop, with an added boat ride and longer outings, giving even more opportunities for wildlife, color, and dramatic skies.
Workshop Leaders: David Downs & Barry Benton
From shore and boat, we will have opportunities to capture the quiet mystery of the second-largest non-oxbow natural lake in the south and one of the largest flooded cypress forests in the US.
Workshop dates
Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 12:30 PM - Wed, November 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 12:30 PM - Sun, November 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 12:30 PM - Wed, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Location
Various locations, but we will base out of Caddo Lake State Park.
Workshop topics
- Composition for reflections and wildlife
- Shooting from an unstable platform
- Bracketing for greater dynamic range
- Editing for fall colors, texture
- Sharp focus on moving subjects
- Using filters for long exposures & dreamy landscapes
Please read these additional workshop details carefully:
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Location/Lodging/Meals information
The closest airport is Shreveport, LA which is about a 40 min drive from Caddo Lake State Park. This works well for those who would prefer to have little drive time on the workshop. DFW is the closest LARGE airport and is about a 3 hour drive from Caddo lake State Park. In fact, most flights to Shreveport will connect through DFW.
We will base our workshop out of Caddo Lake State Park located at:
245 Park Rd 2, Karnack, TX 75661
We will meet at this location, spend some time shooting around the Mill Pond as well as shoot from canoes at this location. Dinner one evening (with alcohol for those who would like it) is also held here and it would be nice if the trip back to your bed was within the park. Participants should make every effort to reserve a cabin at this park if they are driving to the workshop. You will need to provide bedding/linens/dishes, etc. Prior to Covid, these items were provided.
To make reservations at the park, you will need to go online here. Reservations are available beginning exactly 5 months prior to your arrival date. One method to help ensure you may get a cabin is to determine your departure date and book a cabin 5 months and 14 days prior to your departure date. After 18 days you can cancel the dates you don't need although there is a $25 fee to do so. If you wait until 5 months prior to your arrival date, your options may be limited.
Alternatively, there are other options located in Uncertain and Karnack through AirBnB and VRBO. We would discourage staying as far away as Marshall or Jefferson due to the additional drive time for each excursion. For those who are interested in sharing accommodations or car rentals to reduce costs we can share contact information.
We will head out each morning early and return in time for breakfast at your cabin or the little cafe where we meet our boat captains each day. On Sunday morning we will get started a bit later and you will need to consider breakfast options since we will not be at the dock where the cafe is located. For lunch on Friday and Saturday many participants have been so full from breakfast they simply skipped it and had a snack later in the afternoon before heading out on the boat that evening. Dinner on Thursday and Friday are at a local bar/restaurant. On the last night we host the participants at a cook out around the campfire.
Physical Requirements
The most strenuous part of this workshop would be the trail hike in the park and that's barely worth mentioning. While on the boats you are free to stand and move about but you should always be prepared for a sudden shift in the motion and make sure you are holding onto a firm object or seated while moving at speed across the lake or along the river. In the canoes a life jacket is required and care should be taken not to stand in the canoe while out on the pond.
Agenda
Day 1 we will meet at 12:30 at Caddo Lake State Park for introductions, agenda review, and initial instructions. Following that, we will head to our first Boat Tour for sunset followed by a late dinner.
Day 2 will be bracketed by morning and evening boat rides with editing instruction, image critiques and suggestions for better results for those interested in between.
Day 3 will begin with a sunrise Boat Tour followed by a visit to Jefferson for lunch (if desired) and photo ops in this amazing historical town. After exploring Jefferson we will return for our evening boat excursion followed by (weather conditions permitting) dinner & good times around a campfire.
Day 4 we will offer canoe time for those interested. It's worth pointing out that some of the best participant images came from the opportunity to shoot from the canoe. We will be wrapped up by 10:00 am for those that need to head home or check out of their hotels/campsites.
Transportation
Transportation to and from the workshop is via airfare/renatls or personal vehicles. During the workshop, where practical & possible, we will group together to reduce parking requirements.
Recommended photography gear
DSLR or Mirrorless camera – Crop Sensor or Full Frame
Lenses - Wide Angle & Medium (24-70) Telephoto. A long telephoto will give you the best opportunity for closeups of wildlife. We recommend at least 300mm and greater than 400 is best. It would be worth your effort to rent a longer telephoto lens. Those that provide a zoom option usually work best as you can go from shooting at 400 mm to 100 mm in a moment as a bird appears close to the boat.
Sturdy Tripod - Doesn't have to be expensive, just sturdy. THis would be used for shoreline shots as we do not use them on the boats. A monopod may be handy on the boat to support heavier long telephoto lenses.
A circular polarizer will be beneficial in removing glare from the water's surface and neutral density filters will give you an opportunity for some longer exposures to capture moving clouds, etc.
Extra Battery & SD Card
Other recommendations
Bring a notepad or something you can take notes with.
Some areas we will be walking in may be wet or muddy so wear appropriate shoes/clothing.
Make sure your camera has a strap on it. When working around water the last thing you need is to drop your camera into the lake.
Pro Tips
Consider wearing a life jacket when photographing from a boat. Looking through a lens can create disorientation and distraction, particularly with long zooms. In the canoes a lifejacket is required (and will be provided).
Reserve your spot!
Important info! We encourage you to create an account when you register so future workshop forms will be prepopulated with your data. Shortly after registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail and a separate email with an invoice to pay your registration online. You are not fully registered until your payment is received.
This class can be paid in full or by placing a deposit of $295, with the balance split into 2 payments of $600 due on March 1, 2024, and July 1, 2024. When you receive your initial invoice, click on Edit Amount near the total and type in your deposit.
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