photo by Martina Birnbaum via iStock
When you think of Texas, you might think of the north and central plains with their farms, ranches, cattle, and cowboys.
But Texas is so much more than that…
The Gulf Coast gives you opportunities to photograph beaches and estuaries, marine life, and watersports.
In far west Texas, you can photograph mountains and deserts, basins, and rivers like the Rio Grande.
But the ideal Texas photography destination might just be in the east - the Texas Bayou. In particular, this area is stunningly beautiful in the fall with gorgeous colors, morning mist and fog, and glasslike water for epic reflections.
Let’s check out this unique photography destination in more detail.
Table of Contents
- Where is the Texas Bayou?
- Caddo Lake State Park
- Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- What is the Best Time for a Texas Photography Trip to the Bayou?
- How Should I Explore the Texas Bayou?
- What is the Best Way to Take a Texas Photography Trip to the Bayou?
Where is the Texas Bayou?
photo by wanderluster via iStock
There are many bayous along the Texas Gulf Coast. And while they’re gorgeous, they are also a popular tourist destination.
If you want a more off-the-beaten-path Texas photography trip to the bayou, you might try a location north of the gulf coast - Caddo Lake.
Caddo Lake is right on the border of Texas and Louisiana and features gorgeous scenery that you don’t often associate with Texas.
Giant bald cypress trees covered in Spanish moss adorn the shores of the lake. You can explore the bayou via boat and get an up-close look at these gorgeous trees and the animals that call them home.
There are a couple of locations in the Caddo Lake area that you don’t want to miss, too.
Caddo Lake State Park
photo by wisanuboonrawd via iStock
One of the Texas photography attractions in the Caddo Lake area is Caddo Lake State Park. The park offers a good access point to the lake for boating, fishing, hiking, and of course, photography.
You can also camp in the park in one of the dozens of established camping spots. Historic cabins are also a lodging option.
The park offers ranger programs, boat tours and marinas, and there are historical sites near the park that you can explore as well. The boat tours, in particular, are a great option for exploring the beauty of Caddo Lake with your camera.
Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
photo by Sir-ed via iStock
Bordering Caddo Lake is the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This is a fantastic Texas photography destination if you love nature and wildlife photography.
The wetlands in the refuge are home to countless plant and animal species. You can see peregrine falcons, eagles, ibis, wood ducks, bats, snapping turtles, and much more.
Since the refuge is within the Central Flyway, dozens of species of migratory birds visit in the spring and fall. You can practice your wildlife photography skills during the day, then cruise around Caddo Lake at night!
What is the Best Time for a Texas Photography Trip to the Bayou?
photo by wanderluster via iStock
If you’ve been to Texas in the winter, you know that freezing temperatures and ice storms can make life difficult in the colder months.
If you've visited in spring, you know the excitement (and danger) of the storms rolling across the state.
The heat and humidity can be off the charts in the summer, especially in the bayou.
So, that leaves us with fall!
photo by wanderluster via iStock
But fall in the Texas bayou isn’t just the best time for a Texas photography trip because of the lack of heat, humidity, and storms. This area is beautiful year-round, but with the addition of fall colors, it becomes an even more gorgeous place.
Cypress trees are a unique and impressive sight because of their interesting trunk formation, their jagged branch patterns, and their knees that jut vertically out of the water.
And since they’re deciduous conifers, they shed their needle-like leaves in the fall - but only after turning bright red, orange, and yellow. With the still waters of the Texas bayou to provide a gorgeous reflection and the morning fog and mist to add some character, you have the ideal combination for an epic autumn photo!
How Should I Explore the Texas Bayou?
photo by wanderluster via iStock
Caddo Lake is enormous - over 25,000 acres - so it's best to explore by boat to maximize your Texas photography opportunities.
Boats give you the ability to photograph the bayou from open water, from ponds and sloughs, and you can disembark and explore the shoreline on foot, too.
Whether by boat or on foot, fall mornings in the Caddo Lake area afford you the chance to photograph still waters, fall colors, and mist. Evenings bring sunsets casting their warm glow over the lake. In between, you can explore the mazes of channels in the cypress forest and get out of the afternoon heat (which isn’t anything like the summer but can still get pretty warm).
What is the Best Way to Take a Texas Photography Trip to the Bayou?
If you’ve followed my articles on PhotographyTalk for any length of time, you know that I’m a big proponent of photography workshops.
Whether you’re just starting in photography, a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, a guided photography tour gives you the best opportunities to learn, grow, and explore the most beautiful locations in the world.
In the Texas bayou, no one does it better than Aperture Academy.
Their Beauty on the Texas Bayou Photography Workshop spans three days - November 4-6, 2022 - and explores the cypress forests of Caddo Lake by guided pontoon boat.
On this Texas photography trip, you’ll wind your way around Caddo Lake, practicing your craft with subjects that delight the eye, all the while learning about the area from your boat guide and your expert photography tour leaders.
The tour also takes you to the nearby town of Jefferson, Texas, one of the state's oldest towns. You can explore the historic city with your camera and practice street photography while you’re at it.
The boardwalks of the aforementioned Caddo Lake State Park are yet another destination for this tour. The boardwalks are ideal for setting up your camera and tripod and working on long exposures.
No Texas photography trip would be complete without some time with your tourmates and guides to learn post-processing techniques. You’ll also have an opportunity to share the images you take and get feedback on your work.
An Aperture Academy workshop group in Yosemite National Park.
In fact, that’s one of the biggest benefits of participating in a photography workshop - the camaraderie of working on your craft with other photography enthusiasts.
The passion you have for photography will be shared by everyone on the trip - and that’s infectious. It’s so nice to be able to learn from the pros, but it’s just as nice to be on a journey of growth with other people that are as excited about photography as you are.
As I’ve said before, another advantage of a photography workshop is that the trip details are taken care of for you. Instead of trying to find the best locations to visit, Aperture Academy’s experienced tour leaders already know where to go and when to go there to maximize your ability to take excellent shots.
This puts you in prime position to take your best shot. And, if you’re struggling to get your best shot, you’ll have tons of support from your fellow photographers.
Plus, you get expert instruction and feedback that’s invaluable to your growth behind the lens. If there’s a way to supercharge your photography skills, a Texas photography tour like this is just the ticket! Aperture Academy does it right, too - that’s why they’re on my list of the Top Photography Workshops to Attend in 2021-2022.
For more details about Aperture Academy’s Texas bayou workshop, head over to their website.