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Colors of Caddo
Photography Tours

Highlights

  • Hands-on photography instruction from two award-winning, professional nature photographers: Alyce Bender and Gary Randall.​

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  • With both land and boat based sessions, view the bayou from multiple angles and in multiple moods. We spend over ten hours on the water in each workshop!

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  • Explore the worlds largest flooded cypress forest under the guiding of locals who grew up on its banks. 

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  • Ideal photography tour for those interested in learning more about intimate landscapes or those with mobility challenges as there is no paddling involved in our workshops.

Step into the still waters and golden light of Caddo Lake, where autumn transforms the bald cypress forest into a living canvas. Join award-winning photographer Alyce Bender—and, on select dates, Gary Randall—for an immersive fall photography workshop exploring the colors, textures, and moods of this remarkable Texas–Louisiana bayou. From mist-filled mornings to fiery sunsets, we’ll navigate the quiet channels by chartered boat, photographing reflections, wildlife, and the timeless beauty of one of the world’s largest flooded cypress forests.
 

For 2026, choose between two distinct experiences: a small, intimate session with Bender and just three participants, or a larger collaborative workshop co-led by Bender and Randall. With lakeside cabin lodging, shared meals, and relaxed editing sessions, each day flows from field to table—blending artistry, community, and the unforgettable spirit of the Colors of Caddo.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive and Meet & Greet

We’ll meet in Uncertain, Texas, at approximately 3:00 PM to check into our lakeside lodging. Once rooms are assigned and personal gear is stowed, we’ll head out together for our first sunset session—a land-based shoot designed to ease into the rhythm of the bayou and begin capturing Caddo’s warm evening light. After sunset, we’ll gather for a group dinner, the perfect opportunity to get acquainted and discuss the adventures that await over the coming days.

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Day 2/3 – Full Day in the Bayou 

We’ll rise before dawn and make our way to the dock, where our local guide and captain await. Once aboard, we’ll spend several hours exploring the quiet channels of Caddo Lake, photographing whatever conditions Mother Nature offers: misty reflections, glowing foliage, or soft backlight filtering through the cypress. There is always something to capture, and we’ll help you fine-tune your creative eye to make the most of each moment on the water.

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After returning to shore, we’ll head back to our lakeside cabins to recharge—both our camera batteries and ourselves—from the early start. A light breakfast will be served before we open the floor for optional image reviews or informal post-processing demonstrations with Bender or Gary, offering insight into how each artist refines their images.

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Around midday, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local favorite before preparing for our afternoon and sunset session. As we set out once more onto the lake, the light turns golden, illuminating the Spanish moss and cypress trunks as the sun dips between them—an unforgettable close to another day on the bayou.

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Included Meal: Breakfast

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Day 4 - Morning Session & Return Home

We’ll depart early to photograph our final sunrise over the bayou, capturing the first light as it filters through the cypress one last time. After this land-based session, we’ll return to our lodging for breakfast and time to pack up before check-out.​

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Included Meal: Breakfast

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The workshop concludes at 11:00 AM on Day 4 as we check out and say our farewells—taking with us new images, fresh inspiration, and a deeper connection to the spirit of Caddo Lake.​

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A. BENDER PHOTOGRAPHY LLC IS AN AUTHORIZED PERMITTEE OF CADDO LAKE STATE PARK

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Inclusions

  • In-field Photography Instruction w/Alyce Bender and Gary Randall*

  • 4 Chartered boat sessions

  • 3 Nights Lodging - Single rooms with shared baths 

  • ​Listed Meals

  • Water/Coffee/Tea

  • Image Reviews and Post-Processing Sessions  

  • All Entrance Fees & Permits

  • Guide Gratuities

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Exclusions

  • Transportation to/from your home to and in Uncertain, TX

  • Any Meals, Snacks, and Beverages not listed

  • Any pre- or post-tour TX lodging or transportation

  • Personal Purchases​

  • Travel/Gear Insurance

  • Instructor Gratuities

Suggested Camera Gear

  • Two Camera Bodies (to limit lens changes in wet/fast paced environment)

  • Telephoto lens - 100-400mm or 50-300mm

  • Mid range variable  – 25-200mm or 24-70mm

  • Tripod - for stability during land based sessions

  • L-bracket - makes for easier photography when composing both vertically and horizontally

  • Plenty of batteries and memory cards

  • Headlamp/flashlight for pre-sunrise/post-sunset walks back to the car

  • Laptop or other system for reviewing and backing up images

  • Gear Insurance

Meet Your Instructors

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