Early morning mist at Lake Dauterive — Early Morning Mist at Lake Dauterive

I'm preparing for a photo shoot at Lake Dauterive for my next two photo tours. While visiting several locations, this paper will explore the thought process for Lake Dauterive; it is the site where I photograph my favorite Louisiana Fall images. Thought processes for the other locations are similar. I want to share my planning and thought processes during the trip to ensure everything goes smoothly and I and the other photographers return with stunning images. Even if you’re visiting this site or any other, the thought process for a photo trip is similar. Here's what I'll be considering:

1. My goals for the shoot, specifically the types of images I want to capture.

2. The best time of year and time of day for the shoot.

3. Hotel accommodations and nearby restaurants.

4. The equipment and clothing I'll need to bring.

5. Useful apps to help with planning, such as weather and climate forecasts and moon and sun information.

6. Departure time to arrive at the photo site to capture the desired images.

7. Safety considerations and concerns.

Cypress Trees in Haavy Fog at Lake Dauterive

Background

Lake Dauterive, located in the Atchafalaya Basin, is a shallow lake with large, old-growth cypress trees. I want the trips during the fall season when the cypress trees are in their burnt orange foliage. This typically occurs during the last three weeks of November and the first week of December, though it is difficult to predict precisely. I have scheduled the trips for the weeks before and after to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday week. The first trip will start on a Sunday, while the second trip will begin on a Monday to avoid travel on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Other people making a similar trip visit an interconnected Lake, Lake Fausse Pointe. Those trips use Kayaks to access the large trees; I prefer motorboats. There is far better access for powered boats from the landing at Lake Dauterive. While kayaks provide a lower point of view and an individual experience, motorboats make photography easier and allow rapid access to different parts of the lake to maximize opportunities.

Cypress Knees and Trunks at Lake Dauterive

Ideal photographs from Lake Dauterive have either heavy fog obscuring the background with trees in silhouette or backlit mist producing an orange cast around the trees. Both mist and fog happen during the late fall and early winter. Heavy fog occurs when the temperature is below the dew point, and there’s a light breeze. Mist occurs when the air temperature is lower than the water temperature and there is little or no wind. Both of these situations happen primarily early in the morning. The period with peak autumn color coincides nicely with the potential for fog or mist.

When taking sunrise photos, I prefer to have a tree or a group of trees in the foreground, creating a silhouette against the sun. After that, I shift to a spot that highlights the presence of mist or fog. To enhance the mist or fog effect, I use a telephoto lens that compresses the scene and intensifies the effect. Although achieving the ideal is not always possible, excellent photographs can still be captured on days with bright sunlight or even overcast windy days.

The weather in November in Southern Louisiana is unpredictable. Morning temperatures may be in the low thirties or the low seventies. Highs may be as low as the fifties to as high as the eighties; I must be prepared for all the above.

Here is a list of shots to capture:

1. Take a picture of the sunrise, with a tree silhouette in the foreground and the sunrise in the background.

2. Capture a panoramic photo of the sunrise, with a group of trees in silhouette in the foreground and the sunrise in the background.

3. Photograph cypress trees in backlit mist.

4. Take a picture of a cypress tree or trees with heavy fog obscuring the background.

5. Capture a photo of a cypress tree in fall colors, with a bright blue sky in the background.

6. Photograph cypress trees in choppy water.

7. Take an infrared shot of a cypress tree with a dark sky and water.

8. Capture reflections of fall colors in the water.

9. Take a closeup shot of a cypress leaves in fall color.

10. Capture shots of fall colors with intentional camera movement.

11. Photograph birds and wildlife.

12. Make close-up shots of swamp colors.

The top priority for Lake Dauterive is the backlit mist photographs and fog photographs.

Before the Trip

When planning a trip, my first task is securing a hotel reservation. I have been staying at a hotel in Henderson, Louisiana, for years despite it being an hour away from Lake Dauterive. The hotel’s location allows me to access other places I photograph during the trip. Additionally, there are only a few hotels near the lake, and the closest one is 30 minutes away via a poorly maintained road. To minimize costs, I always book in advance. If I were to visit an area I have not previously traveled to, I would research nearby hotels and their proximity to essential amenities such as restaurants, gas stations, etc.

