FLOATING THROUGH FALL COLORS OF THE CYPRESS SWAMPS

A photography workshop and kayaking tour through Caddo Lake and Big Cypress Bayou.

NOVEMBER 2 - 6, 2024 *** 1 SPACE LEFT ***

There is something eerily beautiful about this place. Stillness is the first word that comes to mind. Moody, haunting and breathtaking are others. These silent swamps filled with bald cypress trees, which are some of the oldest trees in the world, can often be shrouded in a layer of mist rising from the water. Everything dead quiet until a great blue heron squawks to break the silence. This is a typical scene for a morning spent on the bayou. Either wandering along the shorelines, or floating in a kayak, the experience of being here in such an undisturbed place feels almost as if being in a church on the water. Each tree covered in a veil of Spanish moss, slowly turning a little more vibrant orange or red with each passing day. Nothing moves except for a fish here, or a bird over there.

The photography here is slow, patient, and absolutely wonderful. We will experience this truly one of a kind landscape by foot, by pontoon boat, and by kayak (the best way possible). On this 5 Day Photography Workshop on Caddo Lake, which straddles Texas and Louisiana, we will be surrounded by calming waters, remarkable biodiversity, and big cypress trees. We’ll move at a leisurely pace to appreciate and enjoy the experience of the landscape as much as we are there to photograph it’s unique beauty. With compositions and color in every direction you can expect to come away with images that are truly your own and not to be duplicated by anyone else. There are no iconic shots here, only a extraordinary blackwater ecosystem with ancient trees that surely have stories to tell. And capturing a glimpse of their long story through the lens of your camera is something pretty special. Click here to see my full portfolio from the bayou.

This is certainly not a typical landscape photography workshop. More like a floating water adventure! The best images will be made while we are immersed in cypress trees out on the lakes and swamp waters. So we will be throwing the usual landscape photography techniques out of the canoe as far as settings are concerned. All useful tricks and techniques that I have picked up to photograph these scenes will be shared before we go out for our very first shoot. We will also have classroom time scheduled as well to demonstrate and practice post processing workflows to help bring your images to life!

The majority of this workshop will be by kayak, paddling into small coves surrounded by bald cypress trees, reaching areas that larger boats just cannot access. Having prior experience in a kayak is important to be comfortable and take one less worry away while handling camera gear over the waterways. If you have any questions of what this entails please contact us.

All lodging and meals are included in this workshop. Lodging will be at three beautiful luxury homes right on Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas. Each home is complete with fire pits, overwater gazebos, boat docks, a hot tub and a private bedroom and bathroom for each participant. Meals will be prepared by a local gourmet chef specializing in southern creole cuisine. Needless to say we have taken great care to ensure that your comfort and accommodations only enhance the experience that you’ll have in this unique place.

INSTRUCTORS: CHRIS BYRNE & NICOLE PINO

GROUP SIZE: 7 Participants maximum

COST: $4550 (All lodging and meals included)

DEPOSIT: A 50% deposit is required to secure a spot with the final 50% balance due 60 days prior to workshop.

INCLUDED:

• 4 Nights Accommodations in one of three luxury lakeside homes (houses will be shared by the group but each participant will get their own bedroom and private bathroom)

• All Meals prepared fresh by local gourmet chef.

• Kayak use for the entire workshop.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Camera gear

• Airline flights

• Transportation (rental car)

ADDITIONAL DATES: NOVEMBER 7 - 11, 2024 MORE DETAILS

ITINERARY

We will meet on day one, November 2, in the early afternoon at our main house for a meet and greet and orientation of the areas we will be photographing, including the best techniques to capture good images in the field while in a moving boat. From there we will head out for sunset followed by dinner back at the house. The days that follow will begin well before sunrise as we explore either by kayak or pontoon boat (with our knowledgeable local captain) to capture as much of the early light and potential fog that we can that can make for some really ethereal imagery. We will then return either for a late breakfast or even lunch, depending on how everyone feels out on the water. While photography is the primary goal of this workshop, paddling through these waterways is a such a peaceful and personal experience that we can certainly linger for hours taking in the incredible scenery. We will conduct classroom editing sessions in the middle of the day and head out again in the afternoon for more photography into sunset. The workshop will conclude after our sunrise session on November 6.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

A journey into a haunting and historical landscape. Caddo Lake is a place that seems to be frozen in time with ancient bald cypress trees making incredibly interesting photographic subjects that change dramatically with the light and fall colors coming in. It may seem like this area is becoming more popular for photography, but what you will find out on the water is solitude as well as peace and quiet to practice image making and capturing just the right slice of the vast beauty on the bayou.

