Autumn in the Bayou-Caddo Lake TX Photo Tour (November 1-5, 2026)

Register

PRICE: 

Early Registration: $1799 NANPA / ASMP Members, $1999 non-members by August 1, 2026

After August 1, 2026: $1899 NANPA / ASMP Members, $2099 non-members 

If you are not currently a member, you may want to consider joining NANPA to take advantage of member pricing on NANPA photo tours (1 year membership $100)

Price includes the charter of a pontoon boat exclusively for our group on Caddo Lake.

Note this tour is a day longer than our typical photo tours.

Maximum number of attendees: 8 per leader / boat

Last date to register: September 1, 2026

DATES:

• Sunday November 1, 2026 at 6 pm to Thursday November 5, 2026 at noon
• August 24, 2026, 2026 7-8 pm (Eastern Time) Pre-Event Webinar for Participants (optional)
• November 16, 2026 7-9 pm (Eastern Time) Post event Image Sharing and Feedback Webinar for participants (optional)

Registration and Meet & Greet
November 1^th, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the hotel’s meeting room.
Short orientation meeting/slide show, eat before or after, on your own.

EVENT OVERVIEW:

Join photographers Jeff Vanuga and Mary Louise Ravese for an exciting Autumn trip to photograph Caddo Lake in Texas, one of the most scenic and beautiful lakes in the South. Caddo Lake is the home of the largest Bald Cypress Forest in the World. It consists of approximately 26,000 acres of swamps, bayous and river ways that create a one-of-a-kind experience. Spanish moss draped trees surrounded by water, combined with birds like egrets and herons, is an atmosphere that you will never forget. The event is timed to take advantage of fall colors and the possibility of morning fog, making it a landscape photographer’s dream location.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

At Caddo Lake in Texas, we’ll photograph the bayou and all it has to offer – Spanish moss draped Bald Cypress trees in fall color together with birds and other wildlife. We’ll photograph from land and from a pontoon boat chartered exclusively for our group. We will be exploring Caddo Lake during both early morning and late afternoon light. The tour includes five excursions aboard a chartered pontoon boat where we can maneuver on the waterways looking for landscape views and wildlife. Two mornings we’ll photograph from land at Caddo Lake State Park.

Your Tour Leaders:

Jeff Vanuga will be your leader for this event. If there are more than 8 participants on the event, Mary Louise Ravese will be added as a second leader for this event with a second pontoon boat.

Jeff Vanuga

Jeff Vanuga is based in Dubois, Wyoming and specializes in both advertising and editorial media. His work has been published worldwide in magazines and major advertising campaigns.

Jeff leads tours for the largest photography tour company in the world and leads tours for National Geographic Expeditions, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, First Light Workshops and the Moab Photography Symposium. His work is represented by the Nature Picture Library stock agency. Some notable career highlights include:

• First place in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the National Wildlife Photographic Competition
• His book entitled “Fodor’s Compass Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks” took a silver medal in the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication from a field of 1,161 entries.
• Photo District News featured Jeff as one of their top 50 States Photographers and he has hosted TV shows on nature photography for the Outdoor Life Channel and Nature’s Best Magazine.

Previously Jeff led NANPA Photo Tours to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Nebraska for the spring Sandhill Crane Migration.

Mary Louise Ravese

Mary Louise Ravese specializes in fine art nature, travel and creative photography from locations across the world. Professionally trained in the use of both 4×5 and 35 mm cameras, today Mary Louise shoots with full-frame mirrorless cameras, producing award-winning imagery in color and black and white. Her photographs are in private, university & corporate collections in over 40 states, and are exhibited nationally. She has published images in calendars, magazines, books and websites, including special projects for National Geographic Maps, The Nature Conservancy and the National Parks Conservation Association. In 2021 her image was given the NANPA Showcase Judges’ Choice Award in Macro/Micro/All Other. In 2026 her image was given the First Runner Up Award in the ‘Scapes category of the annual NANPA Showcase competition.

Mary Louise is an accomplished photography educator and a regular speaker and competition judge for photography clubs around the country. Through her company, Bella Vista Photography, Mary Louise enjoys teaching both the technical and aesthetic aspects of photography. Based in North Carolina, she leads monthly photo walks at NC State University’s JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh as well as classes and photo workshops at a variety of locations across the US and abroad.

Previously Mary Louise led a NANPA Photo Tour to photograph flowers and gardens in Pennsylvania. She accompanied Rod photographing the auroras in Yellowknife in 2024. She photographs using Canon equipment, but is well versed in multiple camera systems.

