June 2024 Wildlife Photography Contest Intermediate Winner

Caddo Lake State Park and the surrounding area of Big Cypress Bayou become a photographer’s mecca when fall arrives in eastern Texas. The magnificent cypress trees are the stars of the show, blazing with all shades of orange and red this time of year. I have visited the state park before, and I believe it is one of the most beautiful areas to photograph the bald cypress trees.

On this crisp fall morning, I hoped to capture some wildlife amidst the stunning scenery. As I was shooting, I noticed a lone egret wading in the water along the shoreline. Though he was far away, I hoped he would come a little closer, but he was content to keep his distance. I was using my Nikon 70-200mm lens at 200mm, which gave me enough reach to capture the egret along with his surrounding habitat.

I quickly composed various shots, both vertical and horizontal, knowing that the bird could fly away at any moment. After capturing several compositions, the egret decided to fly to another location out of sight. While the landscape here in the bayou is scenic and remarkable, it is always enriched by the presence of wildlife in some way or form.