A Bayou by Kayak
I stood in the dark looking at the kayak at the edge of the water. I held my expensive camera gear in my hands. My heart raced. Not a strong swimmer, I paused and wondered if I should step into the kayak.
When I first considered the kayaking trip to the Texas/Louisiana bayou at Caddo Lake State Park, my thoughts ran wild.
“We’ll be kayaking in the dark!”
“What if the kayak topples over? Will I be able to get back in?”
“What if my camera gear falls into the water?”
And most frightening of all, “Did they say there are alligators and snakes in these waters?!”
With very little kayaking experience, I was extremely hesitant to step into the kayak, especially in the darkness of night.
With a deep breath, I summoned up the courage to step into the kayak. With only our headlights to guide us, along with the team, I ventured into the inky blackness of the bayou waters.
A unique, mystical place
Traveling to photograph the bayou at Caddo Lake is an adventure that will always stay with me. The bayou is a unique, mystical place where majestic cypress trees rise up from the water. Spanish moss hangs from the branches of these trees, fog dances across the water as the sun begins to rise and herons and egrets make their way gracefully through this landscape. It was into this beautiful and mysterious place that we headed out on the kayak in the darkness of the night, to wait for dawn to break in all its glory.
The task seemed daunting. The previous day, I had been able to kayak in the daytime with my mentor, but would I be able to repeat this in the dark?
A glorious sunrise
My heart pounded as we kayaked amongst the trees. After what seemed like an eternity, we reached our destination and waited for the sunrise; and what a glorious sunrise it was! Sunbeams danced through the trees, coloring the bayou a brilliant orange. Light glistened on the changing colors of the fall leaves. Egrets moved gracefully through the bayou, basking in the morning sun.
As I marveled at the beauty of the scene before me, I took a few seconds to reflect. Moments like these, where we step out of our comfort zones and embrace change and new experiences, are invaluable. Overcoming my fear was ultimately what allowed me to witness this, and that was very empowering. This journey as a photographer was absolutely exhilarating!
The start of a lifelong passion
Growing up in the bustling city of Bangalore, India, stepping away from the city into nature’s splendor always filled my heart. In those days, I longed for a camera to capture what I saw in the hills and the countryside of Karnataka but all I could do then was simply soak in what nature had to offer.
Eventually, I moved to the U.S., completed my graduate studies, got married, and worked as a software consultant. That was when I got my first DSLR camera, a Nikon D90! I was over the moon and captured many beautiful landscapes. Photography at this time was a casual hobby, but it awakened within me an insatiable desire to explore and document what I saw through the viewfinder.
Years later, in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic, we hiked frequently and these outdoor explorations prompted me to delve deeper into the world of photography. I started to learn about the technicalities of photography, composing an image in the field and post-processing to bring to life what I witnessed at a particular moment. Watching this passion grow, my husband gifted me a professional camera, the Nikon D850. Following this, I took my first photography workshop in 2021 and the rest is history! Being with a group of like-minded, talented individuals was inspiring and highly motivating.
Overcoming Fear
As a female landscape photographer, there are several challenges I face, and the fears I have make that list a bit longer. Traveling alone to new, unknown destinations does not come easily to me. While driving to Utah, it dawned on me that I would be traveling alone through miles and miles of the country with no civilization or phone signals. What would I do if my car broke down? Walking alone in the dark to locations to catch that first light and heading back after sunset is another challenge that takes me out of my comfort zone.
I have found that photography workshops have given me a way to overcome the challenges and fears and enjoy the experience. As for my fraternity, in recent times, in a male dominated field, the growing number of female landscape photographers has been incredibly inspiring.
Through the Viewfinder
This world of photography has me hiking, kayaking, wearing micro spikes to traverse through ice and snow, driving hours to attend photography conferences, and heading out alone to photograph beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It has been teaching me to be independent, present in the moment, and cherish the beautiful planet we call home.
Creativity is a journey, and photography fuels my creativity, as well as my physical and mental growth as an individual. I cannot wait to continue on this journey and nurture this passion that has provided me with both creative and emotional fulfillment. As I look through the camera viewfinder, I remind myself to soak in the scene and remember the importance of preserving the natural beauty of this world for generations to come.