The field sessions are structured to not wear anyone out and get the most enjoyment of the surroundings and scenery. If you get tired of paddling, just float for awhile! In the field techniques and tips will be provided to help capture images correctly "in camera" with the goal being that part becomes second nature and students can then focus on the creative aspects of landscape and nature photography. Post processing instruction will run the gamut of importing and organizing files into Lightroom to processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop and finally prepping images for the internet or for print. I am an open book and willing to share any tips or tricks I’ve learned to help you turn your photographs into art!

OUR ACCOMODATIONS

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

CHRIS BYRNE

Hello there! I’m Chris Byrne and I spent way too many years aimlessly wandering the earth and working for the man before finding my true passion in nature and landscape photography. My love of nature started very early in life as I would study the photographs in my dad’s huge collection of National Geographics, and also spend as much time as I could out exploring in the woods with my younger brother. Fast forward many years and after getting a finance degree in college I went to work in the stock market for over fifteen years (and didn’t get rich). During my time, I saw first hand two of the most devastating financial crises in our country’s history, and after the second go around I completely lost interest in my profession and desperately needed something more. I found myself in a place in life without any inspiration or excitement for what I was doing.

Then on a trip to Glacier, Montana I rediscovered my love of nature. However, the photographs I was trying to get just didn’t do the place any justice. It was then that I decided to get serious about photography and quickly poured all of myself into the craft, learning as much as possible as quickly as I could. I was a super sponge and had a new passion for life! As soon as I became proficient in my skills, I wanted to share my knowledge and began teaching others. Now I lead workshops to some of the best places on the globe.

Along the way I’ve won a few awards, but with so many contests out there, I wouldn’t claim that’s a good judge of a good teacher. Rather I am proud to be able to inspire others and spend as much time as I possibly can with each person in helping them connect with nature while teaching the techniques to capture the images that they want to create. Seeing people make breakthroughs in their art is something that I cherish. I truly believe that nature is good for the soul. The more you explore, the more you will be inspired.

NICOLE PINO

Born and raised in Utah, Nicole adopted an outdoor lifestyle and love of photography at a very early age. Exploring the many natural wonders of her home state fueled her passion for photography, prompting her to take things to the next level. She soon found herself happily immersed in the industry, leading photo workshops in the Southwest and beyond.

Having an adventurous spirit, and incurable wanderlust, Nicole spends most of her free time traveling, exploring and capturing the beauty around her. She is also a licensed boat captain and never passes up to a chance to get out on the water.

Nicole loves sharing her passion for photography with others and is most at home in the field helping clients improve their skills as well as gain confidence in themselves and their photographic vision. In addition to being an accomplished guide and instructor, Nicole is familiar with the technical aspects of photography as well as various camera systems and gear.

TESTIMONIALS

"Huge thanks for a great workshop. Chris purchased his own canoes which meant that you got to use the same one for the whole trip. No need to learn a different size or shape and they were wide and extremely stable on the water. His prep was definitely the class of the field. Sitting amongst all those trees and trying to find a composition can be a little overwhelming. Chris provided excellent guidance the whole time and a lot of great information for what I found out was some of the most difficult landscape photography I have ever done. I'm looking forward to doing it again next year!"
- John Montes

"Chris does a great job of scouting out the best location at the best time to get you to the right spots and capture stunning photographs. I appreciate his hands on help when I need it. He also does a great job of explaining his thought process when approaching and looking at a scene, as well as when leading you through editing a photo. Awesome kayaks!"
-Summer Macey

"This workshop was so fun! My composition skills really improved and I feel like I became a better photographer by the end of the week. Thank you!"
-Bronwyn Illingworth

"The workshop experience exceeded my expectations! Not only were were the locations top notch, but the other participants were kind and friendly. As a first timer to one of your workshops I can totally see why you have such high repeat clientele. You go above and beyond and make sure all in the group are getting what THEY came for. You somehow focus not only on the individuals in the group but the group as a whole. Super stoked to have found your services! If you are looking for a hands on workshop experience from a knowledgeable instructor and his team then Chris Byrne Photography is not to be missed"
-Eric Steele

CANCELLATION POLICY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event of emergency where Chris cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore strongly recommend travel insurance to cover such costs.

A $200 change fee will be charged for changes or cancellations. Participants who cancel prior to 90 days before the workshop will receive either a full refund or credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Any cancellations within 90 days of the workshop cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Only if we are able to fill the vacancy, will the participant will receive a credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Workshop credits are good for one calendar year from the date of the missed workshop.

Any cancellations within 30 days of the workshop (for any reason) will forfeit their entire registration fee as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice. If a true emergency arises last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop, but this is not guaranteed. Again travel insurance is strongly recommended.