Capturing the Southern Cypress Swamp

When sunlight filters through cypress trees, the photo ops abound. In this video, pro wildlife photographer Doug Gardner takes you to a southern cypress swamp in search of nature images. He shows you how to wade slowly through the murky water without stirring the mud and how to shoot pond reflections, bark patterns, songbirds, ducks, butterflies, snakes, and even alligators. For an eye-level perspective, Doug submerges chest-deep in the swamp water to capture a green-backed heron hunting for crawfish. To level the horizon, he uses a telephoto lens he can swivel on a ball head tripod. Submerge yourself with pro shooter Doug Gardner for a photographic adventure in the cypress swamp.

See all videos in our Capturing South Carolina’s Lake Marion Course:

• Capturing South Carolina’s Lake Marion—Course Preview
• Photographing Osprey
• Wetland Photography: Tips and Techniques
• Capturing the Southern Cypress Swamp