New Orleans & South Louisiana: Where the Light Has an Accent
From iron-lace balconies at sunrise to cypress silhouettes at dawn—photograph a place that feels like music.
Let’s start in New Orleans: New Orleans isn’t just colorful—it’s layered. The paint has history. The streets have rhythm. The humidity turns light into something softer, kinder, and sometimes a little mysterious.
For the first few days, we’ll work the city the way photographers love to: early, late, and in the in-between moments when the crowds thin out and the textures start to speak. Then we’ll slow down and head west into Acadiana—Breaux Bridge and the Lafayette area—where mornings begin in still water and cypress knees, and the day’s first light feels like a secret.
Come for the atmosphere. Leave with images that look like you belonged there.
This is a Scouting / Planning Workshop, which means you’ll be part of the team as we explore New Orleans and South Louisiana to design a future “signature” Benton Downs itinerary. We’ll have a loose plan and plenty of ideas, but we’ll stay flexible—some locations will be home runs, others may be “good to know” and we’ll move on. If you enjoy the adventure of discovery and want to help shape what this workshop becomes, you’ll love this. In exchange for being our early scouting group, you’ll receive a discounted rate compared to our fully dialed-in workshops.
Key Features
- Two Workshop Worlds in One Week
Start with the energy, architecture, and street scenes of New Orleans, then shift to bayous, cypress, and Cajun Country landscapes around Lafayette/Breaux Bridge. - Scouting Workshop = More Flexibility + More Discovery
This is a planning/scouting-style workshop, so we’ll adapt to weather, light, and local conditions—testing locations and building the strongest future itinerary (with your input). - Hands-On Coaching in the Field
Real-time guidance on camera settings, composition, and creative decisions at the exact moments they matter—sunrise/sunset and “found” opportunities as we move through each region. - Skill Level: All experience levels welcome.
Location:
This workshop takes place across two of Louisiana’s most visually rich regions: New Orleans and the heart of South Louisiana “Cajun Country.” We’ll begin in New Orleans, using the city as our base for the first portion of the trip. The French Quarter, Garden District, and surrounding neighborhoods offer endless variety—historic architecture, street scenes, moody alleyways, ironwork details, and that unmistakable New Orleans atmosphere that photographs beautifully in early and late light.
Then we’ll transition west to the Lafayette / Breaux Bridge area, positioning ourselves close to bayous, backroads, small towns, and the classic cypress-and-water landscapes that define south Louisiana. This portion is all about slower rhythms and natural texture—Spanish moss, reflections, swamp scenes, and the cultural character of Cajun Country. We’ll wrap the workshop by returning to New Orleans so departures are simple and everyone leaves with both city and bayou storylines in their portfolio.
Workshop Topics
- Composition for landscapes and architectural details
- Using filters for landscape and mid-day photography
- Blue Hour composition (for blending with night skies)
- Wildlife
- Street Scenes
Workshop dates
May 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM - May 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Location
New Orleans, LA and Lafayette / Breaux Bridge area.
What’s Included:
- Ground transportation during the workshop.
- A pre-workshop Zoom meeting will be held to support preparation and provide details for the workshop (typically 3-4 weeks ahead of the workshop dates).
- A post-workshop Zoom Meeting to share images and editing ideas.
- Since this is a Scouting Workshop, we’ll be testing a variety of shooting locations and optional local experiences. A few of these may have separate admission or participation costs that are not included in the workshop fee. Any added expenses are typically small/nominal, and we’ll always let the group know in advance.
- Field Instruction and support, as needed, based on skill level.
What’s Not Included:
- Transportation to or from New Orleans: For those flying, the New Orleans airport is the closest airport.
- Transfers between airport and hotel. Although Barry will try to coordinate arrivals to reduce expenses.
- Lodging. We will inform you of the best lodging options once you have booked your seat on the workshop. We expect hotel room nights to range from $175 to $250 per night.
- Meals and drinks during the workshop (except for one group meal).
- Personal expenses or additional excursions you plan on your own.
Additional workshop details
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Physical Requirements
This workshop is designed to be accessible for most participants, but please plan for a lot of walking each day—often on uneven sidewalks, streets, or natural ground. We may also include time on the water, so you should be comfortable stepping on and off a boat and maintaining your balance while shooting.
Expect a schedule built around the best light, which means early mornings (sunrise starts) and occasional late evenings for night scenes and city atmosphere. You don’t need to be an athlete, but a reasonable level of mobility and stamina will help you enjoy the experience and stay focused on making great images. If you have specific questions about the physical requirements for this workshop, contact Barry at barry@bentondowns.com.
Agenda
Example Agenda (will vary as needed)
Day 1: Arrival Day & Wildlife and Sunset Shoot
Day 2-3: We will be exploring areas in and around New Orleans.
Day 3-5: We will transfer over to the Lafayette/Breaux Bridge for Swamps and Cajun Country.
Day 5 (Saturday, May 9): Departures: We’ll head back to New Orleans on the last day and get everyone to the airport for their flights home. Please book your departure for 2:00 PM or later to keep things stress-free.
Transportation
Please plan to drive to be at the New Orleans hotel (details provided after you book your seat) by 2pm on the first day. We will provide field transportation during the workshop.
Recommended photography gear
| DSLR or Mirrorless camera: Whether you have a Crop Sensor or Full Frame, you will be able to capture great photos. Be sure to learn more about your camera’s features before you arrive so you can optimize them during the workshop. Lenses – This workshop will take advantage of most lenses, from wide angles to telephotos, ranging from 14mm to 200mm or more. A longer lens or macro lens are optional based on your desire to capture specific images. Sturdy Tripod: Tripods don’t have to be expensive, just sturdy. This is especially important for long exposure images and evening photography. There will be some excursions that will not require the use of a tripod … just your camera and a few lenses. Filters: If you have a variety of filters, bring them! Neutral density filters provide you with an opportunity for some longer exposures to capture moving clouds, etc. Extra memory cards Very good walking shoes Personal water bottle |
Pricing
- $1,995 per person
- A $500 deposit secures your spot for the workshop. The balance will be due April 6, 2026.
Workshop Leader:
Barry Benton
Reserve your spot!
If you are an Alumni, don't forget to enter your Alumni Discount code!!!
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 allowing you to pay your registration online. You are not fully registered until your payment is received.
If you pay with a deposit, you will be billed the final amount on May 1, 2026. All payments are subject to our regular cancellation policy, which is:
Cancellation Policy
You will receive a full refund (less 3% processing fee) if cancelled more than 180 days before the workshop date. A partial refund of 90% is available for 90-180 days before the workshop dates. NO REFUND is available if less than 90 days before the start of the workshop. We highly recommend travel insurance to cover your costs in the event of sickness, cancellation, or travel issues.
