Big Cypress Slough

To me the only thing better than paddling slowly through a forest of bald cypress trees would be to go back in time and paddle through a virgin stand of the same.  Today though I was with some huge trees. The majestic cypress I drifted by were ancient; their fluted and buttress bases were thirty, forty and some even fifty feet in circumference. They grew amongst a number of younger trees. Because they did not have a good saw log they escaped the clear cuttings of the early 1900’s.

It was cold and still with blue skies and the reflections of the trees on the clear water made good photos.  Wood ducks flushed ahead of us as we paddled quietly. Great Blue herons squawked as they launched into flight from the treetops. Schools of pan fish scurried ahead. No turtles or alligators showed their face on this winter day, but signs of raccoons and otters were on every floating log.  Occasionally breaking into the sounds of nature we could hear the hum of big tugs pushing barges on the Mississippi or a four-wheeler carrying a deer hunter to his stand. But mainly it was quiet, peaceful and fantastically beautiful.  A boat, water and big trees…what more could I want?

Press Release: Eagle Expo Photo Workshop 2011

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

Put your digital camera to work in wildlife photography with CC Lockwood.  Much has changed in nature photography in the last 30 years. CC will teach you to improve your photographs through this workshop which is in conjunction with the Morgan City Eagle Expo.

February 11, 2011- 9 am LECTURE: CC will lecture on the techniques for bird and landscape photography with emphasis on digital photography.

February 11, 2011-Noon: Field trip with Black Guidry via a boat trip to an eagle nest to photograph Bald Eagles, other wildlife and landscapes.

This workshop is open to photographers at all levels of expertise as well as non-photographers, but space is limited so reserve your spot early.

More details on signing up can be found HERE

About CC Lockwood:

Wildlife photographer C.C. Lockwood has lived and worked in fragile ecosystems whose preservation shapes his artistry. Through words and images, he has captured the unique sense of space in wild places as diverse as Louisiana swampland and the rugged backcountry of the American West. His work has earned him international acclaim as an environmental artist, including the Sierra Club's Ansel Adams Award for conservation photography. Lockwood's work continues to reflect changes and perils in the natural world.

Contact:

Amy Shutt, public relations

Cactus Clyde Productions

Ph: 225.769.4766

www.cclockwood.com

Atchafalaya Basin Fall Workshop Report

The weather was marvelous, as it usually is on a Louisiana fall day, when we ventured into Grand River Flats with six canoes for my Atchafalaya Basin photography workshop, which was held a couple of weeks ago in late November.  The low sun and scattered clouds gave all a great opportunity for landscape photos of the bald cypress trees decorated with roosting cormorants and ancient stumps cut in the cypress logging hey day of the early 1900s.

The surprise was numerous 4 to 5 foot alligators and one seven footer, we were not expecting gators since we have had some frosts already this year. All 10 students got close. I reminded everyone that in my first years out here when the alligators were endangered I rarely saw one in this part of the basin.

Sunset was colorful and the cypress trees continued to gain more cormorants, as the evening grew dark. We also saw two bald eagles that have a nest nearby.

 Check out our next workshop on February 11 at the Eagle Expo in Morgan City, where we will visit an eagle’s nest in Terrebonne Parish. Stay tuned for more info on that coming soon. And, don’t forget, the next Atchafalaya workshop will be in March 2010.  Hope you can join us.

Low Water on the Mighty Mississippi

Sunday, I had a guest in town from the mountains of New Mexico.  He’s a river guide, boat builder, musician, author and artist by the name of Renny Russell. He was with us last month when we rowed the Grand Canyon for 19 days.  He heard so much about Louisiana on the trip, a visit was necessary, and he wanted to see the Mississippi River.  He was flabbergasted that Old Man River has an average of 600,000 cubic feet per second of water as compared to only 8,000 cfs on the Colorado, with its raging rapids.

Renny Russell and Susan Roland stroll the beach.

With six others and two boats we ventured out to an island in the Mississippi below Angola.  When we arrived 1,000 white pelicans were resting on a massive sand bar on the upstream tip of the island. 

