What people think

“Waking up at 4 a.m. to kayak into the swamps of Louisiana in order to greet its unknown inhabitants probably isn’t on your bucket list, but it should be!  It certainly wasn’t on my bucket list either--I just went on a whim and can’t say enough about how glad I am.  Being alone in the early hours on the still waters of the Atchafalaya Basin as the mist rises was possibly one of my most enchanting photography encounters, almost surreal in its effect. The historic cypress, many over 1000 years in age, appear to be carved by artists of nature, draped in moss that comes alive in the early sunlight. Under the expert direction and tutelage of Doug Hansgate, award- winning photographer, we captured images of birds and plant life I’d only ever seen before in photographic magazines.  Doug went above and beyond my expectations in making this photographic journey one to put at the top of my book.  Doug's gentle guidance and patience, helping each person at his or her own level of ability, was a major part of what made this experience appropriate for the novice to expert.  Every person in our tour came away with a feeling of having learned new skills while undergoing an adventure that was nothing short of magical!”

Katie Stankey

    The focus of my photography and travel has always been adventuresome, to stay off the beaten path, while trying to see things from a diffferent point of view. So when Doug said to me after taking two of his weekend workshops " you should really come with me to the swamp" it felt like a fit. HE WAS SO RIGHT!

  Paddling in the dark and the silence ( before even the birds arose for the day ) to Dougs perfectly curated locations in the Atchafalaya Basin for sunrise ( and sunset ) was magical. The colors, the ancient cypress trees with spanish moss, the birds never disappointed. The " mist rising" was ethereal otherwordly and breathtaking ( and made for some super images! ). I never knew where to look, as the next amazing view was in all directions!

I recommend this trip to beginner and advanced photographers, beginner and advanced paddlers, foodies and nature lovers. Doug's vision, creativity, superb teaching ability and wealth of knowledge was shared freely on our excursions and daily workshops/photo reviews. His attention to detail ( the perfect kayaks, the best launch sites), and knowledge of the area was always apparant. I would have changed nothing ( except more hours in the day!).

I learned so much from Doug on this very special photo workshop. As he has said " I want my clients to have a great experience ". That I did Doug, and more. And yes, he's also a really great guy!

Monica Henoch

I have attended Doug’s Atchafalaya River Basin kayaking tour for the last two years and have already signed up to do two weeks next year! I had all the questions about (alligators, mosquitoes, tipping over in the kayak, the list goes on) but none of that was an issue. Doug knows what he is doing and will take care of you, believe me. I had never been in a kayak before (let alone photograph from one) but with Doug’s instruction I managed very well! I’m 76 and not the physical speciman I once was.

I need help getting out of the kayak and with Doug’s team I never had a problem.

The experience was like no other! It was always a bucket list item for me and I have now gotten to do it twice! Nirvana in the Swamps. Doug and his assistants knowledge of the Atchafalaya is an experience you will not forget for a very long time. Doug is also one of the best, if not the best person I know, about Photoshop and Lightroom editing and his teaching style is fun and relaxed. Learn something every time I get to hang out with him!

Do yourself a favor and come and have an experience like you’ve never had before!

You will make memories, and friends that will last a lifetime!

Sam Gray, PA

"I attended Doug Hansgate’s autumn in the bayou workshop in early November of 2019. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from him or the workshop since I’d never heard his name mentioned among my landscape photographer friends or the people I followed on social media. Having attended the workshop I can say that this is one of the best photo workshops I’ve ever attended. Many photographers offering photo tours use the term “workshop.” But this was truly a workshop. In between shooting sunrise/sunset, Doug led us on a 2-3 hour editing session every day. I’ve been using Lightroom and Photoshop for 4-5 years now, but I learned many tips and tricks from him during these sessions, and I really appreciated his artistic and creative perspective on the images he edited.

As a guide Doug really knew his locations, and he took us to the best locations according to the weather conditions we received. Many photo guides will take you to a location and simply turn you loose to do your own shooting. Doug allows you the freedom to do so, but he was constantly pointing out possible compositions and nuances with the light that made you see scenes in a way that you would probably never see on your own. To me this is the real value of a photo guide. Not just pointing out good locations but helping you to see it and photograph it properly.

As a bonus the food in Louisiana was amazing. I felt like I got a twofer - a photo workshop and a food tour of the south! Fairfax House was very comfortable and had a lot of character. It reminded me of one of those antebellum houses in the south during the Civil War, and the lady who runs the place was very attentive and accommodating to our needs.

I’ve photographed many well known locations around the world, including Iceland, Lofoten Islands, Greenland, New Zealand, China, Patagonia, the Canadian Rockies and Namibia. I have to say that photographing mossy cypress trees in the swamp during the golden hours and especially in the fog rivals any of the above locations, and should be on every serious landscape photographer’s bucket list. If you’re thinking about joining this workshop in the near future, I would not hesitate. Doug is a great landscape photographer and just an all around nice guy!"

Hilton Chen, Seattle, Washington  

  My wife (Jenny) and I are avid outdoor/nature photographers-having been to many places around the globe to pursue this passion. As such, we have accompanied, worked with and studied under many noteworthy professionals. We have now been on 3 outings with Doug Hansgate and each of those were a memorable, thoroughly satisfying event.  

  Doug is a first class photography teacher- who takes the time to study/know the area- and always finds/puts us on the best spots. He is also incredibly adept at teaching “Lightroom/Photoshop” to help maximize the quality of our images. Despite his superior knowledge he is very patient and understands that many of us are challenged by the development technology (which is in constant evolution- with new innovations) and takes the time to teach and demonstrate those changes.  

