FLOATING THROUGH FALL COLORS OF THE CYPRESS SWAMPS

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

NOVEMBER 9 - 13, 2025

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.

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: DANI LEFRANCOIS & LYLE KRANNICHFELD

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 90 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)

ITINERARY

We will meet on day one, November 9, in the early afternoon at our main house for a meet and greet and orientation of the areas we will be photographing. This will include 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 to capture as much of the early light and potential fog that we can that can make for some really ethereal imagery. The majority of this workshop will be by kayak with one pontoon session planned. 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 13.

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

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

DANI LEFRANCOIS

Meet Dani Lefrancois: part wilderness child, part road trip aficionado, and full-time photo guide. Hailing from the overly tamed, highly populated area of the Niagara Region in Southern Ontario, Dani's childhood was a blend of summer camps and road trips with mosquito bites and car sickness (but only if she’s reading). She practically grew up with a map in one hand and a camera in the other, ready to explore the world around her and capture nature at every turn. Her love affair with photography was truly sparked on a fateful journey to Cape Breton Island, NS, where the rugged landscapes and salty air whispered secrets only a lens could capture. But it was a wild romp through Banff & Jasper National Parks and through Yukon and Alaska that lit the fire under her tripod, making her realize that snapping shots wasn't just a hobby—it was her calling.

 In 2011, Dani packed her bags, bid farewell to the Ontario flatlands, and set up camp in Banff, where the mountains echoed her ambition, and the glacier fed lakes sang her name. With her trusty adventure dog, Tuzo, by her side, they conquered trails, played in rivers, and Dani took more photos of Tuzo pooping in pretty places than she could count.

When Dani's not squeezing as much life out of a photo day as possible from sunset to the night sky to her favourite, sunrise, you'll find her cruising the open road, windows down, music up, and the tallest can of iced tea that she can find within arm's reach. Hiking, driving, knitting and Netflixing, she's a woman of extremes from always on the go or not moving at all. For the past two decades, Dani's calendar has been a graveyard of missed photo contest submission deadlines, a testament to her eternal optimism and perpetual forgetfulness. She's watched deadlines sail past like ships in the night, waving goodbye to her dreams of fame and fortune, one missed entry form at a time. But hey, who needs prizes when you've got a camera full of memories and a dog who thinks you're the greatest photographer in the world? For Dani, the real prize lies in the moments she captures, not the awards she misses out on. As Dani's wild journey continues, she finds the most joy in guiding others around the majestic landscapes of Banff National Park and to exciting new locations around the world. And though her track record with contest deadlines may leave something to be desired, Dani's determination remains unshakable.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, Dani knows the true treasures lie in the simple joys—camping under a blanket of stars, hiking to hidden waterfalls, and sharing her passion for the landscape with anyone who will listen. So, as Dani Lefrancois blazes her trail through life, camera in hand and Tuzo by her side, one thing's for certain—wherever Dani goes, laughter, love, and endless possibilities are sure to follow.

LYLE KRANNICHFELD

The most incredible moments in Lyle's life have revolved around the beauty of the natural, wild parts of our world and a connection with the animals we share it with. He is very fortunate to live on Maui with his wife and daughter, which is obviously the best place ever.

As a full-time working landscape, wildlife and underwater photographer for over a decade, he has thrived on taking these moments and distilling them down into simple, compelling fine art images. To that end, he has sold more than a million dollars of his art to clients all over the world out of Pueo Gallery, which he owns and occasionally operates. He has been proudly published by Ocean Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Kiteworld, Standup Paddle Magazine and more, most recently including work for Patagonia and an upcoming scientific paper on never-before-seen Humpback Whale behavior. Lyle is also an f-stop gear ambassador.

As of late, this relationship with the outdoors has blossomed to include a genuine love of sharing it with others, leading small group workshops to some of his favorite locations around the world. That moment when a guest experiences something or some place for the first time is everything. Before joining Destination Earth Photo Tours, he operated his own trips taking guests to swim with Humpback Whales in Tonga as well as cage diving in Mexico with the Great Whites. With an emphasis on providing life changing wildlife encounters, he focused on teaching photography and post processing in equal measure, along with responsible stewardship of our oceans, respectful wildlife interactions and conservation.

He specializes in large prints to 8’ wide or more but is proficient teaching everyone in an approachable and easy to understand way, from the rote beginner to the seasoned vet.

CANCELLATION POLICY & TRAVEL INSURANCE - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event that a specific guide 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.