Charles Bush Photography – June 2025 Newsletter
Photographs Taken during the 2025 Bird Photo Tours
🌿 Spring Bird Photography Tours — 2026 Dates Announced!
I’m excited to announce the 2026 dates for our Spring Bird Photography Tours in Louisiana. These tours offer a rare opportunity to photograph courtship, nesting behavior, and fledging activity at some of the region’s most photogenic rookery sites.
📅 Tour Dates:
April 19–22, 2026
May 17–20, 2026
May 31–June 3, 2026
Each session includes three boat trips and multiple shore-based shoots, designed to maximize morning and evening light and bird activity.
Cypress Trees in Backlit Golden Mist
🍂 Fall Cypress Swamp Tours
Our fall cypress swamp photo tours are now open for booking. These small group outings explore the best of Louisiana’s floodplain scenery at peak water levels, with opportunities to photograph cypress and tupelo trees, reflections, and early migratory birds.
📅 Fall 2025 Tour Dates:
November 2–5
November 16–19
December 1–4
Each tour includes three morning boat outings and afternoon sessions on shore.
👉 See Details and Reserve Your Spot
💸 Bonus Offers
📅 Early Sign-Up Bonus:
Reserve your spot on any 2026 Spring or 2025 Fall photo tour by July 31st, and receive a $100 discount on your final balance. A deposit is still required at the time of sign-up — the bonus will be applied when your final invoice is issued.
👥 Referral Bonus:
Refer a friend who’s new to Charles Bush Photography, and you’ll receive an additional $100 credit toward your tour balance. You and your friend must also pay the standard deposit to hold the spot. Once they’ve registered, simply email me with their name to claim your credit.
Yes — these bonuses can be combined, meaning you could receive up to $200 off your tour.
40 × 60 Acrylic Print Installed at Back to Normal Physical Rehabilitation in Houma, LA
🖼️ Prints Now Available on Metal & Acrylic
Select images are now available as limited edition metal and acrylic prints. These are ready to hang and ideal for showcasing nature photography in your home or office. I’ll highlight a few options in upcoming posts — suggestions welcome.
📷 July Photography Class
📅 July 12, 3–5 PM
📍 Lefevre’s Art Supply & Framing
Perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to refresh their skills.
May 2025 Charles Bush Photography Newsletter
Hi everyone,
I’m excited to bring you the May 2025 edition of the Charles Bush Photography newsletter. This month, I’m sharing a couple of new blog posts, highlights from our recent photo tour, and a peek at what’s ahead for the fall and spring tours. Let’s dive in.
📸 Recent Blog Posts
Travel Computer
1. Traveling with a Photography Computer System
Post: Photo Travel Computer System
If you’ve ever struggled with managing and editing your photos while traveling, this blog post is for you. I walk through the computer system I rely on while on the road—including what works, what doesn’t, and why it makes all the difference during photo tours.
2. AI Comparison + Email & Website Update
Post: An AI Comparison and Email Update
This post covers how I’m using AI in my photography workflow, an update on my email address, and some quick behind-the-scenes changes at Charles Bush Photography. It’s all about staying efficient and responsive.
🌿 May 2025 Photo Tour Wrap-Up
Cattle Egret Chicks on the Nest
Gallery: May 2025 Photo Tour Gallery
We just wrapped up our spring photo tour, and it was a memorable one—bursting with bird activity, glowing cypress trees, and good company. Check out the gallery to see what we captured together. You might spot a few of your favorites in there!
🍂 Fall 2025 Cypress Photo Tours Are Booking Now
Lake Daueterive in the Fog
Info & Signup: Fall Cypress Photo Tours
Spots are already filling up for this year’s cypress tours. If you’re drawn to misty mornings, autumn reflections, and photographing from the boat, now’s the time to reserve your spot.
🌸 Looking Ahead: Spring 2026 Bird Photography Tours
Roseate Spoonbill in Flight
Stay tuned! I’ll be announcing the details of our Spring 2026 bird photography tours soon. If you’ve been wanting to photograph nesting spoonbills, herons, and egrets in full breeding color—mark your calendar.
Thanks as always for being a part of the community. I love sharing these updates with you and hope they inspire your own photography adventures.
Until next time,
—Charlie
Travel Computer System for Photo Tours Using Apple Devices
When I’m leading a photo tour, my work doesn’t stop when we put the cameras down. Between scouting, coordinating, and organizing the day’s images, I rely on a lean yet powerful travel computer system to keep everything running smoothly.
Why I Need a Travel Computer System for Photography Tours
While out in the field, I still need to:
Communicate with tour participants when we’re not shooting
Check the weather for planning sunrise and sunset shoots
Explore bird activity on apps like eBird or Merlin
Download and evaluate images right after a shoot
Keyword, caption, and title photos using Photo Mechanic
Import into Lightroom Classic when I have time
Post to Facebook and Instagram, time permitting
Stay on top of emails and client communication
None of that is feasible without a compact, dependable, fast mobile system. Here's what I use.
I’m embarking on my Second Spring Bird Photo Tour this weekend, so I’m documenting the system I’ll use on the trip.
My Travel Photography System: Apple Laptop, iPad, and Road-Ready Gear
An AI Generated Image of my Travel Computer System. The image ddoesn't include the OWC Thunderbolt Dock of the Sonnet CFExpress Reader
1. MacBook Pro M3 (14") – Apple Laptop for Travel Photography
This is the same machine I use as my main computer at home. It’s fast, quiet, and handles everything from large Lightroom catalogs to multitasking across weather apps, eBird, and Photo Mechanic without missing a beat. I prefer the 14" model for the balance between screen space and portability.
2. External Storage: Mirrored 1TB SSDs for On-the-Road Backup
I bring two 1TB SSDs set up as a mirrored pair. That gives me instant redundancy without needing to back up separately after every import. If I lose a drive or one fails on the road, I’m still covered.
3. Sonnet Dual Card Reader – Fast Imports for Travel Shoots
My Nikon Z8 shoots to both CFExpress and XQD cards. The Sonnet card reader handles both formats and is compact enough to toss in my bag. It’s a dual-slot version, so I can check and download images from two cards simultaneously—perfect for fast turnarounds between shoots.
4. iPad as a Second Monitor with Apple Sidecar
The trackpad’s fine in a pinch, but I like a mouse for speed when editing or managing files. I also use my iPad as an extended display using Apple’s built-in Sidecar feature. It simplifies the Photo Mechanic selection and tagging process by allowing me to spread out my workspace, keeping metadata and previews in full view while selecting images on the main screen.
5. OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock – Central Hub for Travel Connectivity
When I need to plug everything in and charge up quickly, this dock simplifies it. One cable connects the MacBook Pro to power, storage, card reader, and even my iPad if I’m using it wired.
This Mobile Apple Photography System Just Works
My Photography Travel Computer System: Optimizing Workflow for Wildlife and Nature Photography
I’ve refined this setup over the years to strike the perfect balance between performance and portability. Whether I’m downloading images in a hotel room or reviewing shots in the passenger seat, this kit helps me stay productive on the go.