  As a bonus, he is fun to be with ,and yet, flexible to accommodate the group’s needs and circumstances such as weather. I/we highly recommend Doug to anyone who might be considering attending one of his workshops/ outings.

Mickey Shuffield-Beaumont, Texas

  “I highly recommend the Doug Hansgate workshop in Louisiana. I was a little bit nervous about everything,… my photography skills….whether I’d be outdoorsy enough….my general dislike of water and reluctance to kayak….my photography equipment….and critters (alligators, mosquitos, snakes….you name it!) just to name a few. But Doug totally put me at ease. He is meticulous about planning and he is a great guide for that reason and many others including: knowledge of the area, a strong commitment to workshop attendees that they will have a productive week, ability to outfit the group for kayaking, excellent accommodations and more. And over the course of the week I am amazed at my progress. Plus the animals I worried about were no threat at all. Alligators want to avoid you and were no threat whatsoever. And snakes and bugs were a non-issue also.

  Access is always a part of any great photography week and Doug has the access, knows where the great places are depending on the weather, water depth, physical abilities of the attendees and more. I ranked some of the places we saw as top 5 in my life. No small feat; it’s a gorgeous area. Doug knows a lot about every detail from the best places to eat local delicacies to the best places to photograph at dawn. 

  Doug also taught me how to shoot my camera in manual mode and that has simply changed my life. I look at the thousands of photos I took that week and it’s amazing to me that I was able to capture the shots I did on my last day. The improvement in my work during the course of the week is obvious to all, but I know that Doug’s patient teaching taught me even more than how to use my camera. He taught me how to see the Bayou. He taught me how to tell which trees would light up with the sun when it crested the horizon at dawn. He taught me how to notice the wildlife which was everywhere once you focused on it. He taught me to be confident in my kayak and to be confident in my photography skills. And by the end of the week I didn’t want to leave.” 

Rosanne Cheeseman, Arizona

Truly magical. What a great experience it is to go kayaking through the cypress trees. So beautiful and peaceful. The trees are so colorful and amazing in the fall. I had never kayaked before I attended last year, I was a little nervous, but Doug showed us how to get in and out of the kayak and how to paddle. We never had to step in the water, Doug and his team will help you in and out of the kayak and pull you and the kayak in and out of the water. Doug knows the Atchafalaya Basin very well and will get you to the right place at the right time. He is also a master in Lightroom and Photoshop. I learned something new in every class session. We liked it so much we came back again this year and are going next year. It is addictive, once you are there, you will keep wanting to come back.

Susan Milestone, Maryland

If you're on the lookout for a photo workshop that will have you shooting mesmerizing swamps and breathtaking scenery, then look no further! Doug Hansgate is your go-to person for exploring the Atchafalaya River Basin. He has incredible knowledge of knowing just where to go, no matter the day's weather conditions.

When I first considered attending, I had reservations about photographing from a kayak, including safety concerns and keeping up with the other participants. However, all these concerns were put to rest after our very first morning shoot. Doug's pre-coaching session addressed kayak safety, keeping camera gear safe, and how to effectively maneuver a kayak. Doug is an excellent kayaker, and he and his team are always on hand to offer support if needed while out on the water. His kayaks are perfect for photography, providing ample room and stability.

We've all heard of workshop leaders who focus more on their personal shooting rather than on guiding participants. This is not the case with Doug! He is always dedicated to guiding his participants on the water, offering helpful suggestions, and ensuring everyone is making the most of their time.

Beyond meeting all my photography expectations, the accommodations were top-notch. The Mansion is absolutely beautiful and spacious, providing plenty of room for participants to gather as a group or retreat for some personal rest time. While this workshop is all about photography, you'll also enjoy a culinary experience rich with bayou food and the history of the region.

Doug went above and beyond to make our experience something truly memorable. I made new friends, captured some stunning images, and I can't wait to visit again.

 Barry Woods, Raleigh, NC

Images by Tony Sweet

My Atchafalaya Basin workshop experience with Doug Hansgate

From our arrival, the accommodations were idyllic. An old mansion on a bayou with large oak trees throughout the spacious property, including a small sculpture garden. In general, the grounds are very photogenic for color and infrared. Very comfortable accommodations including a large room with a large table for instructional presentations, image reviews, and processing our own work.

We had a meeting after everyone arrived and got settled regarding protocols for getting into and out of the kayaks. When we went out the next morning to paddle off into the swamp, the kind and competent assistance we received from Doug and his crew to get set up and ready assuaged all anxiety and I quickly looked forward to getting going…..so they gently launched me into the water. When I started paddling, it felt easy and natural, although my technique was non existent at the time. It got easier on each subsequent day.

The day quickly fell into a routine: Up at 0-dark-30, got to our location and launched  before sunrise, waiting for the gifts of the day: fog, clear as a bell, overcast. It really didn’t matter, it was so beautiful. We stayed out for a couple of hours or longer, then went to breakfast. After a break, and maybe some class time, we went out for sunset.

After dinner, we went to bed early and did it again the next day at a different location.

Being a workshop instructor for over 20 years, I found Doug’s handling of every aspect of this trip exemplary. His care, consideration, and thoughtfulness were above and beyond the call. The classroom sessions were chock full of information that was extremely helpful and expert level in every way. Doug is totally generous in sharing his decades of software knowledge and processing expertise.

Now, for the personal experience. Sue and I have traveled and taught workshops extensively for over 20 yrs and have seldom been taken so quickly and completely by a location. As you may see from these few images, the swamps are pure magic.

To drift throughout these giant trees is an awesome and spiritual experience that we plan on repeating annually.

I highly recommend this trip of a lifetime with Doug and his crew.

Tony Sweet