CC on a huge sandbar.

They flew eventually and circled high above showing the black feathers on their wings contrasting all the white.  

Part of the flock of a thousand pelicans circle overhead.

We walked the beach and ventured into the willow cottonwood forest on the higher ground.  These islands as most on the lower Mississippi are covered with water during the spring, making it a changing a diverse habitat for many species of wildlife.  

Sycamore and Black Willows grow along the higher ground.

We headed home to an amazing sunset and enjoyed showing a desert dwellers the wonders of a wet Louisiana, for more water passed us, I am guessing than New Mexico has in the whole state.

Lava Falls

Oh what a grand time, on a river, in a canyon with the same name. In 1994 I put my name in for a private river trip on the mighty Colorado, a river with 80 named rapids. It also contains a number of big riffles and powerful eddies in the 226 mile stretch from Lee's ferry to Diamond Creek. I finally did it last month with family and friends.  As you can see in this video of my dory flipping in the biggest rapid in the grand canyon, it was quite an adventure.

I will blog more about this trip after I get back from speaking on the oil spill at a conference in Costa Rica. It was quite a shock going from 19 peaceful nights under the stars in the Canyon to going through thousands of ugly photos of the oil spill.

Fall Workshops!

My Fall Photography Workshops in the Atchafalaya Basin and Tunica Hills are right around the corner.  I hope you can join me for one or both. See below for details.

*Price listed below for each workshop covers the lecture, field trip, and follow-up critique session.

ATCHAFALAYA BASIN WORKSHOP:

Join me on my popular workshop into the scenic Atchafalaya Basin.  The seminar includes a lecture, a day trip by canoe in the swamp, and a follow-up session to critique the photographs taken on the trip.  Learn helpful information on techniques, equipment, as well as locating and approaching wildlife.

This workshop is open to photographers at all levels of expertise as well as non-photographers, but the group is limited to 15, so reserve your spot early.  Read more about this workshop HERE.

DATE: November 20, 2010
PRICE: $290.00 per person

TUNICA HILLS WORKSHOP:

Photography and hiking in the Tunica Hills will include an early morning exploration of fall foliage in the rugged Tunica Hills.  We will focus our cameras on the landscape of the forest, the flowers, and waterfalls.  Digital techniques for close-up shots as well as panoramic views will be discussed.  Tripod and flash usage will be practiced throughout the day.  Pack a picnic lunch and wear your sturdy shoes!
Read more about this workshop HERE.

DATE: November 21, 2010
PRICE: $290.00 per person

Lecture for both workshops:November 18, 2010
7:00-8:45pm
*Location to be announced.

Critique Session for both workshops:
November 23, 2010
*Location and time to be announced.

_____

Ready to Sign Up?

You may print out the sign-up forms and mail it to us along with full payment:Atchafalaya Workshop Sign-up Form PDF
Tunica Hills Sign-up Form PDF

Mail check and sign-up form below to:
Cactus Clyde Productions
PO Box 14876, Baton Rouge, LA 70898

You may also call us to sign-up:
CC's office: 225-769-4766
or the Backpacker: 225-925-0777 or 1-800-414-4685

*Full payment is due at time of sign-up.
Please review the Cancellation Policy: HERE

Hope to see you there!
If you have any questions please email us at atchbasin@aol.com

Wood Duck Print

The Print of the Month for October 2010: 

A great gift for the outdoorsman, husband, son, or boyfriend.  This male wood duck in full breeding plumage sits on a bald cypress branch overlooking a nest box where the female he bred with is sitting on eggs.  The wood duck was at a low ebb in population until wildlife management brought the bird back to a healthy population. 

Regular Price: $100

Special Print of the Month Price: $40

Paper size: 8.5" x 11"

Image size: 6.65" x 10" with white border (see image above)

Paper Type:  Epson Ultra Premium Luster Photo Paper

For more info and/or to purchase a print please visit the Print of the Month webpage: HERE