Before embarking on my trip, I will inspect my vehicle thoroughly since I’ll be driving a long distance for the shoot. As the trip date approaches, I will closely watch the weather forecast and compile a list of the necessary clothing and equipment. The morning temperatures can be quite low, often hovering near freezing, and since we’ll be on an open boat, the wind chill can make it feel even colder. Therefore, I’ll likely need to pack a heavy coat, thermal underwear, warm socks, and boots. I’ve also added battery-powered hand warmers to my list to keep me warm and cozy throughout the trip

I have to leave for Lake Dauterive early in the morning to catch the blue hour, so I plan to pick up some food the day before for the boat. As I'm going on a tour, I must ensure I have enough breakfast for everyone joining me.

To prepare for the trip, I list all the equipment I must bring and pack it the day before. I also pack my clothes and have everything ready for the morning of my departure.

Shortly before I leave, I check the date and time in each camera body. Use Nikon’s Capture software to synchronize with the computer. I’m sure other manufacturers have similar software that allows you to do that. I also check the camera sensors for dust and clean equipment and lenses. I also test-fire the cameras and take photographs with each camera body and lens. I check that each lens will critically focus and produce sharp images. After I’m done, I reformat each camera memory card to ensure they are empty and working properly.

I check the computer and make sure the downloaded software, Lightroom and Photoshop, are up to date. I take some photographs and then download them onto the computer to ensure they work as expected. I reformat the disks to download the images and a backup and check to ensure they’re ready and perform any upgrades to the computer system to ensure it’s up to date. I set up the software to provide the proper keywording, copyright, and captions on an automated basis to ensure the process goes smoothly on the trip.

I preload each location, including Lake Dauterive and the hotel, into my GPS application on the phone. I preprogram all the phone numbers I need to contact other people on the trip (other photographers, boat operators, etc.) and the hotel so I don’t need to search for them on the road.

During the Trip

Lake Dauterive is the best location to capture the mist and fog shots I prioritize during the trip. Therefore, I closely watch the weather forecast to determine the best day to photograph there. I plan the morning departure time with enough leeway to ensure I arrive at the location in time for the best photographs. I use Carrot Weather on my iPhone to watch the conditions and then use the Clear Outside and Alpenglow to get a feel for the potential for mist or fog and the quality of the sunrise. I also determine what clothing to wear and the potential for rain or stormy weather.

Since I’m working in a small boat with other photographers, I try to bring minimal equipment. Tripods are not a good idea when working on a boat due to both size constraints and vibrations from the bottom of the boat are transmitted to the camera. I photograph with two camera bodies, one with my 24-85 lens and the other with my 70-300 lens. I rarely change lenses on the boat to minimize the risk of dust or water on the sensor. I find smaller lightweight lenses work better than the more professional heavy lenses on the boat. I use a dual camera strap to ensure the equipment stays safe.

After the shoot, I will download the images onto an external disk connected to the computer with the location, copyright, and common keywords included using Photo Mechanic. However, you could also use Lightroom to accomplish this. Finally, I backup the images onto a second drive for safety and import them into a Lightroom catalog.

While downloading the images, I check my equipment, clean lenses, and camera bodies, and prepare for the next session.

I’ve got two upcomming tours visiting Lake Dauterive. The first on November 12th hrouth the 15th is full. The secon on November 27th through the 30th has space available, Check it out here.

Equipment List

Camera Bodies two D850’s one IR modified D800
Nikon 24-85
Nikon 70-300
Nikon 500 f5.6
Camera Strap
Tripod and ball-head
Nikon Manual focus lenses for IR (24mm, 50mm, 105mm)
Remote Trigger
ND filters
Polarizing Filter
Closeup diopter
Lens cleaning wipes and microfiber cloths
Hoodman loop
Batteries
Battery Charger
Memory Cards
Pelican Cases (large for normal photography and small for IR photography)
Flashlights and Headlamp
Blower Brush

Clothing List

Heavy Coat
Thermal Underwear
Boots
Winter Socks
Wool Pullover
Short and Long Sleeve Shirts
Jeans
Underwear
Hat
Gloves
Hand Warmers
Toilet Articles

Computer List

Laptop
Laptop charger
Card Reader
Thunderbolt Dock
Image disk, backup disk
Laptop drive backup
Lightroom rated image disk
Cables

Apps

Carrot Weather
Alpenglo
Clear Outside
Photo Pills
Apple Maps
Google Maps