What to Expect on a Louisiana Fall Photo Tour
Photographs Taken on Previous Fall Photo Tours–Click on Image for Fall Tour Page
If you're considering joining one of my Fall Photo Tours in Louisiana, here’s a detailed look at what you can expect each day. These tours take place during peak color and mist season in the Atchafalaya Basin and surrounding swamps, with a small group format (5 participants max) and guided access by boat to areas that are otherwise inaccessible.
Tours are scheduled for:
November 2–5
November 16–20
December 1–4
A Foggy Morning on a Fall Photo Tour
Morning Sessions: Boat Access to Hidden Cypress Swamps
The highlight of the trip is our early morning photography sessions by boat in the cypress swamps. These sessions are where you'll make your best images.
Locations: 1 day at Lake Dauterive and 2 days at Lake Fausse Pointe
Start Time: We arrive at the launch 30 minutes before sunrise (usually around 5:30–6:00 AM)
Hotel Distance: Plan for a 35-minute drive from the hotel to the boat ramp
End Time: We wrap up each morning session by 10:00 AM
Food: I provide a light breakfast for early departures
Weather will guide our exact order of locations to ensure the best light and conditions for photography.
Midday Break: Rest, Download, Recharge
After our morning shoot:
We return to the hotel
You'll have time to download images, review your work, and rest
We break for lunch (on your own)
This is your window to recharge for the afternoon.
Afternoon Sessions: Gardens and Sunsets
Afternoons are lighter and more flexible, but still offer great opportunities:
Two afternoons at Lake Martin: quiet swamp scenes, sunset reflections, and wildlife
One afternoon at Rip Van Winkle Gardens: colorful botanicals, historic backdrops, and peacocks
Sessions begin around 3:30 PM and go until sunset
These shoots are less intense than the mornings and allow for slower-paced exploration and creative compositions.
Tour Structure and Schedule
Here's a quick summary of how the tour flows:
Day 1 (3 PM): Tour begins with an afternoon shoot
Days 2 and 3: Morning + afternoon sessions
Day 4: Final morning shoot; tour ends by 10:00 AM
Small Group Experience, Big Results
I keep the group size small for a reason: it allows me to offer personalized guidance, adapt to conditions, and help you create your best work.
If you're serious about improving your swamp and cypress photography and want to experience these landscapes at their most photogenic, this tour was designed for you.
Spots are limited and tours fill quickly. Reserve your place on the Fall Photo Tour now.
Mastering the Focus Limiter on the Nikon Z8
Why the Nikon Z8 Focus Limiter Matters
As a bird and wildlife photographer, I’ve had countless moments where the perfect opportunity slipped away—not because I wasn’t ready, but because the camera decided to focus on something else. A twig in front of the bird. A bright patch of background behind it. The system locked on, and the bird I worked so hard to track? Blurry.
This kind of misfocus is one of the most frustrating challenges we face in the field. Birds don’t wait around for second chances.
Most telephoto lenses come with a focus limiter switch, but it only controls the minimum focusing distance. It helps, but often it's not enough. That’s why the new Nikon Z8 Focus Limiter—introduced in Firmware v3.00—is such a big deal.
What Is the Nikon Z8 Focus Limiter?
The Focus Limiter lets you define a custom minimum and maximum focus distance directly in the camera menu. When active, the autofocus system ignores everything outside that range. So if you set the limiter from 5 meters to 20 meters, it won’t hunt at 3 meters or lock on to a distant treetop at 40.
Why is that important? Because birds and animals often move in visually cluttered environments:
Branches, vines, and leaves can trick autofocus
Bright sky or background elements can steal focus from your subject
Sudden motion (like a bird taking flight) can shift the AF point away at the worst moment
By restricting the focus range, you keep the camera where you want it: on the subject.
Real-World Example: Bird in Flight
Let’s say I’m photographing a Roseate Spoonbill lifting off from the marsh. Without a limiter, the moment it flies past a distant tree, the AF might jump to that. With the Z8 Focus Limiter active, I can define the working range based on the bird’s flight path, and the camera won’t chase focus beyond it.
Result? Fewer missed shots and more keepers.
How to Set Up the Focus Limiter on the Nikon Z8
The Focus Limiter setting lives in Custom Settings Menu a16 (Focus Limiter). You can enable it there and set your desired range directly.
That said—setting it through the menu each time you need it would be awful in the field. You simply don’t have time to dig through menus when the action is unfolding in front of you.
Instead, you should assign the Focus Limiter to a button. That way, you can:
Activate it with a press
Set the range dynamically using AF-ON and half-press of the shutter
Use the command dials only for fine-tuning, not initial setup
Step 1: Assign to a Custom Button
Go to Custom Settings Menu > f2 Custom controls (shooting)
Assign a button like Pv (Preview) or Fn1/Fn2 to Toggle Focus Limiter
Pro Tip: If you're shooting with a telephoto lens, your left hand will be supporting the lens barrel. So choose a button on the right side of the camera—something easily reachable with your shooting hand. This makes it much easier to toggle the limiter in action without compromising stability.
