New November 2026 Fall Photography Tour Added
The response to this year’s Fall Cypress Swamp Photo Tours has been incredibly strong, and all previously scheduled tours have now filled. Because of that demand, I’ve added an additional Louisiana Cypress Swamp Photo Tour for November 8–11, 2026.
The new tour already has 3 confirmed participants, and with space limited to only 5 photographers total, there are now just 2 openings remaining.
If you’ve been considering joining one of these small-group tours, this will likely be the final availability for the 2026 fall season.
Photograph Louisiana’s Cypress Swamps at Peak Color
November is one of my favorite times to photograph Louisiana’s cypress swamps. The combination of autumn color, soft fog, reflected light, and ancient cypress trees creates incredible photographic opportunities throughout the Atchafalaya Basin region.
These tours are designed specifically for photographers and focus on:
Small group size
Early morning and late afternoon light
Access to beautiful swamp locations by private boat
Instruction and guidance in the field
Opportunities for both grand landscapes and intimate details
The tour includes photography at locations such as:
Lake Dauterive
Lake Fausse Pointe
Lake Martin
Each location offers different conditions and photographic possibilities depending on weather, water levels, fog, and fall color progression.
Why I Keep the Groups Small
One of the biggest advantages of these tours is the intentionally small group size. With only five photographers maximum, everyone has room to work comfortably from the boat, set up tripods when conditions allow, and respond quickly to changing fog and light.
Louisiana also remains a much less crowded destination than many better-known cypress photography locations, which means photographers often come away with images that feel more personal and unique.
Many participants return year after year because no two mornings in the swamp are ever the same.
Why Southern Louisiana?
Southern Louisiana is home to some of the most beautiful old growth cypress swamps remaining in the country, including remarkable areas around Lake Dauterive and Lake Fausse Pointe. Many of the ancient cypress trees found in these swamps are centuries old, with massive trunks, towering forms, and character shaped by generations of flooding and seasonal change.
Combined with Spanish moss, still water, fog, and autumn color, these old growth swamps create an atmosphere that is both visually dramatic and uniquely Southern Louisiana.
Excellent Conditions Often Begin in Early November
One question I’m often asked is whether early November is too early for good fall conditions in Louisiana’s cypress swamps.
Photographs on this page were all created on the morning of November 6, 2023, and they show exactly why I added this additional November tour date.
Early Morning Light and Fog
Start this section with the atmospheric fog image from Lake Dauterive. The soft light, mist, reflections, and layered cypress trees immediately establish the mood that photographers hope to experience in Louisiana during the fall season.
That particular morning began with clear skies and beautiful early light on the cypress trees. As conditions evolved, fog and mist gradually moved into the swamp, creating completely different photographic opportunities over the course of just a few hours.
Color and Atmosphere
Follow with the image of the orange cypress tree draped in Spanish moss. It reinforces that strong color and mood can already be present during the first half of November.
One of the things I love most about photographing Louisiana in the fall is how quickly conditions can change. A single morning may provide:
Warm sunrise light
Fog drifting through the cypress
Soft mist and atmospheric layers
Reflections and still water
Rich autumn color
Wildlife opportunities
Quiet Minimalist Moments
The black-and-white cypress reflection image works beautifully as a transition image in the sequence. It shows that even subtle conditions can produce elegant, minimalist photographs during these tours.
These quieter moments are often what make photographers slow down and really begin to see the swamp differently.
Wildlife Opportunities Continue Through Fall
To end that same morning, we were rewarded with a Bald Eagle flyby in beautiful light — a reminder that these tours are not only about landscapes. Wildlife opportunities continue throughout the fall season as well.
Good shooting conditions often begin in early November and can continue well into early December depending on weather patterns, water levels, fog, and temperatures.
Only Two Openings Remain
At the moment, only 2 spots remain available for the November 8–11, 2026 tour.
Because the group size is intentionally limited to only five photographers, I do not expect these final openings to remain available very long.
If you would like to experience Louisiana’s cypress swamps during one of the most beautiful times of year — with small groups, changing conditions, and exceptional photographic opportunities — this additional November tour may be the best remaining opportunity for the 2026 season.