 

NEAREST AIRPORT:

• Shreveport Regional Airport, Louisiana (SHV), about a one-hour drive to Caddo Lake
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) about at three-hour drive to Caddo Lake
• Baton Rouge (BTR) and New Orleans (MSY) Airports would also work

EVENT TRANSPORTATION:

Transportation to and from the hotel and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility. A rental car is necessary for this event and can be rented from the airport. A regular vehicle is sufficient, a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle is not necessary.

Ride Sharing: We will depart daily from the hotel. Ride sharing is recommended. You are welcome to either drive or ride with someone. This is a great way to meet and have fun with fellow photographers during the event. If you are a passenger in another participant’s car it is customary to offer the driver some gas money and chip in towards the daily vehicle admission fee as a courtesy.

Note that NANPA , Jeff Vanuga and Mary Louise Ravese, do not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assume no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

LODGING: 

We will be based in Marshall, Texas during this photo tour.

Lodging is not included in the event fee, but NANPA is holding a block of rooms for event participants at a rate of $139 plus tax per night for either a Standard King or Double Queen room.

Hotel details and reservation procedure will be shared with registered participants.

The last day to register in the NANPA room block is September 1, 2026.

MEALS:

All meals will be on your own with the exception of one lunch which is included.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS:

Your leaders are familiar with the areas that you’ll be visiting, and locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time, wildlife activity, weather conditions, etc.

Some of the locations that we will most likely photograph include:

• Caddo Lake State Park
• Historic Jefferson, TX

The time of year should offer wonderful fall color and beautiful misty mornings.

The town of Jefferson has quite a few historic properties and available tours for photography also.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

Please note schedules are fluid due to weather conditions, recent wildlife sightings and other variables.

Sunday November 1

• “Meet and Greet” at 6:00 pm at the hotel’s meeting room. There will be a brief orientation for the trip.
• Dinner on your own (plan to eat before or after the meet and greet)

Monday November 2

• Morning – Boat Tour on Caddo Lake (included in fee)
• Afternoon Boat Tour on Caddo Lake (included in fee)

Tuesday November 3

• Morning – Photograph at Caddo Lake State Park, in particular from the fishing pier at Saw Mill Pond
• Afternoon Boat Tour on Caddo Lake (included in fee)

Wednesday November 4

• Morning – Boat Tour on Caddo Lake (included in fee)
• Mid-day lunch (included in the fee) and photography on your own in historic Jefferson, TX
• Afternoon Boat Tour on Caddo Lake (included in fee)

Thursday November 5

• Morning – Photograph at Caddo Lake State Park
• Event concludes after morning photo shoot
• Hotel checkout

 

 

PARK PASS AND ENTRANCE FEES:

We will be visiting a Texas State Park. If you have a Texas State Park pass, please bring it, otherwise be prepared to pay a $4 (cash) daily entrance fee.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Please note a basic fitness level is required.  However, optional walks at parks and preserves (up to 2 miles) require a moderate fitness level.

WEATHER 

The Caddo Lake Bayou is near sea level with temperatures in early November being in the 60’s during the day and 30’s in the evening.   For reference, November average temperatures are listed below:

• Average High 67 F
• Average Low 38 F
• Average Precipitation 1.88in

CLOTHING

It is preferable to dress in layers starting in the early morning and shed through the day as needed for rising temperatures.  Be prepared for rain/snow this time of year so a waterproof shell and waterproof boots/shoes are highly recommended as well as a hat, insect repellent and sunscreen.  Since it will be cool morning weather, bring shooting gloves.

CAMERA GEAR

• Camera – DSLR or mirrorless, full frame or cropped sensor. Also, bring the camera manual should you need to consult it. Cellphone camera as backup is better than no camera and good for snaps of your group.
• Lenses – There will likely be photo opportunities for your full range of lenses, from extreme wide angle to telephoto and macro. We will use lenses in the focal length range from 14 – 600mm.
• Lens Cleaning Cloth and Wipes.
• Tripod – Sunrise, sunset, twilight and nighttime light levels are too low to photograph properly without a sturdy tripod. A lightweight carbon fiber tripod with a ball head is recommended. If needed, a monopod is a better choice for shooting from the boat.
• Memory Cards for 1/2 day to full day of shooting in the field.
• Camera Battery Charger and Extra Batteries.
• Sensor Cleaning Tools
• Polarizing filter(s) to fit each of your lenses.
• Shutter Release – You can use a locking cable release, a wireless remote, or the camera’s self-timer (except in BULB).
• Rain Covers – For camera and lens protection
• Laptop Computer (optional) – for downloading, processing and viewing your images.
• Image Processing Software (optional) – Good choices include Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Elements.
• Back-up device – Such as an external hard drive.
• Flash Drive – For sharing images (in case of inclement weather).

