Caddo Lake Wildlife & Fall Color Workshop

Join us as we capture the unique & beautiful fall landscapes and diverse wildlife at Caddo Lake.

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

Thursday – November 18, 2021 at 2:30 PM – Sunday November 21, 2021 at 11:00 AM

Location

Various locations but 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

Additional workshop details

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Location information

We will base our workshop out of Caddo Lake State Park.

245 Park Rd 2, Karnack, TX 75661

For those who do not wish to camp there are accommodations available in nearby Jefferson or Marshall. AirBnB’s are available as well.

Agenda

Day 1 we will meet at 2:30 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 one on one editing instruction in between.

Day 3 will begin with a sunrise Boat Tour followed by a visit to Jefferson for lunch and photo ops in this amazing historical town. After exploring Jefferson we will spend the evening in canoes or photographing the Mill Pond for those interested. We will wrap up the day with (weather conditions permitting) dinner & good times around a campfire.

Day 4 we will offer a morning hike for those interested or a morning boat tour should the weather prevent one of the other tours from happening. 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 is via personal vehicles. Where practical & possible we will group together to reduce parking requirements.

Recommended photography gear

DSLR 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.

Sturdy Tripod – Doesn’t have to be expensive, just sturdy.

A remote trigger or the ability to activate shutter delay

Extra Battery & SD Card

Other recommendations

Bring a notepad or something you can take notes with.

Bugs will likely be out so be prepared with repellant.

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

Always wear a life jacket when photographing from a boat. Looking through a lens can create disorientation and distraction, particularly with long zooms.