Additional information and registration details are available here:
November 8–11 Fall Tour Deposit Page
You can also view the updated Fall Tour information page here:
I’m looking forward to another great fall season photographing Louisiana’s cypress swamps.
May 2026 Louisiana Bird Photography Tour Report
Great Egret Feeding Frenzy–Cazan Lake
Tour Report — May 2026 Louisiana Bird Photography Tour
This past week’s Louisiana bird photography tour provided excellent opportunities to photograph nesting wading birds at several of my favorite spring locations including Cazan Lake, Miller’s Lake, and Rip’s Rookery.
Great Egret Portrait
Participants photographed a wide variety of species and behaviors throughout the trip including:
Roseate Spoonbills
Great Egrets
Snowy Egrets
White Ibises
White-faced Ibises
Little Blue Herons
nesting behavior
flight photography
territorial interactions
and a wide variety of spring wetland scenes
Roseate Spoonbill in Flight
White Faced Ibis–Miller’s Lake
Miller’s Lake continued to provide excellent late afternoon opportunities, while Cazan Lake offered productive morning sessions with active nesting birds throughout the rookery. Rip’s Rookery also provided close photographic opportunities with nesting wading birds in beautiful soft light.
One of the primary goals of this particular trip was to evaluate the progression of the Roseate Spoonbill nesting season in preparation for my upcoming May 31st Louisiana Bird Photography Tour.
The results were very encouraging.
During this tour we located several active Spoonbill nests, including multiple nests containing extremely small chicks still low in the nest. Based upon what we observed during this trip, I believe the upcoming May 31st tour has excellent potential for photographing larger and more visible Roseate Spoonbill chicks as the nesting season continues to progress.
Louisiana’s rookery activity changes quickly during the spring season, and timing is everything. The upcoming May 31st tour was specifically scheduled to increase the opportunity to photograph Roseate Spoonbill chicks on the nest during this stage of development.
If you have been considering joining one of these spring Louisiana bird photography tours, space is still available for the upcoming May 31st departure.
Little Blue Heron Leaping from Branch to Branch–Rip’s Rookery
Upcoming Tour
Spring Louisiana Bird Photography Tour — May 31, 2026
Small group instruction
Boat-based and shoreline photography
Roseate Spoonbill chicks and nesting wading birds
Louisiana swamp and wetland environments
Personalized instruction and field guidance
More information:
Charles Bush Photography – May 2026 Newsletter
Spring Bird Photography in Louisiana
Roseate Spoonbill Family
Spring bird activity continues to increase here in Louisiana, and the swamps and rookeries are becoming more active every week.
The birds are now active at both Cazan Lake and Miller’s Lake, and we’re beginning to see more nesting, courtship behavior, and feeding activity throughout the area.
May 17 Spring Tour Begins This Weekend
My May 17, 2026 Spring Bird Photography Tour begins this weekend, and conditions are looking very promising for the group.
I still have space available for my May 31, 2026 Spring Bird Photography Tour if you would like to join me later this month.
You can find full details here: Spring 2026 Tour Details
Fall Tour Availability
Looking ahead to fall, my November 30, 2026 Cypress Swamp Tour is nearly full. At this point, only 2 spaces remain for that trip, and the November 15th Tour is Full. I am considering adding another tour. Contact me if you’re interested.
More information on the fall tours is available here: Fall Cypress Swamp Tours
Cazan Lake Access Change
If you’re planning to visit Cazan Lake on your own, there has been a change to the entrance process:
Annual passes are no longer available
Entry is now handled at the gate
A $25 per person fee is paid in the box at the entrance
The phone number listed on their website is currently not being answered
Despite these changes, access to the rookery is still available, and it remains an excellent location for photography.
Consulting Availability
I’m also available for one-on-one consulting sessions. If you need help with:
Photo processing workflows
Lightroom or Photoshop
Macintosh backup strategies and system setup
You can learn more or book a session here: Book Consulting Services
If you have any questions about the tours or would like to reserve a spot, feel free to reach out.