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

• Flashlight and/or Headlamp
• Battery-powered Alarm Clock/Watch – In case cell phone service isn’t available. It’s better to bring your own alarm than miss a morning shoot!
• Cell Phone
• Water bottle/snacks/medicine
• Energy bars or other snacks

GENERAL:

This event is designed for nature photographers at all levels of experience. For the best experience, please know your camera before you arrive, and bring your manual in case we need to look up something.

Assistance will be available in the field for those who wish to improve their photographic skills. If you already have plenty of photography experience, Jeff and Mary Louise will ensure you get to the best locations at the best times to capture those perfect shots.

Please keep in mind this NANPA Event is designed to be a photo tour, not a photo workshop. In other words, there are no formal instruction sessions planned, there are no assignments, you will not be receiving any handouts or the like. Your leaders, Jeff and Mary Louise, have experience as a photography workshop leaders and are available to answer questions and give you guidance. If you need help, please advocate for yourself and speak up and ask for help – Jeff and Mary Louise are happy to help. Be aware that many of your fellow participants may also be accomplished photographers and may be able to help you too.  Part of the NANPA photo tour experience is the camaraderie that comes from sharing experiences and lessons learned among participants. If you notice someone with the same or similar camera, perhaps they can help you with an issue you’ve been wondering about, and maybe you can return the favor.

Attendance and participation at NANPA Photo Tours is limited to registered attendees only.  Anyone wishing to participate in any portion of, or travel with a registered attendee during the group event must contact the NANPA office and pay the full registration fee.

 

NANPA Photo Tour Cancellation and No Refund Policy: 

NANPA Photo Tour registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. If participant cancels their event registration, NANPA will not offer any refunds for event registration fees for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation.

NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. It also has the right to substitute event leaders, or adjust the number of event leaders if those originally scheduled cannot attend, or other unforeseen circumstances arise.

If NANPA cancels the event, NANPA will offer a variety of options to participants, including the transfer of their registration fees to a future NANPA event or a refund of the event registration fee unless the cancellation is due to a force majeure* occurrence. NANPA assumes no liability whatsoever for fees, penalties, or other costs incurred by you from airlines, hotels, or any other sources outside of the event registration fees.  

*Force Majeure 

“Force Majeure” means that NANPA will not be liable for any alleged damages because of any circumstances including, but without limitation, explosion, flood, storm, fire, war or threat of war, civil disturbance, sickness, pandemic, quarantine, weather conditions or other unexpected occurrences. If a Force Majeure event occurs, NANPA will notify you of the nature and extent of the incident. NANPA may unilaterally vary or cancel an itinerary in cases of Force Majeure. Refunds or partial refunds will be at the sole and absolute discretion of NANPA. NANPA will attempt to reimburse you where possible however we will deduct from any refund the reasonable actual and potential costs to NANPA of the Force Majeure event. 

Please know that sometimes unanticipated and uncontrollable circumstances will force us to alter expected plans during a photo tour. NANPA cannot be held responsible for unanticipated events (such as park closures, natural disasters, civil unrest, weather, etc.) that either prevents you from attending or us altering our location shoots. NANPA will do their best to work around any unforeseen circumstances.

Tour participants without travel insurance will be considered “self insured” meaning you assume all risks and losses for any condition requiring your cancellation.

NANPA strongly encourages participants to protect their investment and purchase travel insurance. NANPA is affiliated with two different travel insurance providers.

Event Registration Fee Cancellation Insurance:

We offer event cancellation insurance (which solely covers your event registration fee if you need to cancel your participation) as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration.

NOTE: If you do not purchase event (registration fee) insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later. However, you can add the NANPA event registration fee to the expenses you cover with an alternative travel insurance policy.

Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance: 

We understand that the need to make last minute cancellations due to illness, family, or business matters can happen to anyone. For maximum coverage, you may want to consider an alternative travel insurance policy that offers a “cancel for any reason” clause. However, be aware that such options may only be available if you purchase your travel insurance within 1 to 2 weeks of your tour payment. A “cancel for any reason” option is not available with the Allianz insurance option we provide during registration, but is available with other travel insurance purchased separately.

If you want coverage for other travel expenses like flights, you will need to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate that covers other travel-related expenses besides your registration fee through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services.

Feel free to use any travel insurance company you choose. Compare rates, shop around. However, to protect your investment, we recommend purchasing travel insurance whenever a non-refundable amount such as your NANPA registration fees has been paid. You may increase the amount of coverage as the date of departure nears and additional non-refundable payments are made. The sites www.travelinsurance.com and www.insuremytrip.com can be useful for comparing policies.