I assigned mine to the Playback button, since I moved Playback to the Display button. Choose what works best in your setup.
Important: When enabling the Focus Limiter with a button, it may take a few seconds to activate. Be patient—the camera needs a moment to process the range parameters.
Step 2: Set the Focus Range
Once active, you’ll see a live distance scale at the bottom of the screen. You have two ways to set the range:
Preferred Field Method – Fast and Intuitive:
Press AF-ON while aimed at the nearest subject
Half-press the Shutter while aimed at the farthest subject
Then press OK to lock in both distances
This method is ideal in real-world situations where you don’t know exact distances and need to act quickly.
Command Dial Method – For Fine-Tuning Only:
Use the front command dial to tweak the Minimum Focus Distance
Use the rear command dial to tweak the Maximum Focus Distance
Note: All distances are displayed in meters only. There’s currently no option to switch to feet.
Field Tips: Using the Focus Limiter Effectively
Test before a shoot: Spend a few minutes testing it at different distances to get a feel for how responsive the limiter is.
Adjust when subjects move: If birds are now closer than expected, quickly toggle off, refocus, and re-engage with new limits.
Watch the scale: The live distance scale is accurate, but it reads in meters only.
Focus feedback: If you try to focus on something outside your defined range, the focus indicator will blink redto alert you.
Final Thoughts
The Focus Limiter on the Nikon Z8 is one of the most powerful tools introduced in recent firmware. For bird and wildlife photographers who work in chaotic environments, it could mean the difference between a sharp, frame-worthy shot—or a blurry disappointment.
✅ Did you know? I offer personalized consulting for Nikon Z8 users, from setup to custom field strategies. Book a session here →
Keywords: Nikon Z8 Focus Limiter: How to Prevent Missed Shots by Controlling Focus Range for Bird and Wildlife Photography
Charles Bush Photography – July 2025 Newsletter
Sunrise at Lake Dauterive during peak fall color. Cypress silhouettes and misty reflections are a signature of our November photo tours in Louisiana.
Exploring New Paths and Preserving Old Ones
Hey folks,
📸 Ready to Join a Tour or Get Help With Your Photography?
🍁 Fall 2025 Cypress Swamp Tours – November dates available now
🐣 Spring 2026 Bird Photography Tours – Book early for April–June
🧠 1:1 Photography Consulting – Get help with gear, printing, or workflow
July has been a month of transition, tough decisions, and hopeful moves here at Charles Bush Photography. Between equipment sales, website refinements, and photo tour prep, I’ve had my hands full. Here’s what’s been going on behind the scenes:
What's New This Month
1. Nikon Lens Sales and Gear Transitions
I’m making some changes to my lens lineup and offering select Nikon gear for sale. If you're interested in a well-maintained 600mm PF or 100–400mm Z lens, feel free to contact me directly for details and availability. I’m considering consolidating with the 180–600mm Z lens to keep things more streamlined and flexible for tour work.
2. Fall Photo Tour Updates
Preparations are in full swing for the 2025 fall swamp tours. If you haven’t reserved your spot yet, now’s the time. We’ll be photographing peak color in cypress swamps at Lake Dauterive, Lake Fausse Pointe, and Lake Martin. View Fall Tour Details Here
3. Spring 2026 Tour Planning
While we’re gearing up for fall, spring 2026 tour planning is already in motion and signups are open. These tours tend to book well in advance, so if you're thinking about joining us for nesting season in April, May, or June, view the Spring 2026 Tour Info and reserve your spot.
A Snowy Egret in full breeding plumage, captured during nesting season at one of our spring tour locations in south Louisiana.
4. Website and SEO Improvements
This month, I focused on tweaking my site’s navigation and internal linking to make it easier for visitors to find tour pages and consults. You might notice "Classes" has been removed from the top menu and blog posts are now simply labeled "Blog." Subtle, but these changes should help.
5. Teaching and Consulting Work
I recently worked one-on-one with an experienced artist and longtime exhibitor who was transitioning from a Windows setup to a Mac. She was having print issues with a new lab. We tackled Mac configuration challenges, calibrated her displays, and ultimately traced the problem back to the print company itself.
6. For Nikon Z8 Users: New Resources
If you're using a Nikon Z8, there's a lot of fresh material for you this month:
Popular Blog Posts This Month
A Quick Ask
If you’ve enjoyed a tour or found value in one of my posts, please consider sharing the site or leaving a testimonial. It really helps keep this work going.
As always, thanks for following along.
– Charlie